The Bulletin Magazine - September 2019 by apeauk

The Bulletin MAGAZINE - September 2019

APEA (The Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration)

Inside

Inside 4

Welcome

Editorial

Business Manager

New Members

Publications Information

Articles

Interview with Stefan Kunter MD and CEO of the Elaflex Group

Shear Satisfaction RIS-SHEAR-ADBLUE-MK2 Raises the Bar

Regulation Compliant Diesel Storage and Dispensing

Is this the Filling Station of the Future?

Pressure Testing of Tanks and Lines - an Outdated Necessity?

Visit to the Elaflex Factory Ruhr Valley, Plettenberg, Germany

News

Press Releases

Branches

Training

APEA Live 2019 Conference, Exhibition and Awards Dinner

Front cover: A one pump station at Chlorakas Cyprus on the Akamas Peninsula Double wall tanks with class 1 leak detection built to the Blue Book Standard Published by the APEA (The Association for Petroleum and Explosives Administration) A company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 2261660.

Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the Association. The technical content is not an official endorsement by or on behalf of the APEA and are entirely the views of the authors.

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Welcome

Welcome insight into the Plettenberg Factory visit. The training courses provided by the APEA have been very well attended so far this year and in some cases well over-subscribed. The number of overseas delegates attending has increased and more and more foreign jurisdictions are adopting the “Blue Book” as the choice of guidance for their service stations.

Tom Daly APEA Chairman Welcome to the Association’s September Bulletin. This month’s Bulletin is full of great interesting articles that are relevant to our industry. Our Association continues to strengthen and I am pleased to see that the various branches are enjoying a positive outcome from this year’s successful training incentive afforded to APEA branch members. The Scottish Branch and the Midlands Branch in particular have enjoyed a renewed vibrancy and have also attracted new members to their committees as a result of this new activity. This has been greatly as a result of the work and enthusiasm of the various branch representatives and has been led by the chair of the Branch Reps committee Doreen Pooley. I also had first hand experience of the good work that the Branches do, while attending the recent workshop and educational trip to the Elaflex factory in Plettenberg Germany, where the world famous ZVA nozzles are manufactured. This excellent trip was planned and organised down to the last detail by Anton Martiniussen from the APEA Eastern Branch. I can only say that it was comparable to being part of a “How its made” documentary and gave us a great insight into how the high standard is achieved in the manufacturing of the nozzles. Also, the hospitality afforded to the APEA members from Elaflex was second to none. All in all, it was an excellent visit and training workshop. Brian Humm has included an article later on in this Bulletin giving a more in-depth

Publications Chairman Andy Kennedy Tel: 01302 346717 Mobile: 07469 212063 email: andykennedy@apea.org.uk

Our technical committee continue to provide advice and technical assistance, and answer many and varying queries in relation to all aspects of the service station. Current media reports on climate change and the possible impact of the damage caused by fossil fuels to the environment appear to be leading towards a trend in accelerating the use of Alternative/Renewable Fuels and Hybrid/Electric vehicles. This will pose its own challenges for our industry and the infrastructure of the service station. Already we see evidence of this as industry strives to enhance and speed up the process of charging of electric cars. The next big calendar event for the APEA membership is the APEA Live Event, which is to be held this year again in the MK Stadium, Milton Keynes on 21st November 2019. We have a great line up of speakers for the conference this year and there will be excellent presentations on topics of interest, which are very relevant to our industry. Details of the line up for the conference along with the awards dinner can be found on the APEA website. The APEA Live Event and Awards dinner continues to attract great numbers from the industry and really is the event to attend. It offers excellent networking opportunities to interact with many stakeholders from the industry. The chosen charity for this year’s APEA Live event is “Retina UK” which was the charity of choice of our colleague Brian Baker, who passed away earlier this year. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Editor Brian Humm Mobile: +44 (0) 7507 478533 email: b.humm@outlook.com

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Editorial

Brian Humm Editor Welcome to this new edition of the APEA Bulletin, I hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as I have enjoyed putting it together. My usual plea for members to submit material for publication has been a success since the last issue; the immediate past chairman, Anton Martiniussen, contacted me and asked if I would like to join the Eastern Branch trip to the Elaflex production facility in the Ruhr Valley, Germany, an offer I couldn’t refuse. You will read an article in respect of the trip later on in this issue. Going forward though the plea is still valid; if any member has anything that they would like to be published then please contact me and I’ll let you know how we proceed. The latest topic raising its head within the downstream portion of our industry is electric vehicle charging. There are some significant safety implications in installing this equipment upon a petrol filling station. This has been highlighted by the APEA electrical experts, Gareth Bourhill and John Dallimore, who are now endeavouring to write comprehensive guidance in order for this facility to be installed in a safe manner. This guidance will be published as soon as the experts have had enough time to meet and complete this task. Watch this space for information. APEA training is still proving to be extremely popular. I was privileged to be involved in a 3 day audit course based in Solihull recently; this was a full course with 20 delegates attending. The mixture of delegates was rather eclectic, from newly appointed local authority inspectors, reasonably experienced inspectors, engineers, a representative of the MOD fuels establishment and not forgetting the 3 representatives from Ghana Oil Limited. All that attended had a great 3 days learning experience which culminated in a full audit on a petrol filling station. It was really good to see the positive feedback from the course and the comments on the trainers involved. The delegates that attend from oversees are common now and its good to see these countries and companies adopting the Blue

Book as an industry standard; makes me feel proud of the work the Association carries out. Talking of training, I hope members are aware that the offer of free training courses to branches is still available? If any of our branch members considers that they would like to benefit from any of our advertised courses on the website then please contact your branch rep and express an interest; just to get the ball rolling, to date I have completed training for the Southern Branch in two locations and the NE branch. The offer is there, please take advantage! It’s now getting closer: APEA Live 2019 is just around the corner - have you considered attending? In my opinion it really is the best event of its type within our industry, a learning opportunity and a way of mixing with your peers. Networking takes place all day and the dinner in the evening, with the entertainment, is a great place to be. The events committee and f2f have been working extremely hard to secure the amazing line up of speakers that we have for our conference and the exhibition is looking good for the amount of exhibitors again this year. There is more information later on in this issue so please consider attending; remember the conference is free to attend and the venue is situated so that travel from most of the UK is reasonable. If you only attend one event then this is the one to attend. One further thought on the conference is that the APEA AGM is held at this event; all members are encouraged to attend on the day. Please, if you are a member, come along and see the reports from all the committees within the organisation; you will see the amount of work that goes into making sure that the APEA is the best organisation within the industry. Summer is now drawing to a close, it’s not been a bad one this year. Now that I live on the coast I’ve been benefiting from the weather in regular trips out to the beach and the spectacular countryside that the UK has to offer - truly blessed. The only trouble with moving house is the unforeseen work that seems to crop up - still it’s a learning curve I actually thought that living in London for 56 years that I might miss the hustle and bustle but it’s kind of nice with the relaxing pace of life that I have now witnessed. Speaking of which I now have to go to meet the grandchildren on the beach, so my final words are to thank all the usual contributors to this Bulletin; firstly the advertisers who contribute to the publication costs, the companies that send press releases, always welcome, the interview victims, always a pleasure, article contributors, always welcome and I must personally thank Jamie Thompson for the efforts, above and beyond, to garner not only articles that he personally writes but articles from people in his contact list. Finally Jane Mardell for her patience and understanding in dealing with me, until next time…

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Business Manager

Business Manager You will need your website log on details to view the files.

Jane Mardell Business Manager I hope you have all been enjoying your summers. I had a great trip to Greece in June sightseeing in Athens and then yoga and sailing for a week in the Cyclades. It was a little challenging at times due to the strong force 7 winds, nearly lost someone over the side when a wave knocked her over into a guard rail that broke. Just managed to grab her in time. Don’t think the novice sailors on board were that keen on the wind even though it was hot and sunny! APEA Live 2019, 21st November 2019 When you receive this issue there will only be a few months until APEA Live 2019 at Milton Keynes and the APEA Events committee and F2F Events are working hard to get everything in place. There is a lot of work that goes into organising APEA Live behind the scenes to provide a professional and valuable event. Please ensure you pre-register your attendance; you can do this by going to www.apea.org.uk and clicking on the link for APEA Live. Access to the exhibition and conference is FREE but you will need to pre-register. For more information go to page 76 of this issue of the Bulletin. Please also ensure you book your accommodation early as this gets booked well in advance. APEA AGM 21st November, 12.10pm With this issue of the Bulletin you have received an AGM invitation letter and a nomination form. Instructions on how to nominate to council are detailed on the nomination form. This can also be completed electronically and emailed to the Honorary Secretary as well as sending by post. You can also download the form and the APEA 2018 reduced accounts from this link https://apea.org.uk/pages/inside-apea/abbreviated-accounts.

AGM Nominations to council All members should submit their nominations by 10th October to the Honorary Secretary. If there is more than one person nominated for a post instructions will be emailed to members on how to vote for their preferred choice. This process has to be completed two weeks before the AGM on 21st November. If you would like to attend the AGM please email me at admin@apea.org.uk to pre-register your attendance. 2020 Yearbook The 2020 Yearbooks will be distributed on 1st October. If you have not received your copy by the end of October please let me know and I will chase up your delivery. We only have a limited amount of spare copies so you need to contact me by the end of October if you have not received your copy. All Yearbooks sent to Corporate members will be sent by courier. APEA Awards The entry system is open and you can follow the link on the APEA website home page to enter at www.apea.org.uk, the deadline for entries is 1st October. Members email addresses APEA communication to members is carried out by email. Please ensure you keep your email address and contact details up to date on your membership record by logging onto your account at www.apea.org.uk. This will ensure you do not miss out on information about APEA activity. New Members There have been 27 new members joining during April, May and June and details can be found on the next page. General Assistance If you need any assistance with general or technical matters, please do not hesitate to contact me at admin@apea.org.uk or on 0345 603 5507. Regards Jane

APEA Business Manager (contact for all APEA Business and Bulletin advertising, design and typesetting) Jane Mardell APEA, PO Box 106 Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3XT Tel: +44 (0) 345 603 5507 Mobile: +44 (0) 7815 055514 email: admin@apea.org.uk

APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

New Menbers

New Members (Apr to June) Corporate Membership David Long John Wilkinson & Son (Builders) Ltd Stewart Bates Sevan Multi Site Solutions Ltd. Andrew Miller West Midlands Fire Service

Individual Membership Sam Parr Wakefield Metropolitan District Council Dylan Evans London Fire Brigade Kevin Walker Wakefield District Council Chintan Shah John Thomas 10

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New Members

Andy Murray Dundee City Council

James Beggan Beggan Shuttering& Civil Engineering

Paul Blennerhasset Sterling Services (Northern) Ltd

Elizabeth Hanson Nottingham City Trading Standards

Adam Wilson Geo2

Daniel Thompson

Esme Brown Oxfordshire County Council

Dave Poolton Herefordshire Council

Jeffrey Fowler Alpha Signs

Chris Drumm Qualis Training & Consultancy

Farizal Fatimi Petrotechnical Inspection Sdn Bhd

Dongjin Wei Best Technology Asia Ltd

Blaise Mulholland Wakefield Council Marielaure Clarke BCP Council

Grzegorz Swiszcz Trident Engineering Consultants Nicole Cobb Angus Council Trading Standards

Wayne Clarkson Stuart Lynch

Eoin Barry EBC APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Publications Information

Publications Information 4th Edition of the Guidance for Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations - ‘Blue Book’ (Revised 2018) ISBN 978 0 85293 888 1 Price for hard copy APEA Member rate - £75 no vat Non APEA Member rate - £150 no vat Price for pdf version (please note the pdf version is licensed to the purchaser only and cannot be shared or printed) APEA Member rate - £75 plus vat Non APEA Member rate - pdf £150 plus vat If you wish to purchase the guide please go to the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk and click on the ‘Publications’ page. You can select to pay by credit/debit card. The APEA also publishes the Code of Practice for Ground floor, multi storey and underground car parks. This can be downloaded directly from the APEA website and is available to members at £11.00 and £21.00 to non APEA members.

Bulletin Magazine • The Bulletin is published four times a year with a print run of 2200. • Free issue to APEA members (approx 1200 members worldwide) • Has international distribution and readership • Respected source of industry specific news and information • Contains relevant news items and reports from overseas • Individual, Fellow and Retired members receive one copy each and Corporate members receive 5 copies each per quarter. The editor of The Bulletin, Brian Humm, is always on the look out for new material, so if you have something you want to be included, please email it to the APEA office at admin@apea.org.uk and it will be forwarded to Brian for approval. Please email the text in Word format and any images as separate high resolution pdf or jpeg files to admin@apea.org.uk.

We are always pleased to receive contributions from our members and it ensures that The Bulletin remains an interesting and informative read.

Deadline dates for copy and advertising artwork 2019/2020 Issue

Copy deadline

Posting date

Dec 2019

23rd Sept

8th November

March 2020

9th December

14th February

June 2020

23rd March

8th May

Sept 2020

29th June

14th August

Please note the deadline date for the March 2020 issue is early due to Christmas and New Year holidays.

Bulletin Advertising Discounts are available for booking in more than one issue, please contact Jane Mardell at admin@apea.org.uk for more information. Bulletin advertisers that book in 3 or more issues in one year also receive a 50% discount off rates for advertising in the annual Yearbook, see table. If you would like to book advertising in The Bulletin, please email your requirements to admin@apea.org.uk or call the office on 0345 603 5507. Please ensure you send your artwork to admin@apea.org.uk.

