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.

14/02/2022 Legal update - how to sell a business Whether it’s a result of the pandemic or owing to fall-out from Brexit, the opportunities for business owners looking to sell up are plentiful. Whatever the reason for wanting to move on, the process involved in actually making a sale can ... » Read More

28/01/2022 Driving for more efficiency The optimisation of energy usage by electric motors can lead to environmental benefits as well as reductions in operational expenses (OPEX). Forward-looking businesses interested in reducing their motors’ energy use can now go further than ... » Read More

19/01/2022 Safety leaders The Sir Moir Lockhead safety award recognises leaders in operational safety around the world. Originally set up in 2018, this third year of the scheme highlights safety leaders working in the UK and overseas. Three 2021 winners are ... » Read More

19/01/2022 HS2: full steam ahead Just over a year since construction began on Phase One of HS2, how far has the project progressed, is it still on track and what innovative technologies are being used? By Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

19/01/2022 Concrete goes green Health risks from acid rain, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide are often attributed to concrete production, while CO2 emissions and climate change impact are also cited. But is the industry’s image now on the up as it ... » Read More

19/01/2022 Diesel alternatives Plant operators are moving away from conventional diesel-powered equipment and into alternatives; but the reasons for this change are varied. Some want to reduce their carbon footprint for reasons of corporate social responsibility (CSR), ... » Read More

19/01/2022 Profile: coming in to land Kelly Cole started her engineering career as an apprentice technician at GE Aviation, eventually progressing to a field service director. Earlier this year, she took a role as general manager of electric power for Caterpillar’s UK dealer ... » Read More

19/01/2022 Rise of the plug-and-play CM system ‘Plug and play’ condition monitoring offerings over the past year claim to do away with the need for expert analysis (at a certain low level, anyway), thanks to automation, cloud computing and standardised hardware. By Jody Muelaner » Read More

19/01/2022 Feedback devices for VFD and servo applications One issue that often arises when designing closed-loop applications is the type of feedback to use on the motors. This article describes the different types of feedback devices for variable frequency drives (VFDs) and servos, as well as ... » Read More

19/01/2022 Understanding explosive atmospheres Many different industrial environments can contain explosive atmospheres containing gases, vapours, mists or dusts. Such environments present a very significant risk. Equipment operating in these environments must, therefore, be properly ... » Read More

19/01/2022 Training: practical into virtual While many engineering courses are available online, how well, poorly or not at all do courses with practical content transfer to a virtual platform? By Steed Webzell » Read More

19/01/2022 Turning the apprentice ship around In the quest to breathe new life – and success – into apprenticeships across its sector, the Lift and Escalator Industry Association (LEIA) has appointed Karen Slade as its new head of end-point assessment. She speaks about what that ... » Read More

19/01/2022 Igus outlines the use of energy chains for theatre applications Complicated stage applications can be implemented even in confined spaces and with high loads using moving energy supply systems such as the Igus e-spool and the zig-zag systems. » Read More

13/01/2022 Inadequate maintenance blamed for August 2020 Wales tanker train derailment and ... At about 23:04 hrs on 26 August 2020, train 6A11, the 21:52 hrs service from Robeston (Milford Haven) to Theale, conveying 25 laden tank wagons, derailed near Llangennech, in Carmarthenshire. The derailment and the consequent damage to the ... » Read More

10/01/2022 Correct pump selection vital for seed treatment applications, says Watson Marlow Seed treatment is a long-established and proven way for farmers to battle crop diseases and destructive insects, while simultaneously encouraging germination and promoting early season growth. The pumps within seed coating machines have a ... » Read More

16/12/2021 Motor testing Regular motor checks and inspections form a fundamental part of predictive maintenance strategies By Steed Webzell » Read More

15/12/2021 Decode your motor’s nameplate Whether you are looking to replace or repair a motor, when talking to your supplier or service provider, it is important to give them accurate details of the motor you currently have. The most relevant information should be recorded on the ... » Read More

07/12/2021 Guidance for maintaining ageing electrical assets EEMUA 227, Management of ageing electrical assets, is new guidance from the Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association aimed at providing electrical engineers with a coherent, proactive system for managing ageing electrical ... » Read More

07/12/2021 Leak testing of tubes and pipes Huntingdon Fusion Techniques offers an introduction to tube and pipe stoppers. The oil, gas, water, food and beverage, aerospace, power generation, construction and pharmaceutical industries all fabricate many thousands of metres of tubes ... » Read More

01/12/2021 Maintaining frequency inverters Failure modes, inspection and maintenance, diagnostics and troubleshooting, as well as the general checks for non-specialists: all are covered in this overview article by Jody Muelaner » Read More

29/11/2021 An introduction to feedback devices for VFD and servo applications One issue that often arises when designing closed-loop applications is which type of feedback to use on the motors. In this article, Jeff Kardell of KEB America describes the different types of feedback devices in variable frequency drives ... » Read More

22/11/2021 Selecting the right blower for reliability and cost-effective operation In the wastewater industry, aeration processes are essential to achieving high water quality standards, but they can also be one of the largest energy consumers. This combination makes reliability and energy efficiency very important ... » Read More

22/11/2021 The importance of cybersecurity in functional safety Malware in standard information technology (IT) systems is, at most, disruptive but not generally life-threatening. However, what happens when this malware is transmitted to thousands of sensors in a nuclear plant, causing a major incident ... » Read More

18/11/2021 CompAir white paper outlines why food and beverage manufacturers should opt for ... CompAir has published a new white paper for the food and beverage industry, discussing how the right compressed air system can make an important contribution to an organisation’s overall sustainability ambitions, as well as help protect ... » Read More

18/11/2021 Missed opportunity in gas detection? Data not only has a role to play in driving automation and improving efficiency but critically has the ability to make positive changes to a range of strategic workplace issues. One of the most compelling of which is the potential to ... » Read More