New kit from Fort Vale

WELL EQUIPPED

EQUIPMENT • FORT VALE HAS DELIVERED ON ITS PROMISES TO COME UP WITH SOME EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN VALVES FOR TANK CONTAINERS AND RAIL TANK CARS

OVER THE PAST year, tank container equipment specialist Fort Vale has been hinting at major product developments at its base in the north of England. Recently, those hints have turned into new products on the market, all designed to improve safety and efficiency in the intermodal transport of dangerous goods in tanks.

The most significant launch is a new product range for the transport of LPG by rail, which will be rolled out over the coming year. The new range, Fort Vale says, “represents a substantial increase in corrosion resistance, flow rates and overall effectiveness”. It includes a hydraulic bottom discharge valve, bellow-operated Y-valves, bottom discharge with hydraulic or mechanical indicator, hydraulic pump, and bottom discharge and pump assembly. All equipment is manufactured from stainless steel, offering improved corrosion resistance and longevity compared to competing systems.

“This equipment has been through extensive cycle testing over the last 12 months and we’ve also added a hydraulic vent valve to the range for specific customer requirements on the liquid tanks,” explains Ashley Leach, technical sales engineer at Fort Vale. “We like to think years ahead, so that when you buy our equipment, you know it will still be viable in 10 or even 20 years time, so even though current regulations give an allowance of 25 bar MAWP, our equipment is rated to 30 bar, giving customers the reassurance that their equipment will not become obsolescent as a result of future rule changes.” BALLS IN THE AIR Fort Vale has also responded to industry requests with an update to its Firesafe and Lethal Service ball valve range, improving safety and sealing performance. These valves are designed to contain product and limit any leaks to the environment if the seals perish in a fire or hazardous chemical situation. They are suitable for standard T11 tank containers and for higher pressure tank requirements, such as the T22 and others, as well as most road tankers. The valves are available in 1-, 2- and 3-inch sizes in stainless steel as standard, though Fort Vale can also manufacture them from exotic materials on a bespoke basis.

“We were approached by a number of our customers to enquire if we could modify our existing ball valve range and adapt it for extreme hazard situations,” explains Jonathan Parker, business development manager at Fort Vale. “After rigorous testing over the last year, we are very happy with the result – and so are our clients.”

Finally, Fort Vale has introduced a new ultra-low profile DN80 ball valve that is compact, lightweight and slimmer than existing models by 30 mm. The design allows customers to use a DN80 connection for loading or unloading on top of a tank container where space is limited. The valve is manufactured from 316 stainless steel for maximum corrosion resistance and features an integrated syphon tube and seal carrier design, improving sealing performance when connecting heavy hoses and pipework.

Instead of operators being forced to use smaller equipment to work within the restrictions of the fixed tank container size, the DN80 ball valve allows for a flow of maximum capacity - even at its reduced height - thus allowing for unloading without impediment or loss of time, Fort Vale explains.

“We’ve been aware of this operational restriction for some years now and are proud that we have found a simple, workable solution to the problem,” says Andrew Paterson, technical sales account manager at Fort Vale. “It goes to the heart of what we do at Fort Vale - same quality, same performance - but small enough to make a big difference, problem solved.” www.fortvale.com

NOTE: Take your telematics and your IF THERE IS A ONE PAGE FEATURE business to the next level with IMT (LEFT HAND SIDE) NEXT TO AN ADVERT THEN YOU NEED TO MOVE THE “SECTION SLUG” OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE SO THE READER KNOWS

IMT has developed a solution that

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pressure values and thus the volume in your cryo tank.

IF TWO ONE PAGE FEATURES ARE IMT’s cryogenic solution not only SIDE BY SIDE, BUT THEY BELONG gives you insight into where your

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TO DIFFERENT SECTIONS THEN YOU also check the normal pressure and NEED TO HAVE A “SECTION SLUG” differential pressure and calculate the weight in the tank via the product specifications. ON BOTH SIDES

Cryogenic Solution: 3 in 1 solution Optimal insight into your pressure values, weight and location Key features of the Cryogene Solution (CS20):

A digital pressure sensing solution for tank containers and rail wagons. Monitoring the pressure inside of a cryogenic tank on 2 levels: 1) Pressure Gauge 2) Differential Pressure. Possibility to automatically calculate weight. Sending the measured values wirelessly to an IMT Communication and Location Terminal, the solar-powered CLT20-Ex. Data can be accessed remotely via the IMT web application. Management by exception principle: status changes (exceeding pressure thresholds) can serve as a trigger for alert notifications.

IMT is the independent telematics solution partner for the tank container and rail car industry andis the world’s leading telematics company. IMT also develops hardware and software in-house and sets the standard in smart sensor technology. All to take your tank telematics and your businessto the next level.