Size of advert

Advert in 4 Advert in 1 issues issue (includes 25% disc

Full page (210mmw x 280mmh with 10mm border or with 3mm bleed)

£498.00

£1494.00

½ page (185mmw x 125mmh)

£249.00

£747.00

¼ page (90mmw x 120mmh)

£125.00

£375.00

All rates quoted exclude VAT. 12

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Articles

Articles Interview with Stefan Kunter MD and CEO of the Elaflex Group By Brian Humm, Bulletin Editor Hi Stefan, thank you for agreeing to be my next victim in the interview series for the APEA Bulletin magazine. Firstly could I get you to describe your position within Elaflex? I´m the CEO of the ELAFLEX group and based in Hamburg which is where our headquarters are located. There is much more information about us at www.elaflex.de Obviously, you are kept quite busy then. Can I ask what your industry background is? Were you always within the engineering sector of the petroleum industry? I read digital signal processing at the University of Applied Sciences in Kiel (Germany) where I completed my studies with a degree in engineering. This was followed by a five-year stint at a Research Centre for sensor technology, paying particular attention to material moisture measurement and flow sensors. From 1998 to 2007 I acted as Managing APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Articles Partner of Hamburg-based sensor manufacturer FAFNIR. In 2008, I joined the ELAFLEX group. Interesting. I know from experience that you sit on EN standard committees; do you find this interesting and essential for the role you have? A wide range of stakeholders participate in standardisation activities both in national and also in European committees. These stakeholders include representatives from business and industry; consumer organizations; professional bodies; certification, testing and inspection bodies; etc. The participating in standards allows influencing and contributing to the contents of standards, ensuring that their specific needs are taken into account and establishing contacts with other stakeholders, experts and regulators at European levels. Do you believe that these committees give good guidance for us all to follow? One of the most important benefits of standards is increased productivity and innovative efficiency. However, that's not all. Standards allow faster uptake of innovative solutions and enhance the economic value of research and innovative projects. Developing an EU standard means potential access to the entire EU market (with more than 500 million inhabitants). The European Standardization Organizations (ESO’s) also have agreements with the International Standardization Organizations (ISO and IEC). Your products are well known to our members but how big is the Elaflex operation? What is your actual marketplace globally? Elaflex specialises in safe connections for the transfer of dangerous goods and sensitive fluids. Our strength are standard compliant, long-lasting hoses, fittings, dry disconnect and safety break couplings, expansion joints and of course our ZVA nozzles. We are an internationally operating company with a long history combining innovation, experience and competence. To us equilibrium is essential. Therefore, we stand for key values like responsibility, continuity, the spirit of innovation and flexibility in thought and action. Actually, Elaflex has more than 650 employees around the world with operating and manufacturing companies in the UK, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Brazil and Argentina as well as representation offices in Singapore and China.

I have experience of the Elaflex App that is available for product identification; could you expand a little for our members and do you think that this type of material will be commonplace in the future for other equipment? In May 2018, we launched the Elaflex Product ID App for our refuelling equipment. The Product ID App allows you to transfer our mechanical equipment like hoses, nozzles and safety break away couplings into the digital world – so they get smart. After installation, the user and operator gains access to general technical information and certificates without login. Registered users also have access to additional functions, e. g. product location and history, reporting, maintenance and inspection scheduling. This data is available within a company or among internal users. It is also very informative to petroleum regulators and authorities who can easily access the approvals certificates. Users simply scan the Data Matrix Codes (DMC) on the product or can manually enter the serial number of the product to gain access to the relevant information such as ATEX certificates. The data remains the property of the user. So, get smart and download the App, it´s free of charge. Great, now you must be working extremely long hours, but could I ask that you let us know what you do to relax away from the office environment? Relaxing is important, so in the wintertime I like to go skiing. Golf and sailing helps relaxation during the warm season. Sounds like good fun, is there anything else you would like our members to know about? Yes, I would like to thank the APEA. For more than 20 years, I have regularly taken part in the annual APEA conference, where very good lectures and personal technical discussions have always paired with high-profile conversation participants. I wish the APEA great success in their future work. Ok Stefan, thank you very much for your participation in this interview and hope we will catch up soon.

Shear Satisfaction RIS-SHEAR-ADBLUE-MK2 Raises the Bar By Chris Godfrey, Operations Manager – Risbridger Ltd Back in the late 1990’s Risbridger embarked on a development plan for a product that would become a mainstay of their forecourt product line in years to come. We have all heard the horror stories and seen the pictures of petrol dispensers being demolished by unwary motorists, and to ensure that product spillage and vapour release during such incidents is kept to an absolute minimum, the RIS-SHEAR-G2 vapour shear valve was born. 14

Designed to protect the fuel dispensers’ vapour recovery system should an incident like those mentioned above take place, the RISSHEAR-G2 has become an established product with a track record that has gained and held the confidence of the industry. Since its introduction nearly 25000 of these valves have been shipped all over the world. Over the years Risbridger has invested a significant amount of time and money developing shear valves to protect dispenser systems

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Articles against product spillage due to accidental damage. Shear valves are the tried, tested and most of all trusted method of protection for all types of forecourt dispenser which is why the Blue Book lists them as required protection for forecourt petrol pumps and dispensers. Different products may present different physical characteristics but we didn’t see the need to re-invent the basic shear valve principle to provide the same guaranteed level of product protection on the forecourt. When AdBlue® was first introduced, Risbridger designed and launched the RISSHEAR-ADBLUE shear valve to protect the main product line in the event of accidental impact. AdBlue® is a mixture of Urea and deionised water, and as such can be very reactive with some materials, so the requirements for chemical resistance to the ammonia based AdBlue® were very different from our petrol shear valve. In addition to this, AdBlue® is classed as potentially toxic for fish and wildlife should it find its way into the water course, so minimising product release during any incident is an absolute priority to protect the environment. In order to meet both the shear specifications and the chemical resistance the original valve was produced in HDPE. This resulted in a product that did the job, but it was difficult to machine and produce. The valves also required great care from the installation teams to ensure that they were not subjected to unnecessary stress during installation. As AdBlue® has grown into the market it became apparent that a more robust and user-friendly solution was required. Featuring an all stainless-steel construction for parts in contact with the product, viton seals, and a calibrated aluminium shear ring, the RIS-SHEAR-ADBLUE-MK2 was introduced in 2016. With much simpler machining and assembly requirements, and installation instructions now based on the ever popular RIS-SHEAR-G2, we consider that the new RIS-SHEAR-ADBLUE-

MK2 should be your first port of call when looking to protect your site from AdBlue® spillage if you are unlucky enough to play host to an incident like the ones pictured earlier. Tick all the boxes with RIS-SHEAR-ADBLUE-MK2. The next generation of protection for your AdBlue® product line. AdBlue® is a trademark of the Verband der Automobilindustrie e.V. (VDA). See www.vda.de/de

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Articles

Regulation Compliant Diesel Storage and Dispensing By Rob Futcher, Managing Director at Commercial Fuel Solutions Ltd Throughout the UK there are hundreds of thousands of diesel fuel storage tanks which collectively each year dispense hundreds of millions of litres. These storage and transfer systems vary greatly in type and size, ranging from small agricultural installations dispensing gas oil into tractors all the way up to multiple storage facilities delivering to national fleets. As with any place of work, the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 applies and irrespective of the scale of any diesel fuel installation, it is necessary to ensure certain risk assessments are undertaken. The risk assessments which apply are those relating to hazards arising from handling flammable liquids (DSEAR), the suitability of the handling equipment (EPSR) and their potential impact on the environment (Oil Storage/Control of Pollution). APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Articles • Inspected, to ensure that it is and continues to be safe for use. Any inspection should be carried out by a competent person (this could be an employee if they have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to perform the task) and a record kept until the next inspection. In conclusion; These requirements may seem excessive to some, however it is necessary that all the above regulatory requirements are met. Fortunately, Commercial Fuel Solutions Ltd has produced a user-friendly support pack consisting of various information including documentation, guidance, labelling and forms enabling site operators to quickly evaluate the risks associated to diesel storage and assist them to prepare the required risk assessments. By investing in one of our support packs you can take full advantage of the risk management For many diesel installations, especially where the fuel is dispensed, employers also expertise we've gained through our extensive have specific obligations under both PUWER and the Health and Safety at Work research, investigation and regulatory work over etc Act. the last 20 years, benefiting from our experience and unique understanding of common causes of A brief overview of these requirements and respective obligations can be found failure, good working practices, and how you can below. apply our methodology in your own business to manage your diesel storage and handling risks. DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) This has been a heated debate for a couple of years now, but put simply; it is The support pack includes a wealth of information necessary for all diesel tanks in the UK to have a DSEAR risk assessment undertaken. and provides easy to follow step by step guidance Effectively, a DSEAR assessment evaluates those risks to employees which arise with corresponding check lists which enable from handling diesel. A correct assessment will also confirm if the system is suitably correct use of the included templates. In addition designed to prevent hazardous areas of flammable vapour and mists from forming. to the DSEAR risk assessment documentation, guidance on environmental spill response planning It should be duly noted that this does not necessarily mean ATEX equipment is and spill kit calculations are included. This is needed; regulation 5 of DSEAR confirms if the EPSR (see below) applies, confirming supplemented with adhesive spill response notices if requirements for certified equipment are to be used in addition to existing and a selection of labels for the storage tank which protection methods and control measures. meet the new globally harmonised system (GHS). EPSR 2016 (The Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) (previously EPS 1996) In the UK, relevant apparatus in hazardous area applications must be selected on the basis of EPSR, unless the risk assessment under DSEAR regulation 5 finds otherwise. The EPSR advises the protection levels and type approvals needed. Oil Storage/Control of Pollution Regulations Regulation varies slightly between regions but there is a national requirement to ensure that commercial fuel storage facilities greater than 200 litres comply. This includes having adequate materials and training to deal with a spill and having spill response planning in place.

To complement the risk assessment documentation, guidance on creating suitable procedures and training records is included, along with advice on maintenance and producing documented service records. Contained within a tough, long-lasting polypropylene binder with additional pockets, the support pack forms a durable risk assessment folder which can endure industrial use and be kept on hand where it is needed adjacent to the storage tank.

PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) If you are an employer or self-employed person and you provide equipment for use at work, or if you have control of the use of equipment, then PUWER will apply to Future updates on guidance and changes in legislation are also provided through our bulletin you. service and all customers purchasing one of our support packs are entitled to technical support Your obligations are to ensure that the equipment is: from our team of consultants and engineers. For more information on the specifics included within • Suitable for use, and for the purpose and conditions in which it is to be used. our diesel storage tank risk assessment support • Maintained in a safe condition for use so that people’s health and safety is not at pack, please visit www.commercialfuelsolutions.co.uk/risk risk. 18

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Articles

Is this the Filling Station of the Future? By Jamie Thompson, Chairman of the Technical Committee The following photographs and information have been supplied by the Architects of a brand new electric charging station that has been built in Denmark. The ultra-fast charging station is part of a larger Scandinavian network of 48 ultrafast charging stations along Danish, Swedish and Norwegian highways. This Scandinavian network is the northernmost part of a larger network extending from Norway in the north to Rome in the south. The design layout is similar to the principle of the petrol station that we have all come to accept but the materials and the facilities are a little different. A new ultra-fast charging station for electric vehicles has now been unveiled in the Danish city of Fredericia.

A filling station design for electric cars

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Articles The stations are designed by COBE and offer to recharge the batteries of both vehicles and drivers. In cooperation with Powered by E.ON, Drive & Clever, COBE has designed a new type of charging station for electric vehicles (EV’s) in Scandinavia. The stations not only promise to recharge a vehicle in just 15 minutes but also offer drivers and passengers a welcome break and the chance to recharge their own mental batteries while the car is being powered up. The new charging station is centrally located on the E20 motorway in the Danish city of Fredericia. The first of its kind, it is part of an upcoming network of 48 ultra-fast EV charging stations along Scandinavian highways. In the future, electricity will replace fossil fuels in our vehicles. However, while it currently takes around five minutes to fill up the fuel tank, recharging an EV is a much more time-consuming process.

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Articles

station. The new ultra-fast charging stations, currently being installed, are a place where drivers can quickly and efficiently recharge their vehicle and themselves. “Electric vehicles are the way of the future. With our design we offer EV drivers a time-out and an opportunity to mentally recharge in a green oasis. The energy and the technology are green, so we wanted the architecture, the materials and the concept to reflect that. So, we designed a charging station in sustainable materials placed in a clean, calm setting with trees and plantings that offer people a dose of mindfulness on the highway,” says Dan Stubbergaard, architect and founder of COBE.

In our busy everyday lives, every minute counts. Thus, future charging stations should not only optimize the car’s charging time but also offer a meaningful mental break for people to rejuvenate themselves while on the move. COBE’s design, which won the infrastructure award at the 2018 Danish Building Awards for its groundbreaking architecture, revolves around a green rethink of the traditional petrol APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

The charging stations consist of a series of structural “trees”. They feature canopies much like the crowns of trees that filter and offer shade and protection from the elements while defining a green setting and a calming atmosphere. Somewhat different to a traditional petrol station where lines of 21

Articles vehicles are being refuelled with associated car exhaust. A sustainable design Thanks to a modular design concept the stations are scalable, so a single “tree” can easily become an entire “grove” depending on the need. The stations are constructed in certified wood and concrete, topped by solar panels and surrounded by actual trees, grass and other plantings selected in cooperation with the Danish Society for Nature Conservation with the aim of enhancing biodiversity around the station. All components of the construction can be broken down into usable and recyclable materials and the choice of wood as a building material further emphasizes the building’s sustainable design. A Zen feel The first of the ultra-fast charging stations, which opens today, offers a relaxed experience in nature with a capacity of recharging four EVs simultaneously. The Fredericia charging station is constructed as a grove of 12 “trees” with a total crown of 400-m2, rendered in a mix of open and closed roof panels. The goal is for both the new and the coming charging stations to offer users a pleasant, restful and Zen-like feel that may even, hopefully, make the roads safer. In the longer term, ultra-fast charging stations can also help make it more attractive to invest in EV’s and thus promote the transition from fossil fuels to more green, more energy-efficient and CO2-neutral transportation both in Denmark and abroad. For additional information, please contact Stine Lund Hansen, Director of Business Development and Communications, COBE, E: slh@cobe.dk, T: +45 3254 4300, M: +45 2729 2442 3. The ultra-fast charging stations offer both CCS and CHAdeMO charging, making them compatible with the vast majority of EVs. CHAdeMO is being retrofitted during the second quarter of 2019. The charging points provide 150+ kW and will be able to recharge a typical EV battery in a matter of 15–20 minutes. The charging points can be upgraded to 350 kW when mainstream EV’s come to support the high output. The design of the ultra-fast charging station invites travellers to take a meaningful break while they’re on the move. The pioneering architecture received the infrastructure award at the 2018 Danish Building Awards. The construction materials are selected for their sustainable properties, and the plants were selected in cooperation with the Danish Society for Nature Conservation to promote biodiversity around the station. The ultra-fast charging stations in Denmark and Sweden are built with support from two EU Commission projects: Connecting Europe Facility and High Speed Electric Mobility across Europe. Powered by E.ON Drive & Clever is going to build and operate a total of 48 ultra-fast charging stations in Scandinavia: 8 in Denmark, 20 in Sweden and 20 in Norway. All photos credited to Rasmus Hjortshøj – COAST. 22

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Pressure Testing of Tanks and Lines an Outdated Necessity? By Eur Ing Professor R S Bridges CEng FEANI, FIMechE, FIEE, PhD Professor R S Bridges is consultant to the petrochemical industry in a number of countries and expert witness. NB This paper came as a request from the Chairman of the Technical Committee who received a question from a petroleum inspector who wanted to know why a nitrogen pressure test did not find a leak on an old tank.

importantly it serves as a proof of integrity3 at a time of an incident or important change, including of ownership or of responsibility. What it does not do is provide a guarantee of future performance - nothing does, though vendors of NDT systems may claim otherwise.

