Control Automation Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

07/06/2010 Heraeus infrared helps Eurobond handle cold steel Carbon medium wave infra-red equipment is helping Eurobond to improve its adhesive processes for structural panel manufacture in cold weather. » Read More

07/06/2010 Peristaltic pump quenches brewery’s thirst for top quality Anheuser-Busch InBev UK's Magor Brewery, in Monmouthshire, South Wales, says it has installed six direct-coupled peristaltic hose pumps in place of previously failing piston pumps. » Read More

07/06/2010 Engineering the national interest So, with a new coalition government at the helm, what do our political masters (or is that now servants) have in store for the UK's future? And how exactly is that likely to stack up against the country's requirements, as identified ... » Read More

07/06/2010 Drives on the turn Variable speed drives have been a mainstay of plant engineering for many years, but the latest generation is changing the art of the possible. Brian Wall reports » Read More

07/06/2010 Zero tolerance Human nature dictates that issues around working at height and in confined spaces – accidents, deaths and outright negligence – will always be with us. Reality or defeatism? Brian Wall reports » Read More

07/06/2010 Regulating safety Plant engineers and managers bear a grave responsibility when it comes to health and safety. Brian Tinham examines what's available to help them do better » Read More

07/06/2010 Corporate manslaughter Ignorance of health and safety law is 'staggering', with only 10% fully aware, according to HSE figures. Brian Tinham looks at the risks » Read More

07/06/2010 Money for new energy Building energy strategies are changing thanks to the latest government incentives. Dr Tom Shelley reports » Read More

07/06/2010 Going with the flow Water treatment plants are facing increasing legislative and operational pressures Brian Tinham looks at some of their engineering solutions » Read More

07/06/2010 Pumped up and potent Choosing the right pump can be hit-and-miss, as plant engineers seek to escape issues such as over-sizing and over-engineering. Steed Webzell investigates » Read More

07/06/2010 The heat is on There is a world of difference between art, black art and science, but thermal cameras are ready to move from the former to the latter. Brian Tinham explains » Read More

01/03/2010 Wasting away The Carbon Trust reckons that UK companies are still wasting €1 billion worth of energy per year, largely due to unresolved plant optimisation issues and inefficiencies in energy generation plant itself. Brian Wall reports on ways ... » Read More

01/03/2010 Sensing invisible hazards There is a new state-of-the-art in toxic and flammable gas sensor technologies that changes the art of what's possible. Dr Tom Shelley reports » Read More

01/03/2010 Pump prediction Modern non-invasive motor condition monitoring equipment is proving its worth at Wessex Water. Brian Tinham talks to operational services manager Dave Durkin » Read More

01/03/2010 Latent heating As UK government ups the ante on going green and slashing emissions, air- and ground-source heat pumps are rearing their heads again. Brian Tinham examines the issues » Read More

01/03/2010 Got what it takes? As engineers and training providers alike seek independent assessment of competence, SOE is seeking some additional assessors, interviewers and mentors. Brian Tinham explains » Read More

01/03/2010 Game,set and match The famous Wimbledon sliding roof is often held up as a triumph of engineering ingenuity. Brian Tinham takes us behind the scenes, with its designers » Read More

01/03/2010 Fixing maintenance Properly implemented, maintenance management systems can help transform the efficiency of plant engineering departments. Steed Webzell reports on what makes best practice » Read More

01/03/2010 CV Operator show There are good reasons for plant engineers to get to this year's CV Operator Show - particularly if your responsibilities include mobile equipment. Brian Tinham explains. » Read More

01/03/2010 Now is the time for action Life-long learning' used to be the term; now it's 'continuing professional development' (CPD). What's in a name? Both emphasise the importance of continuously enhancing our knowledge throughout our careers. » Read More

01/03/2010 Automatic for the people REM probably didn't have plant automation on their minds when they released that album in 1992, but computing for the masses is reinvigorating control, writes Brian Tinham » Read More

01/03/2010 Hose pump distils solution Plant engineers at whisky manufacturer Chivas Regal say they selected a Verderflex Dura 10 peristaltic hose pump for a lime-dosing water treatment application at the Glenlivet plant, because of its suitability for dosing abrasive and ... » Read More

01/03/2010 Choppers cut Severn Trent costs Vaughan chopper pumps, supplied by P&M Pumps, have cut costs caused by unplanned maintenance at Severn Trent Water's Netheridge, Gloucester treatment works, and are now also achieving significant savings on energy consumption. » Read More

01/03/2010 Corus opens doors on high power gearboxes Hybrid gearboxes, installed to open and close fume capture doors at Corus steelworks' iron desulphurisation plant in Scunthorpe, have proved themselves strong, durable and capable of very high torque, despite low energy input. » Read More

01/03/2010 Steelworks saves thousands on bearings Savings of a staggering _372,558 per annum are being reported on an annealing process line accumulator sheave at a major UK steelworks, following bespoke redesign of the bearing assembly. » Read More