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
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08/05/2024
Compressor costs
Purchasing an industrial air compressor is among the most crucial decisions for a business, but it also represents a significant capital expenditure. This is because compressed air is an essential utility for businesses along with water, ...
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20/02/2023
Shop air gets the squeeze
April 2022 saw the launch of a taskforce targeting a 10% reduction in the energy consumed by compressed air systems. Steed Webzell details the campaign’s key messages
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18/08/2021
Keeping your compressor in tip-top condition
Portable diesel- and petrol-powered compressors play a critical role in providing the air that drives pneumatic tools. But why do they suddenly fail sometimes, bringing a project to a grinding halt – and what can be done to prevent this ...
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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 ...
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20/07/2020
Air upgrading
Midas Pattern Company has recently had a compressor system audit carried out at its premises in Bedford, UK, as part of a green initiative project. This has led to an equipment upgrade and has also helped the company to achieve energy ...
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06/07/2020
Getting air
Hemel Hempstead-based company Atlas Copco celebrated a century of UK operations in November. A few months on – and during the UK lockdown over Coronavirus – OE spoke to Alexander Pavlov, general manager at Atlas Copco Compressors UK & ...
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28/04/2020
Opinion: Compressor care in times of crisis
This opinion article comes from Alexander Pavlov (pictured), general manager at Atlas Copco Compressors UK & Ireland, and discusses the importance of not overlooking industrial compressors during Covid-19.
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23/03/2020
Hidden gems
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Vibration sensors can monitor the health of different assets, including motors, pumps, compressors and fans. These small, low-cost devices can be a godsend to operators by highlighting potential catastrophic failure via data
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16/03/2020
Manchester makeover
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Atlas Copco has recently upgraded compressed air and vacuum systems for Manchester-based brick maker Wienerberger, resulting in energy cost savings, along with reduced CO2 emissions and production downtime
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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?
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07/03/2019
ComVac Show Preview
ComVac, the trade fair for compressed air and vaccum technology, is being held in halls 25 and 26 from 1-5 April. See also: www.is.gd/asotur
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23/01/2015
Energy compression
When it comes to systems delivering energy for industrial processes, compressors are among the least efficient. Modern designs, energy recovery and informed maintenance all help, but EU regulations will force change.
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07/08/2013
Getting it wrong
When two companies issue statements in as many weeks suggesting that engineers and managers are missing the point on appropriate plant choices, it's time to take notice. Brian Tinham reports
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02/04/2013
Making wasted air hiss-tory
Badly-sized compressors, leaky pipes and lackadaisical practice mean profits are vanishing into thin air on many a factory floor. Max Gosney delivers a giant sticking plaster in the form of a 10-step guide to cutting compressed air loss
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06/12/2012
Taming the beast
With applications for industrial compressors expanding, their demand for energy has reached unnecessarily dizzying levels. Brian Tinham and Brian Wall looks at how to put the beast back in its cage
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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, ...
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06/02/2012
Maintec 2012
With this year's Maintec show just a few short weeks away, Brian Tinham takes a lok at what engineers, technicians and mangers can expect to find
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07/12/2011
Compressing costs
As compressors and associated plant continue to see engineering updates, Steed Webzell examines the cost/benefits for plant engineers seeking to improve operations
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06/10/2011
On a hire plane
When it comes to obtaining new equipment, plant engineers might want to consider renting before – or even instead of – committing to that cost. Brian Wall looks at the cost benefits
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