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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09/09/2021 PLM for automation components

Purchasing criteria for automation products should not only include performance and price. Buyers should also ensure they ask suppliers how long their product will be supported and their position in the product lifecycle. By Jonathan ... » Read More

09/09/2021 Walking the high wire

How do you balance replacing older or already-obsolete drives and controls against maximising their service lifespan – and what are the other key influencers at play? By Brian Wall » Read More

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 ... » Read More

18/08/2021 More powerful power tools

With a selection of high-power cordless power tools recently coming to market, why does voltage make a difference and how does it affect battery management? » Read More

12/08/2021 Inspection shutdowns in UK AGR nuclear power plants

UK nuclear power plants including Heysham 1, Torness and Hinkley Point B have recently undergone shutdowns that have included inspections for cracks in their graphite core. Such work has gained a new sense of urgency in the past few years, ... » Read More

29/07/2021 Eaton guide to selecting hydraulic tube for marine applications

When it comes to specifying a hydraulic piping connection system for marine applications there are a number of critical factors to keep in mind. Firstly, the system must carry approval in accordance with the relevant agency specification. ... » Read More

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 Too many businesses use outdated and potentially unsafe electrical assets for their critical power needs, putting people, operations and their bottom line at risk.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

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