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.

04/03/2020 The stage is set Plant & Asset Management returns to Birmingham’s NEC from 21-23 April 2020, alongside co-located events Drives & Controls, Smart Industry Expo, Fluid Power & Systems and Air-Tech, as well as MACH (20-24 April) » Read More

04/03/2020 Clearing the air Using air to dry, cool or clean can be achieved using both compressed air and blower-operated systems. But what are the principal differences and benefits of each system? » Read More

05/02/2020 Ship shape From the advanced polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough to the new £6.2 billion Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, on-board water systems are playing a vital role at sea » Read More

05/02/2020 Comment: Floating cities The November 2019 issue of Operations Engineer featured an interview with new SOE patron Sir John Parker, a near 60-year veteran of industry who started his career in shipbuilding. Among other comments, he said: “Ships have every ... » Read More

05/02/2020 Joining plastic pipe High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the polymer used for water and wastewater pipes. In thicker formulations, the same material is also used for buried gas lines. Sections can be joined together under heat and pressure, and there are ... » Read More

05/02/2020 Protecting nature Water companies need to adopt efficient ways of reducing phosphorus levels in water, in order to banish harmful algae from rivers and lakes » Read More

05/02/2020 Fighting floods There are a range of products and equipment that can aid in flooding scenarios – before, during and after they happen. OE highlights some examples currently on the market » Read More

05/02/2020 Identify & rectify Rising energy costs have created an atmosphere of uncertainty for many UK businesses. Correctly identifying and accounting for potential energy losses could help save money on fuel bills » Read More

05/02/2020 Polishing up on feedwater The bulk of boiler failures are due to problems with water. Poor feedwater chemistry can lead to scale deposits, sludge and corrosion in boilers and pressure vessels with potentially catastrophic failure as a result. For boilers, water ... » Read More

05/02/2020 Oh snap! OE’s editor and thermal camera novice Adam Offord visited Flir Systems to test its product range and user-friendliness » Read More

05/02/2020 Staying focused There are a wide range of infrared training courses on the market, from general introductions to specialist and sector-specific instruction » Read More

08/01/2020 Earth movers Tunnel boring machines are anything but boring, having been responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious construction projects. OE investigates these ubiquitous, but largely unseen, underground monsters » Read More

08/01/2020 Comment: More of the same As we enter a new year, it’s a good time to reflect on 2019. So many major events have taken place, from the political turmoil that has gripped the UK, to mass environmental protests and even severe flooding to parts of the nation. And ... » Read More

08/01/2020 Tipping the balance A consortium of construction organisations has developed a seven-point strategy on the proper and safe use of forward tipping dumpers » Read More

08/01/2020 Electric Avenue Global warming concerns have been reignited across the world. In the mobile plant sector, companies are starting to rock down to Electric Avenue to help tackle such problems, among others. Highlights of some latest efforts follows » Read More

08/01/2020 Forging closer bonds The British Pump Manufacturers’ Association and Lancaster University are working together to support pump manufacturers in solving their technical challenges. The tie-up also aims to raise the standard for pump engineers » Read More

08/01/2020 Sweet tricks Operations improvement manager for energy, Chris Mayhew, has witnessed energy management change during his 30+ year career at British Sugar. He explained more to delegates at the Energy Management Exhibition (EMEX) in November, about the ... » Read More

08/01/2020 Fatal falls Maintenance problems are causing accidents and falls with extending lift platforms, according to the Health and Safety Executive, which has issued guidance. Similar guidance has also been issued by the National Farmers Union » Read More

08/01/2020 Shaking things up Some analysis tools promise to automate the interpretation of vibration signals to extend the job of collecting data to unskilled trades, instead of just trained experts. OE explores how they work » Read More

08/01/2020 A CM approach Abayomi Obisesan, asset reliability engineer at Optimal Asset Maintenance Solutions, discusses the relevance of condition monitoring to equipment maintenance strategy development » Read More

12/12/2019 Stepping up to the challenge Thyssenkrupp Elevator has produced its longest-ever escalators, which are now operating in Baku, Azerbaijan » Read More

12/12/2019 Elevated status As the operator of a tower crane, getting from the bottom to the top and vice versa takes considerable time and effort. Surely there is an easier way? » Read More

12/12/2019 All systems go People that manage lifts and escalators have different requirements to those that supply and maintain the equipment. Richard Peters and Jim Nickerson of Peters Research address the challenges of developing a lift and escalator management ... » Read More

12/12/2019 A lift for standards With no legal standard in force to ensure forklift truck technicians have the essential skills, knowledge and competence to carry out their roles, to whom should employers turn? Enter F-TEC » Read More

12/12/2019 Robobus Next year sees a new type of bus service arrive in Scotland, traversing Edinburgh’s Forth Road Bridge. Just like every other bus route, it will run regularly, and customers will have to pay a driver in the front seat. But unlike every ... » Read More