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.

10/06/2024 All about cleaning In industrial operations, cleanliness isn’t merely a priority; it’s an indispensable requirement. Tom Austin-Morgan reports on the latest offerings » Read More

31/05/2023 Safer sterilisation During the COVID pandemic, a new type of cleaner was released into the market promising 24-hour disinfection. Tom Austin-Morgan asks, what does that actually mean, and how does it work? » Read More

08/07/2021 The cleaning power of pigging Build-up in pipelines can cause slowdowns, and even cracks or flaws that sometimes prove catastrophic. Pipeline pigging has established itself as a powerful ally in helping to overcome such issues. By Brian Wall » 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

24/09/2020 Portable industrial vacuums: powering up Industrial vacuums pack a powerful punch. They will clear up dry and wet waste at factory scale, yet are small enough to be wheeled around a site on a cart or by forklift. By Brian Wall » Read More

29/06/2020 Preventing infection The Covid-19 pandemic has cast human hygiene into the spotlight with repeated messages of ‘wash your hands’. The vital importance of this is clear when it can directly impact on lives, but even at normal times, good hygiene should be the ... » Read More

08/06/2020 Best practice shines through To ensure operators are not at risk, how often should a LEV (local exhaust ventilation) system be cleaned and maintained, and by who? » Read More

10/03/2020 Safe cleaning with gas A series of vehicle explosions has prompted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to issue guidance for mobile oven cleaning businesses that use LPG to heat dip tanks. While much of the advisory may be considered common sense, raising ... » Read More

03/06/2019 Doing the dirty Recent research has suggested that more than four in five Brits want robots to ‘do the dirty work’. Luckily, such technology is starting to become a reality, able to take over different tasks in various sectors of industry » Read More

03/06/2019 Clean and green Driven by regulatory, financial and business needs, a new generation of more environmentally-friendly industrial degreasants is emerging that matches the performance of traditional hydrocarbon products. It is giving operators a greener, ... » Read More

03/06/2019 Clean break On the face of it, non-contact cleaning of hospitals and healthcare facilities – by employing, for example, nebuliser technology, or ultraviolet light – sounds more hygienic than wiping and washing. But is it as effective? » Read More

08/05/2019 A clean start A spotless, well-maintained HVAC system not only reduces overheads, but also conserves natural resources by reducing energy and water consumption » Read More

05/02/2019 Cleaning up Leaks and uncontrolled releases of diesel can have major impacts on nature and the environment if they aren’t dealt with properly. Luckily there are different measures, products and services available for operators and businesses in ... » Read More

28/02/2018 What to consider when cleaning parts Every industry, from industrial to commercial, requires parts cleaning. The question for many facility managers is, however, is there a right way to clean parts? Well the answer is yes and, by choosing the right parts cleaning machine and ... » Read More

01/03/2010 Dry ice cuts machine maintenance by 60% By turning to cryogenic (dry ice) cleaning, fruit pre-packer Turners PPL reckons it has cut the time to strip down, clean, refurbish and reassemble its weighing and packing machines from five days to two - an amazing 60%. » Read More