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.

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

29/03/2023 Down the drain The UK government is pushing for sustainable drainage systems in new developments. Ben Spencer finds out how users of commercial buildings stand to benefit » Read More

29/03/2023 Measuring liquid levels Liquid level measurement sensors are being installed throughout the sewage network to reduce stormwater sewer discharges, reports Jody Muelaner » Read More

29/03/2023 Details matter To comply with HSE guidelines, inspections need to go beyond what’s covered by LOLER (such as lifting components and hydraulics) to include an examination of brakes, steering and tyres as required under PUWER regulations, according to ... » Read More

29/03/2023 What good looks like There is a new standard for the qualification and certification of NDT personnel. So, what has changed and what does accreditation look like now, asks Steed Webzell. » Read More

29/03/2023 Optical sensors and ambient light Baumer explains why ambient light has such a significant influence on optical sensors. It contends that its sensor toolbox provides the benefits of ambient light immunity, eliminating many error sources in production » Read More

20/03/2023 Making power networks greener Now there are several approaches to reducing or eliminating global warming gas SF6 in electrical installations led by switchgear manufacturers and high-profile customers such as National Grid » Read More

20/03/2023 We find solutions As this text is being written, the rescue effort is winding down in southern Turkey and northern Syria, following devastating earthquakes there. It is painful to watch a human disaster unfold. And it’s frustrating that logistical and ... » Read More

20/03/2023 Asset management: bending lines into circles The future circular economy needs asset management to define and support the management of multiple asset life cycles and harness and unlock additional value streams that the assets enable, according to The Institute of Asset Management » Read More

20/03/2023 Pumps and the circular economy Europump, the European Association of Pump Manufacturers, explains how the European pump industry interprets the requirements of the EC Circular Economy Action Plan, introduced in March 2020 » Read More

20/03/2023 Hazardous substances: off the trike What is the outlook for, and operational safety of, chlorinated substances such as perchloroethylene, a common industry substitute for the outlawed trichloroethylene? by Steed Webzell » Read More

20/03/2023 Sensing: smell management A Paris waste-to-energy plant improves odour mitigation with smart sensors and environmental intelligence provided by Ellona » Read More

20/03/2023 An introduction to manufacturing execution systems MES systems have a range of production and business benefits, but the cost is too steep for some smaller companies. Ben Spencer finds out what support is available. By Ben Spencer » Read More

20/03/2023 AI and vibration analysis When a vibration level goes out of tolerance, automated condition monitoring software can notify maintenance staff of an issue. While a skilled vibration analyst would typically be required to diagnose the actual cause of the fault to fix ... » Read More

20/03/2023 Motors: the long and winding road When National Grid faced maintenance issues with two motors installed at critical gas booster station sites in England, it approached Sulzer. Delivering turnkey redesigns and rewinds for the complex 16 MW units, Sulzer has helped National ... » Read More

20/03/2023 Closed-loop speed control for DC motors For some miniature DC applications, such as certain types of surgical hand tools, a closed-loop control provides stable speed regulation under increasing and fluctuating loads. Understanding whether open- or closed-loop control is ... » Read More

20/03/2023 Changes to building energy efficiency With 1 April 2023 fast approaching, it is time to get serious about the upcoming changes to the Minimum Energy Efficient Standard (MEES) Regulations, which come into force then. By Kylie Cooper, partner, Wright Hassall » Read More