Precision testing1 of tanks and lines has been with us for decades2 but even today it is neither widely used nor consistently accepted throughout Europe even though major oil companies have long since standardised on it.

The current wisdom is to monitor the integrity of an installation by inventory reconciliation including SIR/SIA4, by quiet time monitoring5, by interstitial monitoring6, by groundwater monitoring etc with some systems having alarms. Each of these has strengths and weaknesses. Disappointingly, human senses are too often the fallback for detection7 of a problem but, whatever the trigger, tank and line testing are increasingly used, not just for confirmation of a problem suggested by other means but, for diagnosis. The following diagram illustrates this connection and the use of monitoring to confirm the repair or renewal is implied.

In the past, testing served (and occasionally still does) as an assurance that an installation still has integrity when monitoring options are unavailable, unexplored or considered unreliable. More

The monitoring of the site (apex of the triangle) is often carried out by the site management, though can be subcontracted. If no incident occurs and no certification required, the rest of the

The intent of this text is to offer guidance. None of it should be taken as criticism of any organisation or individual ‐ this is expressly not its purpose.

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Unnamed site

triangle becomes irrelevant. In the presence of an alarm or change of situation, which no other local action explains or solves, diagnostic integrity testing of all relevant parts of the installation should follow, directing the work to remedy all causes found. Subsequent return to monitoring should prove the fix/es if, and only if, the monitoring is to the same or better standards as the testing. A story may illustrate the above (a subtitle might be 'Who does what by when?' or 'Who should have done what by when?'). The smell of fuel was detected by a member of the public at their own property, to their mind obviously emanating from the adjacent filling station. Wishing to avoid conflict with filling station staff, the neighbour reported the incident to the local authority, which

to the oil company and, on their advice, confirmed to the regulator that, while there had been no issue flagged, nor alarms sounded etc, there would be a full internal review of the known information. The review contained the following findings: inventory reconciliation showed no particular problem except for small apparent delivery gains on a relined tank (typical if not recalibrated8); the interstitial alarm system had apparently been disabled due to false positives; quiet time monitoring did not reveal a problem; one tank was making a bit of water. A tank test (encompassing "all connected lines") was commissioned on all four tanks following A7.1.1.2 of the then-current IP 'Blue Book', requiring a 60-minute pressure test at 0.7barg9 (10psi or 67kPa). In the event the test was modified to testing at 0.2barg10 for 12 hours. The subsequent test report contained these words "We did not find any pressure drop during this testing". It was accepted by the local authority and communicated to the disappointed neighbour. Let's take a coffee break to think about this: An interstitial was mentioned and A7.1.1.2 is for single walled tanks. Tanks were not tested empty but with low fuel level11 between 250‐ 550mm. There was (and has to be for safety) an hydraulic seal but this 'insulates' the fill line and the product lines from a meaningful combined test of the ullage. It is not known whether the PV valve was sealed but at 0.2barg perhaps it should be closed anyway. It should be noted that, for this type of test, a double walled tank12 will only fail if both the primary and the secondary walls are flawed.

Corrosion

referred it to the environmental protection department. When their inspector attended the station, the manager disclaimed all knowledge of a problem but then worried about his legal position. Incidentally, just because a problem is detected so nearby, it is no proof that the nearest filling station is the source. Statistically, underground storage tanks are more plentiful outside filling stations and are probably less well maintained or monitored. Some may not even be on any records. Also, the furthest, provably‐recorded, detected leak from a filling station was in excess of 30 miles! However, prudently, the filling station manager reported the visit 26

But it gets worse ‐ our reasonable assumption (and that of A7.1.1.2) that constant pressure implies no leak is itself flawed. Statistically, based on over a million tests in 20 years, pressures of tight lines and of tight tanks rise when tested. Opposite are five lines tested recently at the same major oil company site which mirror several hundred lines tested every month. All five lines show a characteristic rise in pressure. To achieve the required constant pressure for the above tests we would have to crack a small leak! In fairness, if we chose our wording carefully we might add "all else being constant" to "no loss of pressure recorded by the gauge" but the twenty or so "all elses" never happen in practice. In the above examples, all lines exhibited an increase in temperature for instance.

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Articles If it's so obvious that pressure testing is flawed, why has no one noticed, and why do we use it? In answer to the second question, it's like democracy ‐ all the other systems are so much worse (and smart tests can compensate for the flaws). In answer to the first question, a "150mm dial gauge" probably won't 'record' the change and even 1Pa (0.00015psi) may not be precise enough for our purposes. Note to self: constant pressure probably means the system is leaking or the test instrumentation cannot detect a problem. Meanwhile we'll finish the coffee later. Returning to our problem site, it seems that doing the same things and expecting different results may not be a valid policy. Soon after the test, the station manager also noticed a fuel smell and, in discussion with the oil company, decided to retest using a more thorough system, comprising: tank wet, ullage and interstitial tests; separate tests of each line (including those no longer in service) and; of the vapour recovery system. In summary, the second report found a leaking interstitial primary (leaking into the tank which had been gaining water13) and a failed fill line on the same tank. It was suggested that losses from the fill line on delivery may have been somewhat offset by ingress from the interstitial confounding the inventory reconciliation. The relined tank was found to be tight and its cancelling losses and gains were corrected retrospectively and permanently by RRA8. Two retired lines were identified as failing. The VR system was proven unable to retain vapour due to PV valve failure but was corrected simply by its replacement. The failed fill line was replaced. There had been a surface depression above the point of

failure. The local authority was informed as was the relieved neighbour. Now to finish the coffee. Dip a finger in the coffee and shake a droplet into the saucer. Notice how much more self‐ evident is that droplet where none should be, than that there is a drop missing from the full cup. Yet in tank testing that is what we are trying to do ‐ find 2 drops/second missing from say 40000 ltrs‐ because USTs have no saucer14 though it has been attempted. Depending on tank diameter and fill level, a 1mm level change represents about 25 litres and, to achieve 0.38l/h, we're looking to measure about 15 microns, less than a fifth of the thickness of a human hair. But it's not as easy as this! We have to eliminate level rise or fall due to expansion or contraction of the fuel, on average 0.1% per degree C, which for our half full 40000 ltr tank is 20 litres per degree C ‐ in other words a temperature change of 0.02 degrees per hour will mask or simulate 0.38l/h. No tank in the world has this level of thermal stability. Incidentally, due to intrinsic safety requirements, electrical/electronic instrumentation may not be permitted in the tank. Little wonder that basic systems such as

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listening for leaks seem attractive.

something that no one in the whole world has ever found a better way to do?

Notes to self ‐ for future issues: This is complex. What do we really need to discover in this situation? Is testing the unequivocal way of delivering this? What limitations does each system have? What protocol must be followed to deliver the required result? Most of the above is the responsibility of the tank and line testers and comprises a small proportion of the required technical and practical considerations. The rest of us who are charged with a moral and legal responsibility to protect people, the environment and property just need to ask pertinent questions or seek the help of those who can do it for them. Notes: 1 Precision testing is testing to an accepted fine level of detectable loss or gain. Such a standard, for example, was set in the USA fifty years ago at 0.1 usg/h and the US EPA established a number of protocols for the third party testing of available technologies creating the internationally recognised precedent "certified to US EPA 0.38 l/h" (NB: not "certified by US EPA"). Since the arrival of precision testing, we have had the introduction of high precision (HPT) and ultra high precision testing (UHT). 2 The first U tube manometer was invented in 1661 and the first pressure gauge in 1849. Similar gauges are used to test tanks and lines nearly 170 years later. What other technology though do we have in our lives that we still use unchanged today,

3 A holed tank may have integrity in an impermeable backfill. 4 Not all problems detected through reconciliation are leaks. Pump overstrikes resemble line leaks and should be eliminated before quantitative line tests are performed. SIR rarely reveals water ingress or pump understrikes, they tend to be 'swallowed' by, ie aggregated with, 'evaporation' losses. 5 Quiet time monitoring 'tests' only the wetted part, typically <35%, without pressure, against whatever the groundwater level may be. Testing at a single pressure only and interstitial monitoring have the same weakness. 6 In interstitial monitoring, the choice of monitoring fluid is critical with vacuum arguably the best. 7 Roughly 50% of all 'incidents' are 'detected' by human senses principally, sight, smell (and taste in tap water). 8 Remote Recalibration Algorithms deconstruct recent reconciliation statements using the old strapping table to create or refine a new one, empirically. 9 No simple pressure test has ever passed to US EPA 0.38 l/h and even 0.38l/h (= 9 litres/day ie 3400 lts/year) is no longer considered adequate - a water ingress just below this amount

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Articles (an EPA pass) would have stations filling cars with water in about a week so we now have high precision tests capable of achieving 2 l/day = 0.08 lts/h. 10 The US API discourages a pressure greater than 5psi on the floor of a tank - it represents over 450 tons of force in an average sized tank and is considered a structural risk. In practice, 3psi of this could be contributed by the tank contents so for prudence most test companies use 1.5psi of the 2psi balance, testing at 10 to15kPa instead. 11 Not all systems can test below 250mm fill - their certification should be closely examined. 12 About 1% of all tanks 'birthday tested' fail each year whether or not they are double walled. 13 Not all systems can test an interstitial, let alone discover which of its two walls may be leaking. In the cited case, an intelligent

dip rod (IDR) had been used to detect and then sample the tank contamination to verify its source. 14 Groundwater monitors and interstitials could constitute our saucer, as could bunds for ASTs and chemical fuses. Glossary barg = bar gauge is the pressure recorded by a normal (differential) gauge, ie pressure relative to atmospheric. false positives = alarms sounding or tests failing for no apparent reason micron = millionth of a metre NDT= non destructive testing systems including measurement of thickness at a point, location of cracks etc Pascal = SI (metric) unit of pressure. At sea level approximately, 100kPa= 1bar=15psi (pounds/square inch) UST = underground storage tank (AST = above ground storage tank)

Visit to the Elaflex Factory Ruhr Valley, Plettenberg, Germany By Brian Humm, Bulletin Editor Following on from my usual plea for material for inclusion within the APEA Bulletin magazine and my recent visit to Malta to produce the article for Tanks and Pipeworks Limited in respect of the complex engineering feat of the addition of tank lining to the Has Saptan fuelling facility, I was contacted by the APEA immediate past Chairman, Anton Martiniussen. Anton is the managing director of Elaflex UK Limited and Secretary and Treasurer of the Eastern Branch who was organising an Eastern Branch visit to the Company’s factory in Germany. I was cordially invited to accompany the visit and write the following article. The invitation to attend this trip was extended to all branches and the Irish branch was quick to take up the offer, so very early on a Wednesday morning I travelled to Gatwick airport to catch a flight to Dusseldorf, accompanied by various eastern branch members. Once in Dusseldorf we waited for the flight from Dublin to arrive, collected a packed lunch, courtesy of Elaflex, and then onwards to the waiting coach.

Krupp Statue

The first point of call was to the Villa Hügel, located in Essen, in the Ruhr Valley. This was the home of the German industrialist Alfred Krupp and his family since 1864; the Krupp family were influential in the production of steel,

Entrance to Villa Hugel

artillery, ammunition and other armaments. Another little known fact is that the family were very strong on worker’s rights and introduced unprecedented benefits such as sickness, accident and life insurance to name but a few for their workforce; one of the most powerful dynasties in European history that lasted for over 400 years.

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The tour of the Villa, and the associated living premises, that was utilised by the Krupp family in later years, was presented by a knowledgeable guide. The exhibits, paintings, portraits and history of both the premises and the family were quite impressive; the rooms and decoration was very 18th/19th Century but have stood the test of time. The guide went through the history of the family, the estate surrounding the villa, the steel works and the introduction of the railway through to the 2nd World War, amazing history indeed. The one fact that I particularly brought away with me is that although Adolf Hitler visited the Villa on occasions he wasn’t invited to stay because the lady of the house didn’t like him! The Villa is a great example of early architecture and history and is well worth a visit, and although the surrounding area within the Ruhr Valley was extensively bombed during the war because of the industrial nature of the area, the Villa remained unscathed throughout the conflict. The group then moved onto the Hotel Platte situated in Attendorn, a beautiful area and a lovely traditional German hotel. During the evening Elaflex laid on pre-dinner drinks and a dinner for the whole group, an amazing evening and a great networking opportunity and also a time for industry stories to be told of people’s experiences and amusing moments during their business. It was a really good evening and I would like to thank Anton and Stefan for providing the evening dinner and drinks.

