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.

16/09/2021 The biggest pumps in the world? Among the largest pumps made for industry are the reactor coolant pumps used in modern PWR, pressurised water reactor-type nuclear power plants such as Sizewell B in Suffolk, and Hinkley Point C, currently being built. Each 10m-tall ... » 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

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

28/10/2017 Industrial vending – vote or veto Industrial vending machines can be used to stock a range of items and tools, but would they work on your site? Adam Offord explores the options » Read More

06/12/2012 Get your bearings Selecting the right bearings for plant and equipment is a nicety that plant engineers under pressure often sidestep in favour of personal preference. Steed Webzell provides advice » Read More

10/08/2010 Don’t be misled by IP ratings, warns Schneider Electric A lack of understanding of IP ratings is leading to inappropriate specification of enclosures, according to Schneider Electric. » Read More

01/08/2009 May the force be with you Would hydraulics and pneumatics feature in a futuristic Star Wars setting? Either way, innovations are ensuring that more of the force is with you, as Dr Tom Shelley explains » Read More

01/10/2008 Unreasonable engineering So how do you fancy a bit of unreasonable engineering? How about building a variable speed electric motor, rated at 2.5MW for pumping operations 3,000 metres down on the sea bed? Oh, and, for good measure, let's have it driven by an 11kV ... » Read More

01/10/2008 Turning the tide While wind farms, for most of us, are the iconic, if not entirely friendly, face of renewable energy, there's a quiet revolution readying itself for launch on an unsuspecting public. The new talking point will be marine turbines. Not only ... » Read More

01/08/2008 Sellafield special seal Novel wet pipeline sealing and deployment techniques, successfully trialled for the now redundant first-generation nuclear waste treatment and storage plant at Sellafield, will not only prevent hazardous conditions arising on plant, but ... » Read More