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.

01/08/2012 HES Tractec takes Molson Coors Brewery up a gear UK brewery Molson Coors has installed 20 Comer gearboxes, supplied by HES Tractec, to power the rotating floors of four germination vessels at its maltings site in Shobnall, Burton-upon-Trent. » Read More

01/08/2012 Wireless improves Barking Power efficiency Wireless improves Barking Power efficiency » Read More

08/06/2012 Hard headed young engineers It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, they used to say. And so it is with interest that we observe a significant rise in the numbers of engineering, technology, science and maths students taking up 'The Year in Industry' scheme, ... » Read More

08/06/2012 PC versus PLC controls PC-based automation, in various forms, has been around for decades, but PLCs and related systems remain as popular as ever. Brian Tinham examines the differences and establishes which approach makes most sense where » Read More

08/06/2012 Science of decommissioning Difficult economic conditions are impacting process plants, leading to redundant assets and a requirement for decommissioning. Richard Vann looks at the issues » Read More

08/06/2012 Blowing hot and cold Energy efficiency demands are driving ever more sophistication in both HVAC and building energy management systems. Steed Webzell aids plant engineers faced with tough technology decisions » Read More

08/06/2012 Camera call Infrared cameras are getting a lot of air time, as among the most valuable tools for technicians concerned with plant and process condition monitoring. Brian Tinham reviews developments and issues » Read More

08/06/2012 Lighting the way As plant engineers and facilities managers continue to seek out ways to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, one key area often overlooked could have significant impact. Brian Wall reports on the control and use of lighting » Read More

08/06/2012 Thorough examination of escalators and moving walks In the second of his two-part feature, Vince Sharpe reviews key elements of SAFed's new guidelines for the safe operation of escalators and moving walks aimed at the competent person carrying out thorough examinations » Read More

08/06/2012 Branching out Hydraulic ring mains and mixer circuits that respond in milliseconds, yet improve energy efficiency, are under development. Brian Tinham reports » Read More

08/06/2012 Intrinsically safe? Hazardous areas and electrical/electronic circuits have been treated with caution ever since the Senghenydd colliery disaster of 1913. Brian Tinham provides a technology update » Read More

08/06/2012 Allessa Chemie improves plant monitoring with mobile SCADA Speciality chemicals manufacturer, Allessa Chemie has implemented SCHAD's Extend7000 Mobile SCADA system to get instant notification of critical power plant problems. » Read More

08/06/2012 CompAir puts energy savings on the menu at Marie Since installing fixed and regulated speed compressors, from CompAir, at its plant in Sablé sur Sarthe, France, food processor Société Marie says it has been experiencing annual electricity savings of €10,500. Stéphane Lemiale, ... » Read More

08/06/2012 ABB drive saves £25,000 worth of downtime at GKN GKN Wheels plant in Telford believes it will save some £25,000 per year following the installation of an ABB low voltage ac drive. » Read More

08/06/2012 Chopper pumps take no prisoners at HMP Peterborough Huntingdon-based solids pumping and mixing specialist P&M Pumps has helped engineers at Peterborough prison to eliminate blocked pumps problems. » Read More

08/06/2012 Split bearing radically reduce maintenance for Wessex Water Split-to-the-shaft design and improved sealing of Revolvo's SRB bearings has resulted in massively reduced maintenance on orbital aeration tanks at a Wessex Water treatment plant. » Read More

08/06/2012 Coriolis flowmeters help GF reduce filling times and improve accuracy GF is reporting reduced filling times, improved accuracy and repeatability and tighter filling tolerances on its filling machines since installing the latest Micro Motion FMT filling mass transmitter, from Emerson Process Management. » Read More

05/04/2012 Building Britain’s industrial future Building Britain's industrial » Read More

05/04/2012 Pumping iron The vast majority of pumps and fans could be running more efficiently and saving their plant operators serious money. Brian Tinham examines equipment advances and cautionary tales » Read More

05/04/2012 Safe operation of escalators and moving walks SAFed's guidelines for the safe operation of escalators and moving walks was published in May last year. In the first of a two-part feature, Vince Sharpe reviews key elements for owners and operators » Read More

05/04/2012 Is your boiler house safe? As de-manning on steam and hot water boiler plant continues to gain momentum, operators need to consider best practice and their legal duties in respect of operational safety, warns S Moore Holmes » Read More

05/04/2012 Managing maintenance Anything that can help maintenance managers to realise cost and time-savings, while simultaneously improving plant uptime and product quality outcomes, has to be worth considering. Brian Wall looks at modern CMMs in action » Read More

05/04/2012 Falling foul of the law Slips, trips and falls remain a problem are across a wide range of facilities and industry types. Leigh Carter spells out the regulatory position and examines issues and solutions » Read More

05/04/2012 Laser focus Energy from waste plants are shining a light on the power of laser-based, real-time gas analyser instrumentation. Brian Tinham talks to Bob Lane of Siemens » Read More

05/04/2012 What’s your poison? For plant engineers keen to avoid disaster caused by flammable or toxic gas leaks, Steed Webzell provides an update on some of the latest sensing equipment and methodologies » Read More