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.

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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

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

23/02/2021 Blow me down

The ultimate aim for a blower system used in industrial effluent treatment plants is to provide total reliability and guaranteed continuity of process operations. It should combine optimum performance with protection of the process, the ... » Read More

19/02/2021 The dual-channel principle

Through a new approach to sensor information transfer, manufacturer Leuze explains how modern digital connectivity is changing the nature of electronics control. » Read More

11/02/2021 Preventing steam boiler failures

With as many as a quarter of steam boilers failing their annual inspection, what should engineers be doing to improve the pass rate, asks Steed Webzell » Read More

04/02/2021 Artificial intelligence: thinking IT out loud

Sealing solutions provider Trelleborg explains some of its projects in the emerging areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning and the benefits of the technology to industry » Read More

04/02/2021 Proactive plate heat exchanger maintenance

Regardless of industry, engineers are finding themselves tasked with doing more with less. This has led some to adopt a run-to-failure approach to their equipment. But this approach could prove costly. By Andrew Peacock, service manager, ... » Read More

28/01/2021 Stage V engines in construction

A major change in the legislation on mobile plant engines is coming this year. The EU Stage V emissions requirements will mandate dramatic reductions in pollutants such as particulates and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), for plant of almost any ... » Read More

21/01/2021 The uses of ultrasound inspection

Ultrasound is especially good at early detection of bearing faults, lubricant condition, leaks, discharge in electrical systems and steam trap monitoring. Unlike vibration analysis, it generally doesn’t require detailed knowledge of the ... » Read More

21/01/2021 Discharging your duties - chemical effluent sensors

Chemical sensors can highlight potential risks with discharged water and whether environmental standards are being met. How do these technologies work in practice and what are their limitations? By Brian Wall » Read More

20/01/2021 Sulzer-led award-winning project improves performance and control of sewage ...

The Forward Flow Project, instigated by Anglian Water, looks at the flows in a station or between a network of pumping stations and was developed to include a management tool that would improve the availability and efficiency of the ... » Read More

14/01/2021 Measuring access platform safety

A new report from a trade association brings together, for the first time, reports of incidents and accidents involving powered access platforms. The data pinpoints the key safety risks of these ever-more essential site machines » Read More

14/01/2021 Engineering the world’s fastest tractor

British agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer JCB markets a brand of fast tractors called Fastrac that can travel up to 43mph. While at that speed even a large field will whip by, it was still not fast enough for a young ... » Read More

17/12/2020 Transport & distribution: Dock, stock and barrel

Loading bays may consist of more than a poured concrete ledge and rubber bumpers. Equipment including dock levellers, doors and bay shelters facilitating operations also require care and maintenance. By John Challen » Read More

03/12/2020 SKF builds a new model to better understand hybrid bearing performance

For more than 50 years, hybrid bearings, which use ceramic silicon nitride rolling elements and steel rings, have been the preferred choice for high-speed, high-precision equipment. After a recently-completed testing programme, SKF ... » Read More

12/11/2020 Inefficient pump: fix or replace?

Weighing the factors involved in this decision involves considering the wider process and supply chain context. By Steed Webzell » Read More

27/10/2020 Reviewing the new MOD maintenance contracts for mobile plant

While the MOD buys special-purpose vehicles for warfare, such as tanks, the civil and transport works that create its supply chain tend to use commercial off-the-shelf industrial machinery. Three different contracts for the maintenance of ... » Read More

22/10/2020 Robotank

Remotely-piloted autonomous drone aircraft have changed the face of warfare in the last decade or so, by removing human pilots altogether. Now, a new generation of autonomous vehicles are being developed that do the donkey work of ground ... » Read More

22/10/2020 Should military aircraft technicians be licenced to a common European standard?

Defence cuts are nothing new. The UK’s armed forces’ role changes as frequently as the Guard. But now the UK government has announced it doesn’t want its military aircraft technicians licenced to a common European standard. What are its ... » Read More

08/10/2020 Drive up installation success

Selecting a drive based on specification alone does not guarantee its successful installation. Indeed, many potential pitfalls await the unwary » Read More

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