Risk Management - Taking the pressure
Before 1989, the Factories Act 1961 detailed the requirements for the examination of, and reporting on, steam and air plant within the power industry by the Competent Person (often the insurance company). Where water tube boilers were concerned, the Competent Person typically reported on three main components: the economiser, the boiler and the superheater. Inspections carried out to certify a boiler would include advice from technical bodies - in-service specialist bodies. Examples of these bodies today include E.ON's Power Technology division and RWE Innogy's specialist staff, based at Swindon.
Science of decommissioning
Difficult economic conditions are impacting process plants, leading to redundant assets and a requirement for decommissioning. Richard Vann looks at the issues
Life in the old dog yet?
Will plant that is specified to run for 20 years do so quite comfortably? Brian Tinham talks to Allianz Engineering's Glyn Amphlett about the real world of plant ageing
Six ways smart plastics can strengthen UK productivity
The advent of smart plastics could play a crucial role in helping UK manufacturers move towards the connectivity of Industry 4.0, as Mark Venables discovered when he visited igus, the motion plastics specialist, at its Cologne manufacturing facility
Comment: Site to factory
Volvo and Skanska’s project to electrify and automate operations in a Swedish quarry is profiled this month. It’s not the first such project for Volvo, which has tested self-driving mine trucks in Norway and South Africa, at least. This project makes two big changes: swapping diesel engines with a battery-electric powertrain, and removing some drivers through automation. Benefits quoted include pollution and cost reductions.
When old meets new
When it comes to refurbishing plant, it makes a lot of sense to consider its operating conditions today, not just those when it was installed. Brian Tinham takes sound engineering advice from David Bates