Plant Equipment 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.

Page 7 of 24 «« « 5 6 7 8 9 »»»

21/07/2021 Four steps to better electrical infrastructure resilience

Manufacturing sites depend on a reliable, failsafe power supply. Too many businesses use outdated and potentially unsafe electrical assets for their critical power needs, putting people, operations and their bottom line at risk. When it ... » Read More

30/06/2021 Inside a new BAE Systems digital factory demonstrator

With a big future project in mind, BAE Systems has built a demonstration facility to develop innovative manufacturing tools to improve its production efficiency over the next decade. Where it leads, others may follow » Read More

30/06/2021 A guide to automated guided vehicles

Although not new, the autonomous wheeled robots that pick and carry boxes and pallets are becoming ever more popular in improving productivity. These are known as automated guided vehicles (AGVs) or autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). By Jody ... » Read More

25/06/2021 Choosing the right valve for efficient steam temperature control

From beer brewing to cheese production, temperature control using steam is utilised across various applications in the food and beverage sector. The control valve is key, and precise specification is vital to optimise product quality and ... » Read More

17/06/2021 Avoid forking out on costly repairs

Every forklift requires care from both a safety and operational perspective, but failing to make the right calls can prove expensive » Read More

17/06/2021 SPMTs: trailers that lead the way

Deployed linked together in ranks and files, SPMTs can meet the scale of huge structural components, unlike other types of construction equipment. That means that they are the solution to shift and lift just about anything large, awkward ... » Read More

10/06/2021 Railway retrofit

An emissions treatment system adapted from commercial vehicles provides a possible way to improve air quality in the rail network. By James Thorpe, senior sales manager, Eminox » Read More

28/05/2021 Sewer heat recovery

There is a hidden and rarely used energy source in domestic buildings that has the potential to bring balance to the perceived uncertainty of the future energy grid mix. Now, wastewater heat recovery systems (WWHRS) are being included in ... » Read More

28/05/2021 Domestic gas boiler control developments

A Dutch association of boiler makers promotes a brand-agnostic communication standard between boilers and their controllers that reflects more efficient control methods then are currently in common use in the UK » 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

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

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

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

Page 7 of 24 «« « 5 6 7 8 9 »»»