Krupp Villa Hugel dining room

At 0900 the next morning the coach departed from the hotel to undertake the two-hour drive to the Elaflex Hiby factory complex APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

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Clare Scawthorn, Anton Martiniussen and Jamie Thompson outside Hotel Platte

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Elaflex dinner

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based in Plettenberg; once again a beautiful countryside setting. We were welcomed to the plant and shown to the Tower room where we met our hosts from the Elaflex group, Stefan Kunter, MD & CEO of the Elaflex Group, Moritz Hiby, who is the MD in charge of the factory, and Thomas Wullkopf who inducted us to the plant with a health and safety briefing. There was then a session of presentations for the group starting with a history of the Elaflex group; interesting facts and information as to how large and impressive the group is and also the range of products that they supply as well as the well-known PFS components of Nozzles, hoses, safe break couplings, stage II VR etc. The Elaflex group has its headquarters in Hamburg and employees 630 worldwide. The Hamburg facility carries out product development, sales,

Presentations in the tower room

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Articles storage and assembly of components. An important part of the process given that >70% of the products are exported throughout the world. Robust quality control is an important part of any business and Elaflex are probably one of the best. They are ISO 9001 and AQAP accredited; they are also accredited NATO suppliers for liquid handling products. The company are extremely customer focused and have inhouse high-quality research, innovation and design. They are heavily involved within the EN standards groups and also work closely with industrial groups. The products are high quality and have exceptional life expectancy, which in turn gives excellent value and low downtime providing total cost of ownership benefits for customers. During the presentation it was also revealed the other industries that the Elaflex group manufacture products for LPG, CNG, Railways industry, Aircraft industry, Chemical and Pharmaceutical; it goes to show that the Company are involved and are specialist in fuel and liquid management on a massive scale. The group also have premises, businesses and partnerships worldwide; in the UK, South America, New Zealand to name but a few. These facts opened my eyes as to the size of the operation - a far cry from a forecourt nozzle and hose assembly on a wet night in Islington! Following on was a presentation from Stefan Kunter who gave a very interesting talk on the rise (and fall) of alternative fuels, hydrogen, various other gases and obviously EV’s. The topic was well thought out; I particularly liked the comparison of the cost of developing an EV as opposed to operating a carbon powered vehicle, something that somewhat bothers me. Once again a very informative talk. Jamie Thompson then gave a well-received presentation on the looming topic of Brexit and the BSI stance as to the validity of the EN standards following the UK leaving the EU sometime this year. Basically, and thankfully in my opinion, common sense has prevailed and the standards that are in existence will remain following all the political shenanigans that are taking place.

Stefan Kunter

Then followed the presentation in regards to the newly developed Elaflex App, given by Thomas, a free download from all mobile platforms. The App can trace the history of all Elaflex products; for instance every nozzle is laser printed with a QR code during the manufacturing process. This can be scanned using the APP and an engineer can see the detail of the whole of the manufacture and also the product manual and information sheet/instructions etc. for that particular model. In my opinion a really innovative app and will be a benefit to the customers and equipment

Jamie Thompson presenting

suppliers alike. I recommend that members should take a look at the App, even if for information purposes. Lastly it fell to myself to present a personal view of my career over the years that I was a Petroleum inspector; hopefully well received by the group. We were then given a guided tour of the factory floor. This was carried out in groups so that everything could be explained clearly. 34

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Elaflex App logo

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Robotics in manufacturing

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Articles The set-up of the facility flows really well; the mixture of automation and manual tasks was impressive. A good balance of both, in my opinion, has been achieved. We followed the complete nozzle manufacturing process from start to finish, from the raw material being processed to the assembly of the nozzle and boxing of the finished product, and all the quality assurance processes that there are at various stages of the operation. This shows to me that quality is at the forefront of the company’s policy. I also noticed that all the staff that were present and carrying out, what could seem fairly repetitive tasks, were content in their workplace. They have obviously been

ZVA nozzle tests

trained extensively in their jobs and take pride in both their clean workplace and the company that they work for.

ZVA nozzle approval markings

The amount of investment that has been allocated to the Plettenberg facility is notable, especially the robotic elements of the process; impressive to me who actually worked within a production facility, albeit many years ago.

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ZVA nozzle assembly bench

ZVA nozzle packaging

Following an excellent lunch, once again provided by Elaflex Hiby, which gave another opportunity for networking. We said farewell to our hosts and boarded the coach back to Dusseldorf airport and the short flight back to the UK. My final words on this extraordinary visit are that I will never look at an Elaflex ZVA nozzle on a forecourt in the same way again. I would like to thank Anton for inviting me along to this visit and also our hosts in Germany, Stefan, Moritz and Thomas for their hospitality and warm welcome throughout the day. If Elaflex ever offer this opportunity to a Branch again I would certainly recommend that members consider attending; an extremely worthwhile experience. 38

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Tom, Conor, Jamie, Tom, Michael, Phil, Nick, Anton,Tony, Simon, Clare, Brian, Andrew, Kwaku, Steve, Gary

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News Forecourt crime down Incidents of forecourt crime fell by 7.5% during the first quarter of 2019, it has been reported. The BOSS Forecourt Crime Index is based on No Means of Payment (NMoP) incident reports that are made to BOSS as part of its Payment Watch scheme. During Q1 2019 the BOSS index fell to 14 (151: Q4 2018). The index was established at 100 in Q2 2015. During Q1 2019, the average number of incidents recorded per site was 10.1 (Q4 2018: 10.7) resulting in the average initial loss per site, before any BOSS Payment Watch recovery, falling to £484 in the quarter (Q4 2018: £560). The average fuel price in the quarter was 125.2 ppl, 4.5% lower than in the previous quarter (131.1ppl: Q4 2018), and the average initial loss per site in litres fell to 386 (428: Q4 2018). Kevin Eastwood, BOSS executive director, said: “All our indicators are moving in the right direction and during the early part of 2019

we have seen incidents of forecourt crime continue to fall. It is positive to see the average number of incidents per site fall again as BOSS has worked hard to tackle forecourt crime and increasingly retailers are taking on more responsibility to control crime.” “Any loss is unacceptable, and we still need retailers to remain vigilant and take responsibility to ensure that, where incidents do take place, the correct evidence is collected and retained. BOSS will continue to promote stronger partnerships between retailers and police forces. These have proved to reduce losses for retailers, reduce demands on police time, and bring persistent offenders before the courts.” Forecourt crime is estimated to cost retailers more than £30 million annually with some two thirds of crime resulting from drive-offs and the remainder coming from NMoP incidents. BOSS Payment Watch is now responsible for recovering more than £8 million of NMoP losses for retailers.

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EV charging stations outnumber petrol stations for first time Public electric vehicle (EV) charging locations have outnumbered petrol stations across the UK for the first time. Data from Zap-Map shows that there are 8,471 charging locations across the UK, hosting a total of 13,613 charging devices. In contrast, there are currently only 8,400 petrol stations in the UK. The firm believes that there has been a 57% increase in the number of charging locations in the past 12 months. “The public and private

sectors are now investing heavily in the UK’s EV charging infrastructure to ensure that there are sufficient charging points to support the growing electric fleet,” commented Ben Lane, cofounder and CTO at Zap-Map. The expanding network supports an increasing number of electric vehicles on the road, expanding from only 3,500 cars just six years ago, to more than 210,000 currently.

Rontec awards five-year contract to ICASA Rontec Roadside Retail, one of the leading players in the UK forecourt industry and operating over 240 forecourts across England and Wales, has awarded a five-year contract to ICASA to manage the back and head office for its stations with their ICASA Energy Software Suite. ‘We are near completing the rollout of the project, which is aiming at managing the full wet and dry stock for roughly 170 stations via the ICASA Energy Software Suite,’ Tom Cookson, Fuels & IT Director of Rontec explains. ‘One of the strengths of the ICASA Suite is that it is process driven and can be configured to reflect our own processes. We can map or remap our business processes onto the ICASA Suite, for instance by making features available at

HQ or station, changing layouts of reports; the ICASA suite supports various operating modes within one system environment, which gives us the flexibility to make the desired business decisions and have a system to follow them through.’ ‘As our wet stock recording is directly connected to the ICASA suite, we are able to centralise our stock levels, price management and transactional detail for all our stations. Based on the daily reports we can control and analyze the performance and the profitability of our stations, and make sure our customers get the best service possible.’ ‘The ICASA Energy Suite gives us a great deal of flexibility in

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UK News running our shops, from perspective of allowing us to have multiple dry stock suppliers to best suit our operating model, overall and in a given station. Running our shops is largely done using the handheld scanners and the ICASA Shop app. With this modern and neatly arranged mobile application the shop manager can manage his orders, deliveries, inventories, and expired products in a simple and efficient way. The app is interacting continuously and directly with the back and head office of the ICASA suite, which means up- and downloads and corrupt data transfers are definitively a thing of the past.’ ‘The extensive management reporting on shop performance, article categories, wet stock control offer us very useful management info’, Tom Cookson continues. ‘Whether this is for the overall network or for a given region or brand, we can evaluate, take decisions and adjust wherever necessary thanks to the quick and granular data that we can collect and interpret in a simple way. ICASA provides us a flexible solution which perfectly matches the changing needs for information of our business.’ ‘The roll-out is running smoothly, supported not in the least by the knowledgeable business support team as well as the highly technical IT team of Rontec, supported by our own team in second

or third line. We ensure knowledge is being transferred to the teams in the process of going live, thus enabling Rontec to build up a knowledge center inside the company and allowing ICASA to run the systems in the background. While the ICASA team transitions the stations to the ICASA suite, the capable Rontec team takes care of the on-site deployment and training of the users,’ Rudi Bollen, CEO of ICASA, concludes. ‘For us, success of this and any project is driven by the teams that make them happen!’ Grow with (the needs of) its customers. For ICASA, customer satisfaction, innovation and quality go hand in hand. ICASA is continuously adapting and enhancing its cloud suite as the market and customer’s needs evolve. With technologies, business trends and customer expectations evolving at an ever increasing pace, ICASA is staying abreast of these new trends and incorporates them in its extensive portfolio of management solutions once sufficiently safe and mature technologies are at hand. The core strength of the ICASA Energy Software Suite lies in the fact that it offers a cloud platform and application to perform a company’s multitude of core functions end-to-end in a single environment. Standard dashboards with extensive details and configuration options offer its customers great added value to monitor and adjust matters where necessary.

Euro Garages buys top performing site in Scotland Euro Garages has bought a petrol filling station in Clydebank, which is one of Scotland’s top performing dealer forecourts. West Highway Service Station was acquired by specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co acting on EG Group’s behalf, in an off-market transaction, from GS (Kilmarnock). West Highway Service Station sits on the busy Great Western Road (A82) close to Clydebank, north west of Glasgow, and benefits from the high volumes of passing trade.

The site comprises a Shell branded petrol filling station, Spar store and Subway franchise, providing a strong offering and multiple income streams. “West Highway Services is a prominent and successful petrol filling station on one of Glasgow’s busiest thoroughfares. The opportunity to acquire the site on an off-market basis was very appealing to the EG Group. West Highway Services will sit well within our growing Scottish estate,” said Neil Findlay, Acquisition Manager at Euro Garages. The business was sold for an undisclosed price.

Certas Energy makes double acquisition in Wales This latest acquisition increases the Certas Energy portfolio to 35 sites. Certas Energy has added two West Wales fillings stations to its growing company portfolio with the acquisition of Square & Compass and Letterson Filling Stations, both formerly owned by Roger and Anne Shackleton. The couple have operated their Pembrokeshire forecourt business for 22 years; the two Gul-branded forecourts are integral to the local community, with large and successful convenience stores and a combined fuel volume of 5.6mlpa. “We are delighted to have concluded this deal, it’s a very good fit for our business as we continue to grow our company operation across the UK,” said Richard Billington, retail director, Certas Energy. “We already have a strong Gulf presence within Pembrokeshire and these two flagship sites will complement our thriving and expanding dealer operation.” 42

“Anne and Roger have put their heart and soul into their business and its standing within the locality is testament to their hard work and that of a very talented team, whom we look forward to working with. We’ll bring the sites into harmony with the rest of our company-owned operation, investing in the latest back-office technology and on-site facilities to future-proof the business. We will also remain true to the values established by the Shackletons to be at the heart of the local community.” The two forecourts currently employ 20 people. They are seven miles apart, both situated in the town of Haverfordwest. Dave Morris, Director at specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, acted on behalf of owners Anne and Roger and commented: “The two forecourts presented a great opportunity for a buyer as they are in a good location and well-regarded locally. It has been a pleasure to work for Anne and Roger who have been passionate fuel retailers for over 20 years, and we wish them all the best with

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UK News their retirement. Both sites are a good fit for Certas Energy, and we look forward to seeing them transition into Certas’ company owned portfolio.” Reflecting on his departure from the business, Roger Shackleton said: “We have fantastic staff and a successful business that has been nurtured to the needs of our community. I’ve loved every minute of the ever-changing environment of forecourt and convenience retailing. I still get up every morning at 4am to prepare for the day ahead but now seems the right time to retire. Certas Energy and Gulf Retail are better suited to unlock the future potential and get the very best out of our two sites. It’s a very

emotive time for us both, we regard our staff as family but we know they are in good hands. The Gulf team are genuine, the process has been relatively smooth and David Morris of Christie and Co has been brilliant, working tirelessly to keep the deal progressing and to get us to this place.” “When we drive past the sites in the future, we may feel saddened that we are no longer at the helm but in Gulf Retail, we are happy that we have sold to the right people.” This latest acquisition by Certas Energy increases its company portfolio to 35 sites as it continues to grow the Gulf network in size and scale.

Gridserve eyes first of 100 EV forecourts in England More than 100 sites are to be developed under a five-year infrastructure programme valued at around £1 billion. British company Gridserve announced that it has submitted a planning application to build an ‘Electric Forecourt’ in Braintree, Essex. The Gridserve Electric Forecourt will offer simultaneous rapid charging for fleets, commercial and private vehicles. Twenty-four ultra-fast charging bays are supported by batteries to enable the maximum power requirements of all chargers simultaneously. This includes 350kW chargers with options to upgrade chargers to 500kW. MW charging options for buses and heavy-duty vehicles will also be available at the site. The UK-wide £1 billion program from Gridserve is one of 11

projects selected by the Department for International Trade. The £5 billion portfolio of energy and infrastructure projects across the UK are supported by the Department to garner interest from global investors. “Braintree is in the unique position of being the first of over 100 sites across the UK to host a Gridserve Electric Forecourt. Every site will be powered by batteries and supplied by solar energy. With convenient, dependable, ultra-fast charging, we’re making charging an EV as easy as using petrol stations”, said Toddington Harper, CEO, and founder of Gridserve. In the coming months, the UK company is planning to submit applications for sites in York and Hull, adjacent to two of the UK’s most advanced solar farms which are also being constructed by the British company.

