Tank Cleaning magazine Q4 2016

WINTER 2016

Issue 4 Volume 3

From Russia with love Analysing the Russian tank cleaning market

ECTA 2016 meeting Review of conference

COMMENT Dear reader,

WINTER 2016 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 4 Woodcote Media Ltd Marshall House 124 Middleton Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 6RW, UK MANAGING DIRECTOR Peter Patterson Tel: +44 (0)20 8648 7082 peter@woodcotemedia.com EDITOR Liz Gyekye Tel: +44 (0)20 8687 4183 liz@woodcotemedia.com DEPUTY EDITOR Ilari Kauppila Tel: +44 (0)208 687 4146 Ilari@woodcotemedia.com INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGER Russell Priestley Tel: +44 20 8648 7092 russell@globaltankcleaning.com PRODUCTION Alison Balmer Tel: +44 (0)1673 876143 alisonbalmer@btconnect.com SUBSCRIPTION Contact: Lisa Lee Tel: +44 (0)20 8687 4160 Fax: +44 (0)20 8687 4130 marketing@woodcotemedia.com No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in any form by any mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or other means without the prior written consent of the publisher. Whilst the information and articles in Tank Cleaning are published in good faith and every effort is made to check accuracy, readers should verify facts and statements direct with official sources before acting on them as the publisher can accept no responsibility in this respect. Any opinions expressed in this magazine should not be construed as those of the publisher.

ISSN 2059-1357

WINTER 2016

In early November, Asda, a British supermarket chain, was found to be delivering internet food orders in dirty crates, including some containing levels of bacteria similar to those found in a kitchen bin. As a result of this, the retailer had to scrub clean its entire fleet of homedelivery trucks. In the last few years, British retailers have been trying to shed a reputation for poor food standards, especially during the period when many of them were forced to admit they had been selling horsemeat in frozen burgers. The moral is of the story is that a good clean is important in gaining the trust of the customer. However, readers of TCM already know the importance of a good clean.

In this issue of TCM, we bring you all the up-to-date news and case studies from countries such as Ghana and Russia.

As we approach the end of the year, I would also like to issue a quick note to say thank you to all of our supporters and we look forward to working with you as our publication continues to grow.

If you have an exciting new project that you would like to see featured, or are interested in writing an article for the next issue, please do not hesitate to contact us. As always, we hope you enjoy the magazine and we welcome your feedback.

I hope you have a Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year.

Liz Gyekye Editor

@tankcleaningmag

Tank Cleaning Magazine

Contents PAGE 2 News

PAGE 12 ECTA 2016 annual meeting in Düsseldorf A review of the association’s conference

PAGE 14 From Russia with love An analysis of Russia’s tank cleaning system

PAGE 16 Business software and mobility Embracing modern mobile technologies will offer tank cleaning stations plentiful benefits

PAGE 18 Pure uncontaminated fuel: More than just a pipe dream?

An innovative solution for the ongoing problem of water contamination in fuel tanks

PAGE 19

Issue 4 Volume 3

From Russia with love

Analysing the Russian tank cleaning market

Full tank A Belgian tank cleaning specialist provides solutions for both new and old installations

ECTA 2016 meeting

Review of conference

Front cover courtesy of Van den Bosch

PAGE 20 A day in the life of a tank cleaning plant A tank cleaning operator gives an insight into its daily operations

TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 1

NEWS

Suttons inks deal with UK bioethanol maker Suttons Group, a global logistics specialist, has been awarded a contract with UK-based bioethanol producer Vivergo Fuels to distribute the product from the company’s Humberside facility to petroleum sites around the country.

Vivergo makes bioethanol and high-protein animal feed from UK feed-grade wheat. The company’s bioethanol is blended with petrol to offer greenhouse gas savings equivalent to taking 180,000 cars off the road.

The contract further strengthens Suttons’ position in the biofuels market. Earlier this year, the company announced its decision to end an eightyear relationship with British Sugar in order to concentrate on the hazardous chemicals, gases and fuels sectors.

