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.

01/08/2007 Bellows baloney Contrary to popular misconception, metal bellows expansion joints are as useful as any other of the tools in the plant engineer's armoury - provided good mechanical engineering practice is followed. So says bellows manufacturer Teddington ... » Read More

01/08/2007 Bad vibrations Now that both the Control of Noise and Control of Vibration at Work Regulations are well and truly in force (April 2006 and July 2005 respectively), plant engineers that haven't yet done so, need to ensure that their areas of ... » Read More

01/06/2007 Uplifting technology According to HSE (Health & Safety Executive) statistics, more than a third of all industrial accidents and the over-three-day injuries each year are caused by handling loads. Most are strains to the back, arms, hands and fingers as a ... » Read More

01/06/2007 Steaming efficiency Engineers know there are significant opportunities for improving energy efficiency in boiler houses - saving cost and reducing carbon footprint, while also helping users to be eligible for the Carbon Trust's Energy Efficiency Accreditation ... » Read More

01/06/2007 Safe passage UK employees suffered 10,835 major injuries as a result of slipping and tripping in 2005/06, according to the HSE, so such accidents remain serious problems - accounting for 38% of all major injuries. » Read More

01/06/2007 Pumping up improvements While designs of pumps and valves for the process and related industries had barely altered in decades, changing requirements have recently resulted in some useful improvements. First, the sustained high cost of energy has led to greater ... » Read More

01/06/2007 Pit and the Pendolino Two years ago, Leighton Buzzard-based Harmill Systems won an unusual project - a rail-mounted seat for the London Underground Waterloo and City depot inspection pit. Within months, that turned into a plant lifting and manipulator project ... » Read More

01/06/2007 New view on rail maintenance Maintaining the UK's rail network involves thousands of engineers looking after hundreds of miles of lines, switches and crossings. It's a serious management and communications challenge, but Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services ... » Read More

01/06/2007 Friends reunited Most manufacturers, process plant operators and utilities that have invested in PLCs, legacy systems and the like for monitoring and controlling machines, plant and equipment must, at some time, have considered a wholesale upgrade to ... » Read More

01/06/2007 Flixborough revisited At about 5.00pm on Saturday 1 June 1974, the Nypro plant at Flixborough near Scunthorpe, manufacturing caprolactam for nylon, exploded. 28 people lost their lives, 53 workers were hospitalised, and 1,821 houses and 167 shops and factories ... » Read More

01/06/2007 Fit for the future On 1 May 2007, following a request from the IPlantE council and confirmation by the SOE board, the formal branch structure of the IPlantE professional sector was formally withdrawn. » Read More

01/06/2007 Except for LOLER Agreed, it's not Lola, as in that seminal '70s song, but there's little doubt it would be 'a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for LOLER' - the all-encompassing Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. They ... » Read More

01/04/2007 The old ones are the best ones Most worthwhile energy-saving techniques have been around for years, but, as increased energy prices, newer legislation and growing public awareness around emissions all force users to reconsider fuel consumption, many are now re-surfacing ... » Read More

01/04/2007 Seeing is believing Plant maintenance has always been seen as a necessary evil. So the idea of investing cash in technologies to predict when and what might be necessary doesn't cut much ice with many managers. They understand the basics of break/fix, where ... » Read More

01/04/2007 Prevention or cure Inadequately designed and/or poorly maintained car transporters and tipping trailers are presenting increasing and potentially serious risks to drivers and operators. And they're not alone: there also remain worries with lifts and ... » Read More

01/04/2007 Moving engineers Operations, plant and transport engineers with an eye to the future would do well to get to the Commercial Vehicle Show (CV 2007) at the NEC Birmingham, 24-26 April. The transport industry is adopting newer technologies and that has ... » Read More

01/04/2007 Getting the personal touch Nothing can be more important than employee safety: turnover and profit are meaningless in comparison with the well-being and security of staff. If a serious accident, or worse a fatality, occurs as a result of poor safety practice, the ... » Read More

01/04/2007 Engineers under pressure Operations engineers have never been so challenged as they are now. Look at the plethora of new tools, technologies and equipment flooding into industry generally. Look at the heightened requirements of competitiveness and efficiency, ... » Read More

01/04/2007 Biolubricants: not just green but better Around 95% of industrial and commercial lubricant applications can be satisfied by the newer generations of biolubricants derived from crops like oil seed rape and sunflowers - and for many there are now clear advantages in swapping from ... » Read More

01/02/2007 Turning ash into cash 1. Building on its vast experience, Clyde Bergemann has developed a new dry bottom ash system, known as DRYCON 2. Adjustable air inlets are located along the casing 3. Air inlets are also to be found at the system's discharge end 4. ... » Read More

01/02/2007 The Main Chance Timetable What: Maintec 2007 Where: 20-22 March, NEC, Birmingham When: Tuesday 20 March 10.00-16.00 Wednesday 21 March 10.00-16.00 Thursday 22 March 10.00-15.00 For some 30 years, the Maintec event has been focused on ... » Read More

01/02/2007 Saluting those on the front line While London sleeps, there can be up to 5,000 people carrying out maintenance and renewal activities to ensure the Underground network is returned to safe service in the morning. » Read More

01/02/2007 Safety that boosts the bottom line In a world where the failure of even a modest-sized steam boiler can cause millions of pounds' worth of damage, as well as injuries and even fatalities, the management of risk should always figure high on the agenda of any business. » Read More

01/02/2007 Risks unmasked There has been a succession of advances in dust and fume control in recent times, resulting from better equipment, improved modelling packages - to ensure that the dust and fumes actually go where they are supposed to go and smart systems ... » Read More

01/02/2007 Laser-guided track to safety The increased loading of the rail network, along with the greater speeds of modern trains, has led to higher stressing of the rails. The track itself is therefore the most important safety aspect and so needs to be inspected regularly to ... » Read More