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UK/International News

No more free air at Morrison’s sites The goods and fuel retailer is getting rid of its air deal due to the costs of new installations. British supermarket and gas station chain Morrisons is scrapping its free air deal. Customers that spent over £15 would have access to free air until now. “We have been installing new air machines across all of our petrol

stations,” a spokesperson told the Mirror. "To offer lower cost air to all of our customers we introduced a 10p minimum vend which we believe is the cheapest in the industry." Previously, customers who bought £15 or more of fuel at a Morrisons petrol station were given a voucher for free air. For those without vouchers, it was 20p for each minute using the machine.

Bio-diesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions The use of bio-based fuels reduced 4.3 million tons of carbon dioxide in California during 2018 it has been announced.

In that time renewable diesel and biodiesel have reduced CO2 emissions by over 18 million tons.

According to new data gathered by the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, bio-based diesel fuels deliver the state’s biggest reduction in carbon emissions for the transportation sector.

“This study from CARB is a welcome confirmation: renewable diesel can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make an immediate contribution to the reduction of California's carbon footprint all while using existing infrastructure and without further investments,” says Jeremy Baines, Vice President, Neste US Inc.

In 2018, the use of these bio-based fuels reduced 4.3 million tons of carbon dioxide in California. This amount surpassed the reduction from ethanol for the first time since the program started in 2011.

Neste MY Renewable Diesel is one of the bio-based diesel fuels – a low-carbon fuel produced from 100% renewable and sustainable raw materials, primarily wastes and residues.

Neste petrol station in Finland uses a robot arm to fuel people’s cars Automation has finally arrived at the pump – a robotic arm will move the nozzle into the tank without the need for any assistance. The first pilot project of its kind is at a Neste site in Siltamäki, Vantaa, Finland - now active for six months.Finnish oil and biofuels company Neste worked together with Autofuel to install and program the fulling arm, which serves as an add-on to existing pumps. “The technology simply means that the gas station can offer a toplevel convenience not only in the shop but also at the forecourt. Autofuel is an automated link between car and energy source, no matter what kind of fuel the car needs,” says Jonas Thor Olsen, CEO and Founder of Autofuel. To use the new system, customers need a chip installation in the car for the robot to identify the size and fuel type. Users also need to change their fuel flap in order for the system to enter the tank. When asked about the next steps for Autofuel, Jonas explains that they want to develop the tool to adapt to alternative fuels such as

electric cars and hydrogen as well as improving customer interface. “Business wise, we are looking into more pilot projects on European gas stations. After starting in Finland, we have met an impressive interest for new installations,” adds Jonas. People with reduced mobility, locations with very low temperatures and autonomous vehicles could be the biggest beneficiaries of this new technology. “If the piloting and commissioning of the robotic refueling system are successful, we hope we can add robots to other filling stations as well. Already, a customer can pay for fuel at Neste stations on their mobile phone, and in the future, refueling will be possible without the customer leaving the car. In the future, a robot arm could be a good aid for people with reduced mobility,” said Panu Kopra, Executive Vice President for Marketing & Services business area at Neste, as the time of the opening. Neste’s pilot station also offers an automated shopping experience. Open 24 hours a day, Neste Easy Deli offers grab-and-go snacks, fresh groceries, and car-related products such as glass washing liquid.

Tesco to open 750 convenience stores in Thailand Growth of Asian economies and lack of opportunities in Britain push Tesco to expand its offering in the region. Tesco, the U.K.’s biggest retailer, wants to grow its business in Thailand by opening 750 convenience stores in the next years. Currently, the British retailing chain has 1,583 stores in Thailand. 46

In addition to the announced investment, Tesco is expected to look for growth opportunities in China and South Korea. The Thai subsidiary, Tesco Lotus, was the first western supermarket to set up in the country 12 years ago. As competition in the British supermarket segment steeps, the group could be looking for new opportunities abroad.

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International News

Tatsuno moves to new base A large part of Tatsuno dispensers are produced in Blansko, Czech Republic. These dispensers are then distributed and installed all over Europe and across the sea, from Portugal to the former Soviet Union including several African countries. Italy is the largest market; other major countries include France, Austria, Slovakia and Russia. That is the reason why Tatsuno Europe has decided to update and enlarge their factory to meet the increasing expectations of the customers. The production in the renovated factory started Mid 2019. Tatsuno Europe was founded in 1993 as a Czech company under the name “Benč” by two partners, Mr. Zdeněk Černošek and Mr. Jaroslav Sehnal. One of the key suppliers of the technological components for the dispensers was Tatsuno Corporation. Japanese management appreciated the top quality of the products and were impressed by the low costs. Therefore, Tatsuno decided to enter Benč. They first acquired 30% of shares, and increased it to 70% in 2010. Benč changed the name to Tatsuno Europe and became an important part of the Tatsuno Corporation, now the world's third-largest manufacturer of dispensers, and their strong base in Europe. A modern manufacturing facility is one of the keys to success – you need to have a high tech venue and constantly improve the standards to be among the world’s top companies. Tatsuno is well aware of that. Since the takeover in 2010, virtually the entire

production at the Blansko has undergone major changes. Manufacturing technology has been significantly changed, and today state-of-the-art high tech equipment is used for a great number of operations. A modern painting shop with surface treatment operations made it possible to reduce production costs, which has been positively reflected in the price of the final product. The assembly line has been completely reconstructed. Now, CNC machines are being used at the factory, which simplifies the processes for the employees and results in the increasing production efficiency: Tatsuno expects considerable time saving – around one-third of the time needed before the renovation. One of the most modern dispenser testing stations has been built in. The testing laboratory has two workplaces, an outdoor test section for checking LPG and CNG dispensing, and an internal workplace for liquid dispensing. The operators are able to check the entire range of racks from the classic petrol, diesel, E85 and B100 alternatives to LPG and CNG gas. Blansko facility should expect a great future. Although alternative fuels, especially electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular, conventional fuels will continue to dominate the markets for the next twenty years at least. In 2017, Tatsuno Europe started a cooperation with a French designer. Together, they developed a new OCEAN TOWER dispenser that will launch in the second half of 2019. The new dispenser is being created especially for

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International News Tatsuno’s Western European customers who, in addition to the utility properties of a dispenser, also appreciate its design, the possibility of easy transport as well as the simple installation of payment terminals inside the dispensers.

Key achievements of Tatsuno Europe in Blansko: • • • • •

OCEAN TOWER will be a new line of Tatsuno’s dispensers after the famous line of Ocean Euro dispensers. Ocean Euro can deliver not only standard liquid oil products but also complementary fluids such as AdBlue, LPG and CNG – and do it simultaneously. The new modern system of hose retraction with a reach of almost 5m ensures comfortable refuelling and easy handling of the hose. The dispensers are manufactured in accordance with individual orders of each customer with a wide range of options and accessories.

• • • •

Increased production efficiency Assembly time shortened by one third Tripled production capacity New product line Complete painting process including quality pretreatment Increased storage capacities Logistics optimization Shorter delivery times Better working environment

StoreDot and BP present world-first EV full charge in five minutes Demonstrated in a two-wheel electric vehicle, the live full-charge will be applied to four-wheel electric vehicles in the future. StoreDot and its strategic partner BP demonstrated a live, fullcharge of a two-wheel electric vehicle (EV) in just five minutes. An electric scooter equipped with StoreDot’s ultra-fast charging battery demonstrated that this technology can charge an electric vehicle in only five minutes. This proof-of-concept represents a major milestone for ultra-fast charging battery technology and its game-changing potential to accelerate the adoption of EVs. StoreDot’s ultra-fast charging battery technology offers the potential to bring electric vehicle charging times down to current refueling times. When coupled with the required ultra-fast charging infrastructure, it is expected to dramatically improve the EV ownership experience and play a key role in the earlier adoption of EVs – reducing the environmental impact of transportation as a

result. “Within today’s society of time poverty, a five-minute charge enabled by ultra-fast charging batteries and infrastructure can make an EV as attractive to users as a petrol or diesel one,” explains Dr. Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot. BP’s Advanced Mobility Unit (AMU) is committed to using its energy expertise to develop the fastest, most convenient network of home, destination and forecourt charging in key locations across the world. “For the industry as a whole, this demonstration proves that an ultra-fast charging world will soon be possible and supports our goal of helping to create the infrastructure and collaboration framework required to facilitate a wider global technological shift to electric vehicles," says Jon Salkeld, technology director for BP’s AMU.

PitPoint will offer green gas at its petrol stations in the Netherlands The Dutch fuel station chain will start distributing clean CNG at stations to reduce CO2 emissions. As of this summer, PitPoint will only supply green gas to its public CNG filling stations in the Netherlands. This change will increase the CO2 profit by refuelling at PitPoint. The predecessors of PitPoint, DutCH4 and then CNG Net, started

offering CNG for Dutch road transport in the past. Green gas is the sustainable variant of CNG sourced from GFT waste, among other things. "This is a huge step for us. It has always been our goal to supply fully renewable fuel at all our public locations,” said Marja Versleijen, director at PitPoint. The green gas supplied by PitPoint comes from the Netherlands and originates from residual flows such as manure, GFT waste and sewage sludge.

Hydrogen fueling station explodes in Norway Company operator Nel has shut down a further 10 hydrogen stations until more is known about the fire. An explosion at an hydrogen filling station left fuel cell vehicle drivers running dry in a part of Norway. Nel has closed down ten more stations until the causes of the explosion are identified. Norwegian media reports that around 17:30 an explosion took place at the Uno-X station in Sandvika near Oslo. Only minor 50

injuries were reported, according to elective.com. “It is too early to speculate about the cause. Our top priority is the safe operation of the stations we supply. As a precaution, we have temporarily closed ten more stations until further information is available,” said Nel boss Jon André Løkke. They inaugurated the station in November 2016 as the first of a new generation of filling stations developed by Nel.

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International News

Redexis and Cepsa to create large network of natural gas refuelling stations Over the next two years, Redexis will invest 30 million euros in installing and maintaining refuelling points for both LNG and CNG at 50 Cepsa Service Stations, while Cepsa will handle the supply and marketing side.

reach a total of 80 stations by the end of 2023 with a total investment of 60 million euros. In addition to the installation of fuelling options in urban areas, both companies will try to cover the country’s main transport corridors.

Redexis, an integrated energy infrastructure company, and Cepsa, a global energy company, have reached an agreement to create the largest network of vehicular natural gas (VNG) refuelling stations in Spain in a bid to expand the supply of energy solutions and foster sustainable mobility.

“Through this relevant agreement with Redexis, we will continue to expand our portfolio of energy solutions, with the aim of providing customers with all the energy they need,” said Pedro Miró, Cepsa’s vice-chairman and CEO.

Redexis will invest 30 million euros between 2019 and 2021 in the construction and maintenance of 50 gas refueling points located at Cepsa service stations in Spain. The partnership is aiming to

The Spanish natural gas vehicle fleet has steadily grown in recent years – by the end of 2018 there were 5,745 NGVs, up 145% on the previous year. Main manufacturers suggest that light gas vehicles will total some 80,000 in 2021.

Chinese companies to develop smart filling station project The purpose is to improve refueling rates of filing stations during peak hours, boost marketing efficiency, reduce marketing costs and expand the solution to other regions. Recon Technology Ltd, a China-based independent solutions

integrator in the oilfield service, announced the company's 43%owned subsidiary, Future Gas Station Technology Ltd, has entered into a deep cooperation agreement for smart filling stations with Zhejiang sales branch of PetroChina Co. Ltd and Alipay Information Technology Co. Ltd to cooperate on a smart filling station project.

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International News

The agreement was signed on June 6, 2019 and is effective for one year. Pursuant to the Agreement, all the parties plan to cooperate on the project by basing on the gas stations of CNPC in Zhejiang, combining the gas station resources of Zhejiang CNPC, the software, the hardware and the e-voucher capabilities of FGS and the digital technology and marketing capabilities of Ant Financial Services Group (operator of Alipay) to use on the filling stations. "We hope that these efforts can help highlight FGS' cutting edge

operational and technological capabilities as we work hard to promote the viability of smart filling stations", said Mr. Shenping Yin, co-founder and CEO of Recon. "We will actively promote our service and application in other provinces in China and filling stations beyond CNPC through cooperation with Alipay to set up the digital basis for gas stations in China. We will also explore a possible way to establish a '5 km consumption circle centered around gas stations' to better serve the consumers and to improve our business model", stated Mr. Yang Song, founder of FGS.

Natural gas stations open in Nordic countries Gasum has opened the second of a planned network of 50 natural gas filling station in the Nordic countries. Energy company Gasum has opened its second gas filling station for heavy-duty vehicles in Sweden. The filling station, located in Norrköping, is a part of Gasum’s ambitious plan to build a Nordic network of 50 LNG for heavy duty vehicles located in high traffic areas by early 2020’s. The first filling station in Sweden was opened in Västerås in May, and in Finland there are already six stations. In order to respond to the growing demand of low emission fuel options, energy company Gasum is planning to build a network of 50 LNG sites for heavy-duty vehicles. The new network of stations offers logistic

companies LNG as well as liquefied biogas (LBG). The new filling stations will be built in high traffic areas. “Based on market demand, Gasum is building a network of filling stations in the Nordics in close co-operation with several partners. This development will accelerate the growth of gas-based hauling in the Nordics and at the same time offer logistic companies sustainable fuel options that will help them reach their environmental targets,” says Mikael Antonsson, Director, Traffic, Gasum Sweden. Altogether, Gasum has more than 30 filling stations for different vehicle segments in Sweden and Finland.

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International News

New LNG filling station opens in Milan The new opening brings to over 40 the number of service stations that provide LNG in Italy, promoting further expansion of this fuel nationwide. Liquigas, a leading company in the distribution of LPG and LNG, and Ekopoint, a company distributing eco-sustainable fuels, LPG, LNG, natural gas and electricity for motor vehicles, have opened the first LNG service station for heavy and light-duty vehicles near Milan, in the municipality of Agrate Brianza, province of Monza and Brianza. The refuelling plant is located in an area dedicated to industry and logistics near the A4 motorway exit of Agrate Brianza, on the road that connects Milan to Trieste. The Ekopoint LNG service station consists of a vertical 60mc storage tank, 1 LNG dispenser for refuelling heavy vehicles and 2 CNG-L dispensers for refuelling light vehicles and private cars.

