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.

05/12/2023 Maintaining safety at height Working at height isn’t necessarily unsafe. But, like anything, there are right ways and wrong ways of going about it. Tom Austin-Morgan reports on how to work safely at height » Read More

02/11/2023 Making maintenance safer According to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, 6% of helicopter accidents between 2007 and 2015 were caused by error in maintenance operations (excluding military helicopters). As a result, Airbus Helicopters has carried out an ... » Read More

02/11/2023 Removing rust Laser cleaning systems are becoming more affordable and available for all sorts of rust removal and general part cleaning applications. Tom Austin-Morgan finds out more » Read More

02/11/2023 Using experts in technical disputes Expert determination is an effective and swift way to resolve disputes, particularly those of a technical nature, making it an attractively commercial option for many engineering-related disputes » Read More

02/11/2023 Hybrid bearing benefits Not all industrial bearings use steel as their exclusive construction material. Hybrid bearings, comprising both steel and ceramic (or ceramic-coated) components, provide additional benefits » Read More

02/11/2023 Comment: ‘I am independent’ How independent must inspectors be? LOLER ACOP Reg 9, paragraph 295, states: “it is essential that the competent person is sufficiently independent and impartial to allow objective decisions to be made.” Does that mean they cannot be an ... » Read More

02/11/2023 Applying blockchain to nuclear sector The nuclear sector has more responsibility than most to manage worker/contractor competence effectively. Can blockchain help optimise this challenging task? » Read More

02/11/2023 Stress cracks in nuclear pipework The shutdown of reactors across France last year came as a shock to many, and provides a warning of the effects of stress corrosion cracking, writes Jody Muelaner » Read More

02/11/2023 BNG development Seven years since the UK’s leading conservationists declared it ‘one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world,’ we are finally about to see concerted action, reports Dominic Bernard » Read More

02/11/2023 All about bearings As an integral part of many operations, the demand for stronger, more durable and longer-lasting bearings is on the rise – and, for many applications, conventional steel ball bearings often cannot compare to their hybrid counterparts » Read More

02/11/2023 Automation demand is rising More than 1,200 exhibitors from around the world are expected to attend the 32nd edition of the SPS, Smart Production Solutions, covering 16 exhibition halls and a total exhibition space of approximately 120,000m2. » Read More

02/11/2023 Exploring thermal fluid analysis Regular thermal fluid sampling and analysis enables businesses to proactively monitor fluid condition and intervene before issues impact production » Read More

12/10/2023 Safety fears over RAAC Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete has come under intense scrutiny since late 2018, following a school roof collapse. How do you identify it and what is the best means of remediation, asks Brian Wall » Read More

12/10/2023 All about the asset management plan With assets so pivotal to the success of almost all organisations, there are many merits associated with creating and maintaining a strategic asset management plan » Read More

12/10/2023 Decarbonising heat: where are we? Businesses who use gas should start asking questions now about what options they will have for heat supply in future » Read More

12/10/2023 Reducing harmonics from AC drives Generally speaking, a harmonic is a sinusoidal wave with a frequency that is a whole number multiple of the fundamental frequency of a periodic signal. In an electrical system, a harmonic is voltage or current disturbance with a sinusoidal ... » Read More

12/10/2023 Comment: View from the top For well over 10 years now, I have supported the Engineering Council at membership and registration level of several professional engineering institutions, as a volunteer. I have observed and reported registration activities and how they ... » Read More

12/10/2023 Dealing with RAAC In comments posted last month, the Institution of Structural Engineers provided further information about looking for, and dealing with a type of bubbly concrete: RAAC » Read More

12/10/2023 Building ahead To comply with the Building Safety Act, engineers will have to prove their competence and assure the safety of the buildings they construct. A recent discussion between two technical directors, CABE’s (Chartered Association of Building ... » Read More

12/10/2023 What’s going on with Aveva Industrial software provider Aveva launched a new version of its industrial predictive monitoring software earlier this year, which promises new features and benefits. It builds on some 20 years of development, and is helping industrial ... » Read More

12/10/2023 Why is security so important for industrial control systems? Eaton describes the steps users must take to protect industrial controls and automation components from cyberattacks » Read More

12/10/2023 Optimising maintenance Preventative plant maintenance is proven to reduce down time and whole life costs. But can it be made more efficient? Richard Warley, CEO of BigChange, explains how job management platforms can help » Read More

12/10/2023 Hypoid gearboxes Hypoid gearboxes have become increasingly popular, providing exceptional performance in the transfer of power and torque between components, writes supplier Apex Dynamics UK. Recent research by industrial automation market specialist ... » Read More

31/08/2023 Real-time digital twins Germany’s International Centre for Networked Adaptive Production (ICNAP) recently explored some of the technical issues of using digital twins in real time » Read More

31/08/2023 Rooftop solar power opportunity There is now national attention on an unusual area of industrial real estate. High out of the way of trees and other blocking buildings, rooftops are said to be an ideal place to mount solar panels for renewable energy generation, reports ... » Read More