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.

27/05/2021 Digital twins Sometimes it can be difficult to assess the damage caused by weather or corrosion. Digital twins are an emerging technique which creates a high-resolution virtual version of an asset that can be used as a comparator during its lifetime, ... » Read More

20/05/2021 Machine monitoring enters neutral territory With most manufacturers running a shop of mixed machine tools, the need for vendor-agnostic condition monitoring and production analytics is clear. By Steed Webzell » Read More

20/05/2021 Reading the warning signs Flow sensors for measuring the progress of liquids in process applications are vital – but they are definitely not ‘fit-and-forget’. By Brian Wall » Read More

14/05/2021 The case for industrial sprinkler systems In early April, when industrial fires broke out in two different locations, they both had the same devastating outcome. Neither building contained a sprinkler system and both businesses are now counting the cost of the damage and dealing ... » Read More

13/05/2021 Mitigating methane slip Although touted as more eco-friendly than liquid fuels, there’s a less benign side to methane, the main ingredient of natural gas. And that relates to its effect when it escapes before combustion, according to Toby Clark » Read More

13/05/2021 SECR environmental reporting - a guide Many companies in the UK will be reporting their greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption under the government’s new streamlined energy and carbon reporting (SECR) policy for the first time this year, writes Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

06/05/2021 Mind the gap Engineered systems support people living and working indoors. However, there is often a gap between the way those systems were designed to work, and what happens in reality. Enter the growing field of building performance evaluation. By ... » Read More

06/05/2021 Cooking on gas A Dutch association of boiler makers promotes a brand-agnostic communication standard between boilers, heat pumps and their controllers that reflects more efficient control methods then are currently in common use in the UK. By Will ... » Read More

29/04/2021 Constant top-up Although automatic lubrication systems don’t do away with servicing requirements altogether – they still need to be checked and replenished – such systems do offer plants greater confidence that rotating equipment will not run dry. By ... » Read More

29/04/2021 Green lubrication Technological developments are breaking down the traditional division between eco-friendly and high-performance industrial lubricants. The developments are being pushed by consumer demand. By Jody Muelaner » Read More

22/04/2021 Under pressure from COVID While the inspection of pressure vessels is of huge importance, the HSE has understandably made allowances for the way that COVID has impacted this. But what exactly are the rules – and what actions remain non-negotiable? By Brian Wall » Read More

22/04/2021 The benefits of reducing steam pressure A back-to-basics look at the drawbacks and benefits of high-pressure steam, and how to best manage it in process conditions. By Spirax Sarco trainer Mike Maslanka » Read More

15/04/2021 AM goes big Since the technology was invented in the 1980s, one of the aims of additive manufacturing (AM) has been to mass-produce components and parts, not just producing prototypes. As the production technologies continue to mature, suppliers are ... » Read More

15/04/2021 Are robots the solution? Although the UK has historically trailed other nations in robot adoption, it seems there is market optimism for a brighter and more automated future. By Steed Webzell » Read More

08/04/2021 The enemy in the room In a further move to protect the workforce, HSE inspectors are targeting firms that flout the rules on dealing with dust hazards. And high on the list of offenders is hardwood. By Brian Wall » Read More

08/04/2021 How Agile Vehicle Technology developed an all-terrain vehicle Five years ago, Agile Vehicle Technology spotted a gap in the market for an industrial-grade, hydrostatic vehicle that could operate on any terrain while maintaining manoeuvrability, speed, robustness, value for money and a heavy load ... » Read More

01/04/2021 Hannover Fair, 12-16 April: the virtual exhibition Although hoping for a mixed digital and in-person event in 2021, the organisers of the Hannover Fair admitted that the COVID pandemic has forced them to rule out an in-person event. Rather than cancel, it has gone ahead with a digital-only ... » Read More

31/03/2021 Out of the cold As this is being written in February, the UK has vaccinated more than 15 million people. One factor that should not be underestimated in that successful roll-out is the cold chain. Many of the vaccinations given so far have been the ... » Read More

25/03/2021 Bubbles bite: the trouble with cavitation Cavitation involves the formation and collapse of micro-bubbles in a liquid, causing erosion and damage to pipework and pump impellers. This article first explores why cavitation occurs and how it damages components. It then looks at how ... » Read More

18/03/2021 Sharing the land - a new approach for development Warwick-based property development company AC Lloyd has entered into a novel agreement with a local landowner, the Alscot Estate, offset the environmental effects of a new housing development, reports Will Dalrymple » Read More

16/03/2021 Are pumps missing in climate action? BPMA argues for their inclusion The UK Government has announced a ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution covering clean energy, transport, nature, and innovative technologies. The blueprint is intended to allow the UK to wipe out its contribution to climate ... » Read More

11/03/2021 Small bore, big problem: a guide to prevent corrosion in tubing More delicate than pipework, small-bore tubing can still resist even highly corrosive offshore environments, if the right materials are specified and installed properly. If not, damage can lead to dangerous and costly leaks. By Deborah ... » Read More

10/03/2021 Automating selective electroplating Quality, speed and reliability is paramount to power generation component repairs. These requirements can be met by automation. Powell Electrical Systems of the USA reduced its process time to electroplate copper bus bars. By Derek Kilgore ... » Read More

04/03/2021 What goes up... A familiar part of industrial and commercial landscapes, gasholders – large and expandable tanks that hold natural gas for domestic consumption – are now being taken down across the country. One gas network explains how it’s done. By Will ... » Read More

23/02/2021 My weir runneth over An advanced computing system aims to improve utilities’ ability to detect blockages that might otherwise lead to sewage pollution incidents, reports Toby Clark » Read More