"With the new plant in Agrate Brianza, we are bringing to 8 the number of LNG service stations supplied by us, whether private or open to the public. Another 5 LNG service stations are at an advanced stage of construction and will be open by the end of 2019, while important projects are being assessed," comments Massimiliano Naso, Liquigas S.p.A.'s Sales Manager for Italy for Large Customers and LNG. "We are convinced that the future of mobility will be based on clean energy: the market indicates that less and less traditional fuels and more and more clean energy are now being consumed. For this reason, at the new service station in Agrate Brianza we decided to focus on fuels with a low environmental impact, ensuring that we can respond effectively to the needs of all drivers interested in travelling in a more responsible way," stresses Stefano Cantarelli of Ekopoint.

First hydrogen fueling station opens in Saudi Arabia The site is the first step in developing oil-based hydrogen transport within the country. Saudi Aramco and Air Products inaugurated the first hydrogen fuelling station in Saudi Arabia at Air Products’ new Technology Center in the Dhahran Techno Valley Science Park. The pilot station will fuel an initial fleet of six Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles with high purity compressed hydrogen. The announcement comes amid growing international recognition of hydrogen’s benefits. A report released last week by the International Energy Agency (IEA) concludes that hydrogen has vast potential to help the world reduce emissions while addressing its energy needs. “This pilot project represents an exciting opportunity for Saudi Aramco and Air Products to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen

in the transport sector and its viability as a sustainable fuel for the future,” said Amin H. Nasser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Aramco. “It is well known that our world needs a sustainable system to address environmental challenges while also meeting growing energy demand. Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are well positioned to be part of the solution,” said Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products’ Chairman, President and CEO. The new fueling station combines Saudi Aramco’s industrial and technological experience with Air Products’ know-how and experience in the field of hydrogen fueling. The data collected during the initial phase of this project will provide valuable information for the assessment of future applications of this emerging and diverse transport technology in the local environment.

Belgium petrol station operator MAES will rebrand 51 Octa + sites to ESSO as part of their brand consolidation strategy MAES Energy & Mobility (MAES) is investing again in its collaboration with ExxonMobil (ESSO) and will in the course of this year rebrand 51 Octa + stations and add them to the ESSO network. This brings the counter to 126 ESSO stations that will be operated by MAES in Belgium, almost doubling its current ESSO network. With this, MAES strengthens its strong position in Flanders and takes the first steps on Walloon and Brussels territory. In 2013, MAES and ESSO joined forces for the first time with the acquisition of more than 30 ESSO gas stations in Flanders. ExxonMobil opted for a new strategic business model in the Benelux six years ago and sold its ESSO network to independent 54

brand distributors, including MAES, with the aim of further optimizing the management of the network. “This agreement is the result of a strong partnership to keep our ESSO brand attractive and competitive, so that we as ESSO, together with our Branded Wholesalers, continue to play an important role in the Belgian retail market in the long term and thereby strengthen our positions,” says Eric De Vreese, BNL Retail Sales Manager at ExxonMobil. MAES is a 100% Belgian company with a stable family shareholding. In 2018, the consolidated turnover amounted to 575 million euros.

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International News

Electrify America open EV charging at Walmart facilities Electrify America have opened at Walmart facilities, on average, one new EV charging station every three days over the last 11 months. Electrify America and Walmart announced that more than 120 plus ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are now operational and open to the public at Walmart stores across the U.S. Building upon the original commitment set forth in early 2018, the companies are planning to expand the relationship in the coming years with additional Electrify America charging stations located at Walmart stores across the country. Electrify America’s continued collaboration with Walmart is expected to make the retailer one of the largest retail hosts of electric vehicle charging stations across the United States. The first 120 Walmart sites with Electrify America chargers are located across 34 U.S. states. Most of the new stations are strategically located at Walmart stores off major highways, with dozens more chargers planned for major metro areas. Currently, a significant number of commercial EV charging stations in the U.S. are concentrated on the east and west coasts or in major urban areas. Through the Electrify America-Walmart collaboration, EV users will have increased access to services near highways, rural communities and driving routes in other sections of the country. “This milestone marks an important moment in the expansion of our charging station network,” said Brendan Jones, chief operating

officer at Electrify America. “We look forward to continuing our work with Walmart to make electric vehicle charging faster and more convenient for consumers across the country, and in turn, encourage more adoption of zero emission vehicles.” “Along with providing our customers with an enhanced shopping experience through added convenience, this initiative also allows us to contribute to the expansion and accessibility of our nation’s EV charging station infrastructure,” said Mark Vanderhelm, vice president of energy for Walmart, Inc. Additional Electrify America charging stations are expected to be installed at Walmart stores located in urban areas such as the District of Columbia and 46 states including California, the largest electric vehicle market in the U.S. Electrify America chargers at Walmart stores feature 150 kilowatt (kW) and 350kW DC Fast Chargers. Chargers at this power can charge a vehicle at speeds of up to 20 miles of range per minute. Electrify America, which is investing $2 billion over the next ten years in electric vehicle infrastructure and education, plans to deploy more than 2,000 chargers across 484 sites in 17 metropolitan areas and on highways. Stations will be located at convenient EV charging stops with access to retail, dining, parking and other facilities, with Walmart becoming a key partner to these objectives.

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Press Releases

Press Releases Dover Fueling Solutions hits milestone of 30,000 Active Tokheim Crypto VGA™ outdoor payment terminals Austin, Texas - June 11, 2019 - Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS), part of Dover Corporation that delivers advanced fuel dispensing equipment, electronic systems and payment, fleet systems, automatic tank gauging and wetstock management, is pleased to announce that it has reached a record-high of 30,000 active Tokheim Crypto VGA™ outdoor payment terminals throughout Europe. When the first Crypto VGA terminal was installed in Luxembourg in June 2006, the concept of a single, secure, intuitive touchscreen, used for both PIN entry and customer guidance, was considered revolutionary. Thirteen years later, there are more than 30,000 Crypto VGA terminals installed across Europe, actively processing hundreds of millions of fuel and bank card transactions every year. Since the Crypto VGA terminal was first produced, over 40,000 units have been manufactured as two successive model types from the DFS factories in Bladel, Netherlands and Grentheville, France. Today, the Crypto VGA terminal is available in 23 countries where

it is certified in accordance with both domestic and international card scheme requirements with some of the largest bank acquirers in Europe. From the very beginning, security has been a strategic and essential element of the Crypto VGA terminal. Today, the Crypto VGA terminal remains at the forefront of security; an attribute that enabled the product to become the first outdoor payment terminal to have been validated compliant with the most recent Payment Card Industry PIN Transaction Security (PCI PTS) 5.x security requirements in 2017. This guarantees the continued lifecycle of the payment terminal until at least 2032, making it a safe investment for DFS customers. Point-to-point encryption can also be fully enabled in combination with Tokheim Online Authorisation and Switching Environment™ (OASE), DFS’ payment gateway. The Crypto VGA terminal is a highly versatile outdoor payment terminal that now boasts NFC contactless and QR barcode readers,

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Press Releases as well as providing for a range of service activities. In addition, it offers value added functionalities such as car wash sales, evouchers and bank note acceptance. There are also retrofit options available for DFS’ Tokheim and Wayne Fueling Systems dispensers, as well as third party models, creating an excellent upgrade opportunity for site owners. Vice President and General Manager of DFS’ Global Systems

Business Unit Kurt Dillen said, “The Crypto VGA is our most secure outdoor payment system and we’re incredibly proud to have over 30,000 fully operational terminals throughout Europe. With a design that stands the test of time, alongside the continued investment in security and new applications, we hope to see the Crypto VGA terminal continue to grow its European installation base even more in the years to come.” For more information, visit www.doverfuelingsolutions.com.

Commercial electric vehicle charge solutions Adoption of the Electric Vehicle (EV) is accelerating and Cameron Forecourt, who are now part of TSG, are the only UK fleet fuelling solutions supplier to provide not only world-class charging solutions, but also world-class installation and service for all your commercial fleet needs. The transport of the future will be electric; 67% of vehicles sold in Europe will be electric by 2025 so you should now be thinking about how you are going to transfer to electric. Firstly, your fleet will need to meet government mandates and regulations whilst significantly reducing operating expenses with lower fuelling and maintenance costs. You can also achieve your sustainability goals and establish your organisation as a green leader. TSG has access to various electric fleet-charging solutions from back to base depot AC solutions to rapid 50kw+ DC solutions which are suitable for commercial vehicles. All these have a back-office system which include real time charging station information and generation of detailed reports on energy use, greenhouse gas emissions avoided, fuel savings and more, all from a single dashboard. Damien Cope of TSG CHARGE states, “We also continuously deliver automatic, over‐the‐air software updates, so you never have to wait for the latest features and improvements. You can even integrate your charging solution with fleet cards and existing fuel management systems for combined reporting, giving you a complete view of your fleet’s fuel and power usage delivering data collection and analytics that help you make informed decisions.” TSG is committed to supplying quality, safety and efficiency throughout the entire life cycle of the products we install and maintain, thanks to selected partners who provide reliable products and professional installation, and service teams that guarantee a high level of equipment uptime. Their customers get the best return on their assets allowing them to focus on growing their business profitably. All hardware supplied by TSG can be covered by an extensive service and maintenance package; after all that is what we do best. We have the largest sales and service network across Europe and Africa. Thousands of TSG engineers and technicians across 30 countries serve our customers promptly and efficiently: Wherever you are, we are just around the corner everywhere.

Wayne Helix™ Fuel Dispensers to Gazprom Neft Austin, Texas - [May 22, 2019] - Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS), a Dover company delivering advanced fuel dispensing equipment, electronic systems and payment, fleet systems, automatic tank gauging and wetstock management, is proud to announce that a contract has been signed with Gazprom Neft, a vertically integrated oil company, for the supply of the Wayne Helix™ dispensers for 58

2019-2020 in Russia, Belorussia, Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan. As a result of this tender, sites within the Gazprom Neft network will benefit from the highly configurable Wayne Helix dispenser models, designed to address specific fueling demands, as well as service technical-friendly design, transaction security and

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Press Releases advanced technology. Helix dispensers are designed and manufactured in line with the safety standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and conform to the more comprehensive Atmosphere Explosible (ATEX) directive. In addition, to ensure precise fuel measurement, every dispenser complies with the Measurement Instruments Directive (MID), protecting both customers and site owners against inaccurate transactions. “A Gazprom Neft filling station is an essential landmark for motorists,” commented Oleg Lapshin, Melston Engineering. "We are confident that the introduction of Wayne Helix fuel dispensers to the forecourt will truly benefit both Gazprom Neft’s business and its customer base.” Andrei Belomestnykh, Regional Sales Director, DFS Russia and CIS, said, “DFS, in conjunction with our distributor Melston Engineering, are thrilled to be able to supply dispensers to Gazprom Neft over the next few years. I am delighted to be able to finally share this news with the rest of the fuel retail industry.” For more information, visit to www.doverfuelingsolutions.com.

Management system for information security: Implico receives ISMS certification in accordance with ISO 27001

Downstream IT provider Implico is now ISMS-certified in accordance with ISO 27001

Hamburg. The international software and consulting company Implico is now officially ISMS-certified. The distinction by TÜV Nord confirms that the company’s internal processes and regulations comply with the ISO 27001 definitions. This guarantees a high level of information security, which is subject to steady testing and continuous improvement. The downstream IT specialist Implico has invested heavily into the documentation and optimization of its work and business processes under the terms of the Information Security Management System (ISMS). With success: As of 20th April 2019, the oil and gas company is officially certified in the areas OpenTAS, APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Press Releases iGOS, IT and SAP hosting in accordance with ISO 27001. In the course of the two-stage audit, TÜV Nord did a comprehensive check of the information security in the company headquarters in Hamburg, Germany. Implico convinced the auditors with its resilient information technology, exemplary documentation and strong security awareness. Additionally, Implico has clear regulations for information transfer and regular employee training. “In an information-driven industry like oil and gas, security and

confidentiality are paramount,” says Stephan Buhre, Managing Director at Implico. “The ISMS certification classifies Implico as a trustworthy partner with whom even sensitive data is in safe hands. We have heaved security at Implico to a new level.” ISO 27001 is the leading international standard for information security management systems. It provides clear rules and regulations for planning and executing as well as monitoring and improving data and information security within a company.

Nisa store increases sales with HTEC Iocaste media screens A Nisa store in Dunstable, acquired by Lenus Trading in 2014, has reported significant sales growth following a refurbishment earlier this year.

of sale material. We look forward to continuing to work with HTEC to further the store’s success.”

The store was remerchandised in January 2019, and this included the installation of two HTEC media screens. The screens have been prominently placed at the front of the store so that promotions and advertisements can be seen by all who enter.

Digital media can drastically increase a store’s footfall, brand awareness and basket spend. As people engage with promotions both within the store and store-front, you can heavily influence shopper missions whilst still making your customers feel welcome and establishing your brand.

Tomas Rupsys, Director of Lenus Trading said: “HTEC’s Iocaste screens have helped contribute to significant sales growth in our Dunstable store. The digital signage has modernised the store and makes it easy for us to promote offers and our brand. We’ve found it to be an extremely flexible solution that allows us to schedule our media via the web, so we no longer have to rely on static point

The HTEC Iocaste media screens are the ideal solution for a business seeking to increase sales and customer engagement. HTEC’s vision is to take your store into the future by giving your customers an enhanced experience whilst offering you simple and smart solutions. For more information about HTEC visit www.htec.co.uk.

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Press Releases

ISTOBAL generates turnover in excess of 137 million euros in 2018 The Spanish leader in vehicle wash and care solutions for the automotive industry continues to experience growth and exports 78% of the production of its car wash machines. • Spain and France are still the most important markets for the group, accounting for 22% and 18% of the group’s net sales of car wash equipment respectively. • Completing the list of the main export markets with the highest turnover for the multinational company are Italy, the USA and Denmark (in that order). • The most notable increases in sales of car wash equipment within the top ten markets are in Australia, the Netherlands, the USA and Romania. • ISTOBAL has increased its investment in human resources by 6.7% throughout the group in order to cope with its expansion plan. The group anticipates turnover in excess of 141 million euros in 2019. ISTOBAL generated turnover in excess of 137 million euros in 2018, with sales up 2.2% from the previous year according to the final consolidated figures. The company remains on its path of growth from recent years, building on the excellent results it has

achieved in its primary export areas thanks to the work of its commercial subsidiaries and distributors. ISTOBAL exported 78% of its production during 2018, up 3% from 2017. Spain and France are still the most important markets for the multinational group, accounting for 22% and 18% of the group’s net sales of car wash equipment respectively. Completing the list of the main export markets with the highest turnover for the group are Italy, the USA and Denmark (in that order). The 2018 balance sheet also highlights growth in some of the top ten markets for the group. In Australia, for instance, turnover from

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Press Releases car wash machines more than doubled from the previous year, and in the USA, the Netherlands and Romania, growth in net sales of car wash equipment stood at around 50%.

respected in the forecourt valeting market place and ISTOBAL UK anticipates that its growth will double during 2019.

