Maintenance, Repair and Operations 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.

31/05/2023 UV light for decontamination While UV light is effective at destroying pathogens, it also poses dangers for their hosts – namely people. How can UV-C irradiation be used for disinfection in healthcare without endangering those in its vicinity, asks Brian Wall » Read More

31/05/2023 Safer sterilisation During the COVID pandemic, a new type of cleaner was released into the market promising 24-hour disinfection. Tom Austin-Morgan asks, what does that actually mean, and how does it work? » Read More

31/05/2023 IMI's e-forklift engineering qualifications Forklift trucks with electric drive units are becoming increasingly popular, but does the sector have enough trained maintenance technicians to work on these high-voltage vehicles? » Read More

31/05/2023 Wider use for AMRs While autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) superficially resemble automated guided vehicles (AGVs), AMRs can navigate anywhere across the factory floor using vision systems and other sensors. » Read More

31/05/2023 Cobots for palletising The most visible application for collaborative robots is in palletising – picking and stacking boxed items on to a pallet, ready for transport. This boring, potentially injurious work is ideal for a robot, but does, crucially, sometimes ... » Read More

31/05/2023 Reducing energy via VSDs Manufacturers looking to improve the efficiency of their cooling systems should consider technologies that maximise part-load efficiency. Variable speed drive (VSD) technology is here to help, writes Dave Palmer, general manager for the UK ... » Read More

31/05/2023 All about high-efficiency motors Motors driving HVAC air-handling units can devour vast amounts of electricity. Now, high-efficiency motors are rapidly changing the status quo, writes Brian Wall » Read More

18/05/2023 Geothermal energy: mining a rich seam Long abandoned and mostly ignored, disused coal mines are being given a new lease of life as a renewable energy source with the potential to deliver a zero-carbon footprint » Read More

17/05/2023 Hydrogen in the gas network Natural gas consists of about 90-95% methane (CH4), with small amounts of nitrogen, ethane and several other gases – and by law, no more than 0.1% of hydrogen. But methane is itself a potent greenhouse gas, and when burned it produces ... » Read More

16/05/2023 Reducing supply chain problems The impact of supply chain issues on industry services has highlighted the importance of having an effective enterprise asset management (EAM) solution in place, writes Alan Cambridge, CEO of enterprise asset management specialist Peacock ... » Read More

16/05/2023 How to calculate outrigger mat sizes Crane stability is the prerequisite of safety, and in an increasingly litigious society it is now highly cost-effective to set crane outriggers and mats for maximum stability first time, every time, explains Mike Ponsonby » Read More

16/05/2023 Solid as a rock What are solid lubricants, how do they compare to standard bearings, and how are they used in various industries? Tom Austin-Morgan finds out » Read More

16/05/2023 Tips for reducing energy use Within the water treatment industry, aeration processes consume the most energy. However, costs for electricity are continuing to rise. Reviewing current processes and taking advantage of some modern technology are just two ways to ... » Read More

16/05/2023 Flown the coop One of the very few maintenance roles licenced in the UK relates to aircraft maintenance. Which is unfortunate, as Brexit has imposed additional cost and administrative burdens, finds Peter Shakespeare » Read More

16/05/2023 The networker If society could be described as a network of connections between individual people, industry is defined as connections between companies and organisations. Facilitating relationships with government and information exchange at a higher ... » Read More

16/05/2023 The ‘green marine’ fuel quest Maritime shipping has long been dominated by heavy diesel engines, which contribute to global warming. Could that all be about to change as punitive new regulations come into force, asks Brian Wall » Read More

16/05/2023 Breath of fresh air for electrical panels Electrical components such as drives and PLCs are sensitive to high temperatures and contaminants. What options are available to keep electrical panels cool and clean? » Read More

11/05/2023 Making a change I am writing this on my way to work on an FPSO in the south Atlantic off the coast of Africa. It’s an older, but not old, facility; 15 years into a 25-year life. » Read More

31/03/2023 Making digital twins a reality in the water sector The adoption of digital technologies by the water sector has already led to a huge increase in the availability of data to provide the foundation for future decision-making. However, a greater challenge is integrating differing data ... » Read More

30/03/2023 Digital train When, after 12 years of operation, some elements of Vancouver, British Columbia’s light rail, needed to be refurbished, a ‘digital twin’ was developed to help with maintenance and improvement. Toby Clark investigates » Read More

29/03/2023 Hard target What can be done to increase the number of heat pump installations to meet the government’s challenging net zero targets, asks Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

29/03/2023 The promise of data interoperability Barbara Frei, Schneider Electric executive vice president, industrial automation speaks with Kaishi Zhang, former global director, product management and marketing, EcoStruxure Automation Expert » Read More

29/03/2023 Profiting from PID data At pigments and dyes manufacturer Heubach Group, Festo AX artificial intelligence provided benefits for maintenance, engineering and productivity from PID data » Read More

29/03/2023 Show time The wide-ranging German industrial show has put the COVID years behind it as it returns to grapple with industry’s – and society’s – many other challenges. A show preview is below, accompanied by exhibitor projects profiled on surrounding ... » Read More

29/03/2023 Investing in ammonia Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems (IMM) are developing ammonia-based systems for a mobile, decentralised energy supply in the infrastructure, transportation and industry sectors » Read More