In terms of product divisions, rollovers are still the highest sellers at ISTOBAL, followed by jet wash systems and tunnels, a wide range of solutions geared towards commercial vehicles, and the company’s chemical product line. Compared to the previous year, there has been notable growth in sales of jet wash systems and tunnels, over 15% in 2018, and sales of chemical products and water treatment systems, which exceeded 10%.

In order to address its strategic international expansion plan and cope with the new challenges of the market, ISTOBAL increased its investment in human resources by 6.7% throughout the group in 2018. These efforts to reinforce the company’s organizational structure should lay the groundwork for further growth in years to come. The group currently employs more than 900 members of staff, 700 of whom are based in Spain. It expects to generate turnover of more than 141 million euros in 2019.

ISTOBAL UK is one of the largest foreign subsidiaries for the Group, with a great potential for growth in the UK market. The subsidiary has been awarded this year significant orders from Top 50’s Indie Petroleum Companies for the supply of valeting equipment; this is down to its market leading field service support and cutting edge products, together with the expansion of the sales and marketing teams.

With a presence in more than 75 countries worldwide, the group will focus on increasing its market quota in all its locations this year in order to consolidate its leadership – particularly in the USA, Italy and other countries that offer significant business opportunities for ISTOBAL. It also plans to boost its growth in more mature markets, such as the UK and the Netherlands.

2019 will be a very encouraging and positive year for ISTOBAL UK and will include amongst its strategic plans in 2019 expanding both the retail and commercial business, launching its unique Smartwash by ISTOBAL system and offering its customers Revenue Share/Rental opportunities as well as moving into other markets such as car dealerships and rental companies. The ISTOBAL esens® chemical brand is now widely used in the UK and well

ISTOBAL will continue to place its bets on digitalization, developing intelligent wash spaces with Smartwash technology and working on other solutions that improve the user experience and offer value for customers. Other key areas of action for the company include developing innovative solutions for equipment that caters for the wash needs of any kind of vehicle, as well as a new line of business aimed at refrigerated transport and shipping containers.

Devon-based GripHero takes silver in prestigious national health & safety awards GripHero Ltd, the developer of the world’s first fuel nozzlemounted hand-protection dispenser, has won silver at the prestigious Tomorrow’s Health & Safety Awards 2019, which honour services and products that have had the biggest impact on the health and safety industry over the past year. Winning second place is seen as an outstanding achievement for the Devon-based business, which only launched its revolutionary new forecourt fuel pump dispenser and anti-static, fully recyclable hand-protection in October 2018. Since then GripHero has gone on to introduce bright pink recycling bins and the world’s first oxobiodegradable hand-protection option for forecourts. The award recognises GripHero’s global potential, and the fact that its dispensers are changing the face of forecourts throughout the UK and Ireland, protecting the health and wellbeing of millions of drivers up and down the country.

Sarah Robinson, Managing Editor for Tomorrow’s Health & Safety commented: “The Tomorrow’s Health & Safety Awards celebrate the most innovative products and services in the industry. As ever, we have had an overwhelming response and received thousands of votes. I’d like to offer my congratulations to GripHero on being placed second in these prestigious awards.”

cross-contamination and the spread of disease, illness and viruses such as flu.

Praised for its ingenious, yet simple, solution for protecting hands on the forecourt, GripHero’s unique dispenser ensures that handprotection can be found on each and every fuel pump handle, putting an end to foul smelling, fuel impregnated hands, preventing

Oli Yeo, Managing Director and the designer of GripHero, said: “Winning silver at these prestigious awards is a fantastic achievement for GripHero, especially since the product was only rolled out in October. For us, this recognition highlights the positive

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Press Releases impact of GripHero, which not only helps drivers limit the risk of coming into contact with dirty or contaminated fuel handles on a daily basis, but which also prevents the risk of ignition in the refuelling zone through use of the world’s first anti-static handprotection material in our dispensers.” Oli added: “Each and every day GripHero is being installed in more forecourts across the UK and Ireland, taking a step towards creating a safer, cleaner, more environmentally friendly environment for the public. Winning this award is a great achievement and the start of an even brighter future for GripHero.” By placing dispensers on each and every fuel nozzle handle, GripHero hopes to end the all-too-common customer experience where drivers struggle to find hand-protection, due to empty or poorly located dispensers. Its research shows that despite 75% of people actively looking to keep their hands clean, four out of five people have trouble finding hand-protection at garages and forecourts up and down the country. For more information about GripHero, visit www.griphero.com or call 01837 811035.

On the road to UNITI expo 2020

UNITI expo 2020, the leading European trade fair for the retail petroleum and car wash industries, will celebrate its fourth edition on May 26 – 28, 2020. The industry’s most international trade fair will return to Stuttgart (Germany) to showcase the latest products and services for petrol stations, professional car washes and convenience stores. Following the successful model from the previous editions, UNITI expo 2020 will spread across 40,000 square metres of exhibition space, taking over Halls 1, 3 and 5 of the state-of-the-art Landesmesse Stuttgart. The exhibition is divided into four themed areas – Technology, Payment & Logistics; Carwash & Carcare; Oil Companies & Fuel Retailers; and Shop & Convenience – allowing visitors and exhibitors to plan their visit efficiently. "Nine months before the event, more than 90% of the stand space has already been booked. We are way ahead of schedule,” says Ben Boroewitsch, Sales Executive at com-a-tec and responsible for exhibitor sales at UNITI expo. "If you want to exhibit at UNITI expo 2020, you should hurry up.” With 467 exhibitors from 37 countries and 17,000 attendees from 120 countries, in 2018 UNITI expo solidified its place as the APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Press Releases biggest European trade fair for the sector. New features for UNITI expo 2020 UNITI expo 2018 saw the installation of the first ‘Alternative Fuels Pavilion’. In an effort to stay ahead of the times, UNITI expo 2020 will expand this concept in space and number of participating companies. Ongoing conversations in the European Union, a growing environmental awareness from society and the will to invest in new technologies from major oil companies will only make the market share of alternative fuels grow. In the carwash area, UNITI expo expects a higher number of European and international carwash operators to be present at the show, both from the petrol station and professional car wash businesses. In 2018, a number of major car wash players chose UNITI expo as the platform to unveil their new tunnel washes for the first time. Leading manufacturers in the sector such as – Christ Wash Systems, WashTec, Holz, DICO, Schleicher – continue to support UNITI expo as the leading trade fair for the professional car wash business. More international and European visitors are expected in the Shop & Convenience themed area, which continues to grow with every

new edition of the show. In addition to inviting all major European brands to the show, there will be a themed pavilion titled ‘Franchise & Co-Branding’ – a space tailor-made for franchises to interact with oil companies and retailers from across the globe. The diverse approaches of retailers in Europe make the platform incredibly useful and interesting to learn about different business models. About UNITI expo UNITI expo is the leading European trade fair for the retail petroleum and car wash industries. With its compact three-day format, the biennial trade show is tailored to the needs of its target audience. The exhibition space is divided into four themed areas: Technology, payment & logistics; Carwash & carcare; Oil companies & fuel retailers; and Shop & convenience. In 2018, the 3rd edition of UNITI expo gathered 467 exhibitors and 17,000 attendees from 120 countries on an exhibition area of 40,000 m². UNITI expo is organized by UNITI-Kraftstoff GmbH in cooperation with WDM management consultancy and com-a-tec GmbH. www.uniti-expo.com Organiser UNITI-Kraftstoff GmbH, Jägerstraße 6, 10117 Berlin, Germany, in cooperation with WDM management consultancy and com-a-tec GmbH P. +49 7721 98 30 60, uniti-expo@com-a-tec.de

Preventing tank syphoning An anti-syphon valve is designed to prevent the fuel in an above ground storage tank being lost as a result of syphoning action in the event of the leak in the pump suction line or from the pump itself. The anti-syphon valve remains closed, preventing any fuel passing through the suction line, until the pump is activated creating a suction which, in turn, opens the valve. When the pumping stops the anti-syphon valve closes automatically. The anti-syphon valve can be fitted in any orientation but must be installed at the lowest point in the suction line as any leak occurring at a lower level than the valve could result in its opening due to a syphoning action. The anti-syphon valve will operate consistently for tank fuel levels ranging from 0 to 7.5 metres (25 feet) above the level of the pump with very little change in the amount of pumping effort required throughout this range. This means that it would be within the capability of a relatively low suction capacity pump to draw fuel at a consistent flow rate from a large storage tank regardless of the fuel level. It is possible to adjust the flowrate that is allowed to pass though the antisyphon valve so as not to overwhelm the pump. If the pump is connected to a taller tank the flow rate from the tank will be much higher than a single commercial pump can dispense and as a result fuel will pass through the air separator mini-vent when the pump is running. By adjusting the anti-syphon valve to reduce the flow through the valve you eliminate this problem.

The disadvantage of using an angle check valve is that, as the tank fuel level drops, the pump has to work harder to draw fuel up through the suction line inside the tank & then through the spring-loaded check valve. This can result in lower flow rates & more “wear & tear” A cheaper alternative to the anti-syphoning valve is to install a check valve, on the pump itself leading to a shorter lifespan. fitted with a spring, to the tank outlet. The pressure rating of the spring must be matched from lowest point in the suction line to the top of the tank. Preventing fuel from syphoning from a tank is best Example; a maximum height of 3.6 metres (12 feet), a 6psi (0.4 bar) spring is practice in the industry, because it protects tank required to effectively hold back the fuel in the event of a leak from the pump owners from the associated risks. Fuel spills can be or suction line. When the tank is at or near full capacity this anti-syphon method costly, not only in expensive clean-ups, but in the works well because very little effort is required by the pump to overcome the damage they can do to the environment. The increased spring-loaded valve due to the “assisting” pressure created by the height of the slip hazards for staff and the cost of the lost fuel both make preventive measures the sensible option. fuel level. 64

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Fuel management is history - Depot management is the future perfectly summarises the DIALOG fuel management system. You will hear many providers of fuel management claim ‘thorough’ and ‘complete’ capabilities, but few can compare with the DiaLOG system’s portfolio of commercial fleet fuelling depot management. In addition to working with your electronic tank gauging system to accurately manage and reconcile your diesel, AdBlue, and fuel oils, the DiaLOG can plug in to all the vital aspects of your depot. Security cameras, doors & gates, hydrogen dispensers, electric vehicle charge points and even your vehicle wash centre can all be monitored from the one thoroughly, complete, end to end, DiaLOG fleet depot management system. If you don’t have all these components at your depot the DiaLOG fleet fuel management system is still excellent value for money monitoring just one diesel pump. It is designed to be as flexible as you need it to be, growing and expanding with your business meeting your evolving operational needs. Cameron Forecourt, now part of TSG, is able, at no cost, to provide a site Fleet Fuel Depot Management System with Difference development plan with you to gradually expand your depot’s functionality from DialLOG. adding electric vehicle charging, the Tokheim Eye security camera system and a Karcher Vehicle wash to name but a few features you could benefit You will find the ancient Greek prefix of ‘Dia’ occurring in from. Through exclusive collaboration with the world’s leading spoken language frequently, ‘diagnosis’, ‘diameter’ and manufacturers in depot fuelling equipment, Cameron Forecourt with TSG ‘dialect’ to name a few. It’s meaning however is always the have the manpower and skills to deliver the project management, same, ‘thoroughly,’ ‘completely’ & ‘end to end’ which installation and ongoing servicing of a truly complete depot. APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Press Releases Paul Hill, TSG’s Commercial Technical Manager explains, ‘What makes DiaLOG unique is when they designed the system, they looked at all the models and method of fuel management already on the market, then selected the best components and combining them. They then took DiaLOG to another level by interfacing it with equipment outside of the normal fuel pump parameters incorporating site security, vehicle management & alternative fuelling including electric vehicle charging.’ The DiaLOG system is currently used by commercial fleet fuelling customers across the UK with a proven track record for reliability and accuracy. Please don’t hesitate to contact Cameron Forecourt delivering the TSG Fleets range of products and services on 01226 742 441.

TSG announce distribution agreement with IDENTIC Alistair Clarke, managing director of TSG UK, comments: ‘We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with IDENTIC and its experienced team to help fleet businesses in the UK to develop more cost-effective depot operations. The partnership, on the back of our recent acquisition of Cameron Forecourt, further cements TSG Fleet’s position in the commercial fleet fuelling industry and I’m looking forward to seeing the two companies working together.’

Leading sales and service provider to the fuel retail and commercial fleet fuelling industries, TSG proudly announce its distribution agreement with IDENTIC. The market leading Swedish company, which specialises in the cost-effective and environmentally safe distribution, storage and spill-free refilling of fuels and chemicals, as well as solutions for bus fleet fuelling operations, will work with TSG Fleet’s service team to help to implement its unique spill-free technology across bus companies, and other fleet businesses reliant on yard fuelling, across the UK.

Currently, IDENTIC’s spill-free vehicle refilling technology is used in over 75% of public transport buses in Sweden, with further installations across Europe, including London. Its innovative refilling solutions provide fast, automatic refuelling without the risk of spilling; aiding in a clean and environmentally safer work space for all fleet depots, with heavy duty vehicles. Richard Holt, managing director of IDENTIC, adds: ‘Partnering with TSG in the UK will heighten IDENTIC’s presence within the commercial vehicle fuelling market and ensure IDENTIC is aligned with a reputable business for market leading products and services. We are delighted to welcome TSG to the IDENTIC family and look forward to working closely with the sales and marketing teams across the UK to further promote the IDENTIC name and our innovative products for the fleet fuelling industry.’ For more details on IDENTIC and TSG Fleet call (+44) 1226 742 441 or email sales@tsgfleet.co.uk

Work with industry to reduce emissions, says downstream oil sector trade association London, 12 June 2019 – Responding to the announcement that the UK Government intends to legislate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050, UKPIA – the trade association for the UK’s downstream oil sector – has called on policymakers to work with industry to meet these ambitious goals. UKPIA believes that the downstream oil sector – which includes 66

the refining, distribution and marketing of liquid fuels and other products – has a role to play in the UK’s low-carbon energy transition. However, this must be done by enabling energy intensive industries to make carbon reductions from their products and processes whilst not damaging their competitiveness in a global market. We encourage government to adopt a technologyneutral approach that combines incentives with market-led

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Press Releases

solutions to find the most efficient means to reduce emissions across the UK. Stephen Marcos Jones, UKPIA Director-General, said, “The decision to commit the UK to ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is a momentous one – we cannot underestimate the effort that will be required from all areas of society to meet this challenge – and UKPIA stands ready to work with UK Government in realising this new target. The downstream oil sector has considerable potential to be a key

participant in the UK’s low-carbon energy future. Companies in the sector have the expertise and resources that could develop the advanced fuels that can achieve widespread decarbonisation of transport, especially the more hard-to-decarbonise transport sectors such as Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), aviation and shipping as they transition to low-carbon. To do this, however, governments and policymakers will need to work closely with industry to ensure emissions are not simply exported elsewhere whilst domestic manufacturing is rendered uncompetitive.”

Steve Fox joins MFG as Managing Director, Retail Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator, is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Fox as its new managing director, retail. Steve has over 30 years’ experience in food and convenience retailing. Starting his career in operations with Safeway, he then moved to Booker where he managed a six-fold increase in their Premier symbol group members before becoming managing director, Booker Group – Retail with responsibility for all of the Group’s retail activities. In addition, over the last year, he has been actively involved in the company’s successful merger with Tesco PLC.

Steve will join MFG on 1 September 2019 and he will report directly to Jeremy Clarke, MFG’s chief operating officer with the retail, trading, operations and developments teams reporting to him. Jeremy Clarke said: “This is a key appointment for us as MFG drives ahead with strengthening its retail offering, pursues an ambitious retail development programme and builds upon our market leadership position. “Steve brings a wealth of retail and wholesale experience to MFG together with an existing understanding of our business, having worked with us since May 2016 when we rolled out the Londis and Budgens shop formats across our network.”

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Press Releases/Branches

Dover Fueling Solutions launches EMV® Resource Center AUSTIN, TEXAS – June 26, 2019 – Dover Fueling Solutions (“DFS”), a part of Dover Corporation that delivers advanced fuel dispensing equipment, electronic systems and payment, fleet systems, automatic tank gauging and wetstock management, is pleased to announce the launch of its new EMV® online resource center. On October 1, 2020, the liability for payment fraud at automated fuel dispensers will shift from the card issuer to the party who has not adopted EMV chip technology. In order to educate station owners on the urgency of upgrading to EMV technology, DFS has launched an online resource center to assist through the transition. Upon registration, visitors to the site will have full access to a download center containing the latest news and data on outdoor

fraud, tips on enabling EMV, a guide to preparing for a site evaluation and more. “The EMV liability shift will be here sooner than we think, and with a limited number of certified technicians available to complete these installations, the time is now for merchants to upgrade their sites,” said DFS Interim General Manager – North America, Kendra Keller. “Upgrading a fuel site or a network of fuel sites can be a confusing and arduous process. DFS is here to make the conversion as pain-free as possible for our partners and customers with the products and information they need to achieve EMV compliance.” To access the DFS EMV online resource center, visit www.doverfuelingsolutions.com/EMV.

Branches Midlands A very successful AGM and Branch Meeting was held by Midlands Branch on the 25th of June at the picturesque Chateau Impney near Droitwich. There had been a break of 15 months since the last Midlands Branch Meeting so APEA National Council offered to help the very small committee arrange this meeting. The costs were shared equally between the delegates, the Branch and National Council. Assistance in organising speakers was given by the Chairman of the Branch Reps Committee and admin support given by Mel Fitzsimmons. Mel has been engaged by National Council to provide marketing and admin support. She is available to Branches to mail out meeting calling notices centrally (in accordance with our GDPR policy). In this instance she also trialled the use of Eventbrite as a booking system, taking away the need to take payments from individual delegates. The meeting was well attended and enjoyed by all. An interesting pair of complimentary presentations on converting existing tanks

Matthew Jones

from diesel to petrol triggered a lot of discussion! Duncan Amos of MDM Services presented the practicalities of the process. It was a surprise to some to find that this is not as simple as it sounds and that the works required do need to be considered as part of the financial justification for the changeover. This was followed by a presentation by Rachel Hallam, Branch Chairman and Petroleum Officer with Worcestershire County Council. The questions raised from the floor demonstrated how complex some of the considerations are. Sam Perry of Berry’s Technologies presented their Midas 2 crossover prevention system. It really was a case of “you think you know about Midas – think again”. An excellent design presentation by Sam. Sam Perry

After a networking lunch Matthew Jones of CA Designs presented APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk

Branches

on the pertinent changes to the Blue Book and the meeting closed with a PO Update from Rachel.

The following new committee member nominations were taken from the floor of the meeting and accepted by all:

Branch Officers and Committee Members The following Officers agreed to stay in post with the support of all present: Rachel Hallam Chairman Graham Adcock Secretary Rob Tunnicliff Treasurer Rob Tunnicliff Branch Rep

Steve Harrington Steve Green Nathan Powney Jeff Simms Rachel Hallam Branch Chair

Scottish Scottish Branch APEA AGM. The Scottish branch held its AGM at the Radstone Hotel, Larkhall on Thursday 1st May 2019. We continue to hold our AGM in conjunction with the annual PRA Roadshow, which allowed our members to browse around the exhibitors stands and have a talk with those present. Thanks go to David Honeyman from the PRA and we hope to continue this joint relationship in the years to come. Fifteen members attended our meeting, a substantial increase than in previous years and the committee welcomed all that made the

effort. The increase was no doubt attributed to the training course that had been arranged for the same day by our branch on Wet Stock Management. Craig Oliver-Walsh from Dover FS undertook the training and all who were present found the day extremely worthwhile and learned a lot from the presentation. The branch would like to thank Craig for all he did on the training day and would certainly recommend this training to other colleagues at different branches. The Scottish branch sadly continues to decline in numbers, this being attributed to Local Authority Petroleum Officers retiring and not being replaced. This we can see being a continuing trend in the

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Branches years to come. The Scottish branch has had a quiet year, but will continue to try and be as active as it can with plans on further training in the next 12 months and engage with member as best it can with the limits it has regarding its membership and those on the committee. We were delighted to welcome Ian Hillier who had flown up from London, just to attend the AGM, and who continues in his role as our National Branch Representative. Without Ian’s commitment, we would certainly struggle to have representation in meetings in London. The treasurer’s report found we continue to be on a stable footing. We hope to try to organise an Explosives

and Fireworks course around October. We would also like to welcome Lee Roberts to our committee. Lee comes to us with a wealth of experience and we hope to exploit this, and come up with new ideas to try to expand our branch as much as we can. If anyone else is interested in contributing to the Scottish branch, feel free to contact us at any time. Andy King Branch Chair and Secretary

Southern The Southern Branch recently held a successful meeting (including a review of PO Audit Training on 20th May and 4th June) at the Haynes Motor Museum at Sparkford near Yeovil on 21st May. The meeting went ahead and our AGM was followed by a presentation from Ray Blake of the PRA, with an overview to the changes to Fuel Labelling and a PELG Update. The morning continued with a presentation from Duncan Amos of MDM Services covering the regrading of diesel tanks back to petrol storage. This is something which is likely to become more common as lower mileage drivers switch away from diesel vehicles. Regrading of storage tanks is something regarded as a very simple operation but Duncan showed the many steps required, many of which are back office and invisible tasks essential to the successful change of tank contents. Clare Scawthorn of London Fire Brigade carried on this theme with a presentation outlining the legal and administrative requirements of changing storage tanks from diesel to petrol. Clare explained how the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 impact on the way storage tanks are detailed on the Petrol Storage Certificate held by sites storing petrol.

All 3 presentations were very well received, and we are grateful to the speakers for taking the time to join us for the meeting. Our next meeting will be a mini-meeting to be held in Exeter on the 19th September 2019 alongside the Forecourt Roadshow with a full meeting planned for the 8th October in the Dorking area. The Branch was also delighted to host a training event recently. Brian Humm provided two full days on Petroleum Officer Audit Training at Taunton on the 20th May and at Guildford on the 4th June. Both events were fully subscribed and very well received by those attending. The Branch thanks the APEA National Council for funding these events which attracted delegates from virtually every Petroleum Enforcement Authority in our area along with contractors and private sector members. We are currently arranging to send a survey to all Branch members to ensure that the Committee continue to provide relevant events and topics. Please make contact with me if you have any queries. David Sommers Branch Secretary

Branch Representative and Secretary Contact Details Eastern Alex Boudry - Rep PFS Fueltec Limited Mob: +44 (0) 7860 878 699 email: alex.boudry@pfsfueltec.com Anton Martiniussen - Sec ELAFLEX Ltd Tel: 01992 452 950 Mob: 07831 595620 email: elaflex@aol.com North East Scott Ruddick - Rep Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service Tel: 01670 621143 Mobile: 07787 804933 email: scott.ruddick@northumberland.gov.uk

Mobile: 07500 442 573 email: andy.myers@uk.arteliagroup.co. uk Midlands Rob Tunnicliff - Rep Tel: 07909 141232 email: rob.tunnicliff@talktalk.net Graham Adcock - Sec Adcock Associates Tel: 01789 414202 email: enquiries@adcockassociates.co.uk Southern Doreen Pooley - Rep Cameron Forecourt Tel: 07770 591674 email: engineerdoreen@gmail.com

Andy King - Chairman and Sec Midlothian Council Trading Standards Tel: 0131 271 3552 email: andrew.king@midlothian.gov.uk Ireland Phil Bonny - Rep Suresite Ltd Tel: +44 7788 627754 email: phil.bonny@suresite.co.uk Oliver Lupton - Sec Forecourt Bureau of Ireland Tel: +353 1 6797152 email: forecourt.bureau@gmail.com

Sean Smith - Sec Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service Tel: 0191 444 1268 Mobile: 07817 147505 email: sean.smith@twfire.gov.uk

David Sommers - Sec Hampshire Trading Standards Tel: 01962 833651/07718 146033 email: david.sommers@hants.gov.uk

Yorkshire & Humberside Andy Kennedy - Chairman and Rep Global-MSI Tel: 01302 346717 Mobile: 07469 212063 email: andykennedy@apea.org.uk

North West Andy Myers - Rep Artelia UK Tel: +44 (0) 208 237 1851

Scotland Ian Hillier - Rep Tel: 07725 017989 email: i.hillier@ntlworld.com

Terry Guthrie - Sec South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Tel: 0114253 2970/2872 email: tguthrie@syfire.gov.uk

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Training

Training Training course dates 2019 3 Day Combined Petrol Filling Stations – Construction, Audit and Inspection Course

Petrol Filling Stations - Enforcement Procedures An Awareness 16 September Stansted Airport

9-11 September Stansted Airport 28 - 30 October Stansted Airport

Explosives and Fireworks 24 September Stansted Airport

Electrical Installations - An Awareness 26 Sept Swindon

Petroleum Officers, Audit and Inspection Workshop 22 May Stansted Airport

Safe Installation and Use of LPG 17 September Stansted Airport

Petrol Filling Station courses on request Vapour Recovery Installations Leak Investigation Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014

Wetstock Management 20 September Stansted Airport DSEAR 23 Sept

Please contact the APEA office for a quotation for a bespoke course at admin@apea.org.uk Stansted Airport

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Training

Course Fees 3 day course with accommodation 3 day, day delegate rate 1 day course

APEA Member £1020.00 £810.00 £260.00

Non member £1120.00 £910.00 £310.00

More information and booking details on the ‘Training’ page at www.apea.org.uk Anyone booking a training course that is not an APEA member will automatically receive complimentary “Individual” membership to the APEA for one year.

Courses will be designed around the (4th edition) Blue Book Guidance for the Design, Construction, Modification, Maintenance and Decommissioning of Filling Stations (May 2018). A hard copy and a pdf version of the 4th Edition is available from the Publications page of the APEA website at www.apea.org.uk The hard copy is £75.00 (no vat) to APEA Members and £150.00 (no vat) to non APEA members. The pdf version is the same price but with VAT added. The pdf version can be purchased with a licence for individual use and cannot be shared or printed. It is strongly recommended that attendees have access to this document during courses. For details of this and any other training enquiry, please contact: Jane Mardell - APEA Business Manager email: admin@apea.org.uk Tel: + 44 (0) 345 603 5507 or Thomas Daly (Chairman of Training Committee) T el: +353 876899281/+353 876899281 or email: thomasdaly@apea.org.uk

The Malta Experience By Jamie Thompson, Chairman of the Technical Committee The APEA collaboration with the Maltese authorities continued with a training session with the ERA in July. The two authorities who are controlling the safety and environmental protection for petrol filling stations on the islands of Malta and Gozo are the ERA (Environment and Resources Authority) and REWS (Regulator for Energy and Water Services). The drive towards improving both the safety and environmental protection of filling stations is coming to a head with many sites being redeveloped at present and the likelihood of sites that have not improved during this period having their permit withdrawn by January 31st 2020. 72

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Training

The adoption by the Maltese Authorities of the Blue Book has meant the installation of double wall tanks, leak detection and drainage systems and many sites have been improved in the last 2 years with others planned, bringing the island’s installations up to the same standards as the rest of Europe.

at the newer filling stations to operate. This is expected to be in place and operational by early next year. All new service stations have both stage 1b and stage 2 installed but at present the vapour discharge is to atmosphere until the new terminal is operational and the road tankers adapted to Vapour Recovery are operational.

At present they are waiting for the terminal to provide a vapour recovery system to enable the stage 1 and stage 2 systems installed

The leak detection equipment and stage 2 systems being inspected by the ERA staff on a site visit during the training session.

APEA tel/fax 0345 603 5507 www.apea.org.uk