Greg Lofts, commercial director for Suttons Tankers, said: “Our reputation in this niche sector is well established with Vivergo [being] the latest business to be attracted by our track record of providing a flexible, reliable, and safe service.”

Suttons is working with Hull-based bioethanol maker Vivergo to distribute its product around the UK

Rob Murray, supply chain and optimisation manager for Vivergo, said: “Suttons’ strong safety performance and the ability to provide an innovative flexible solution was crucial in our decision to appoint them.

Lakeshore Railcar Services buys tanker truck cleaning firm US-based Lakeshore Railcar Services, a subsidiary of Patriot Rail, has acquired the assets of United Transportation Group, a Midwestern company that specialises in rail tank car and tanker truck cleaning.

The Lakeshore facility is a 34-acre logistics support complex in East Chicago. In addition to rail tank car and tanker truck washes, Lakeshore will offer transloading, truck/trailer mechanical repair, maintenance, hazardous materials testing and wastewater treatment services, Patriot Rail said in a statement.

This latest acquisition helps fulfill Patriot Rail’s longterm strategy to provide fully integrated rail services to customers, Patriot Rail officials said.

Other recent acquisitions include Blue Ridge Railcar Service in Keysville, Virginia, in 2013, Foster Townsend Rail Logistics in St. Louis in 2014, and the assets to form Global Rail Transfer Co. in 2015.

“Patriot Rail is no longer just a company made up of individual short line railroads,” said Patriot Rail president and CEO John Fenton. “We now offer a full range of services that allows us to develop customised, costeffective rail transportation plans for customers, on and off our rail lines.” z

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“It’s reassuring to be working with a specialist logistics company which has a detailed knowledge of the products as well as access to drivers and operational planners who understand the complexities of our business.” z

Alfa Laval gets ETC thumbs up from DNV GL Netherlands-headquartered certification body DNV GL has said Swedish tank cleaning equipment firm Alfa Laval’s products meet the Effective Tank Cleaning (ETC) notation standard.

The ETC notation, which is designed to ensure thorough tank cleaning on chemical carriers, was introduced by DNV GL in response to the lack of specific rules from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Increasingly requested by concerned ship owners, it defines cleaning targets that set the bar for similar notations from other classification societies.

Now DNV GL has issued its first official statement confirming a supplier’s ability to meet the notation. After observing the use of Alfa Laval G-Pass, the 3D simulation software used to create Alfa Laval Gunclean Toftejorg tank cleaning solutions, DNV GL has verified the accuracy of the resulting shadow diagrams in writing.

“No other maker of tank cleaning equipment has received such a statement, and I think it will prove difficult for others to obtain one,” said Christian Mathiasen, Alfa Laval’s business unit manager. z

WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

NEWS

ITCO launches new tank container e-learning course The International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) has unveiled a new online learning course on the safe and professional use of tank containers.

ITCO Tank Container e-learning is suitable for those with a direct responsibility in the operation or management of tank containers but intended for all personnel within a company, including those who may not be directly involved with tank containers but for whom general awareness training may benefit both the individual and the business.

This includes those involved with tank containers, either directly or otherwise, such as tank operators, shippers, carriers, lessors, surveyors and depot service providers. The course provides a firm grounding in order to progress to further training to meet the specific functions of such roles.

The organisation’s objective with this new initiative is to aid consistent and measurable training on the use of tank containers and promote professionalism and safe practice within industry through the advancement of knowledge.

The course content provides a background to the tank container industry, components of the tank and their use, regulations appertaining to the tank, operating the tank and finally depot services including inspection, cleaning, repairs and testing.

ITCO was established in 1998, and represents the international tank container industry to the public and to governmental bodies. It has around 170 members worldwide, including operators, lessors, manufacturers, service providers, inspectors and

surveyors, and represents around 90% of the global tank container industry fleet capacity. Its mission is to promote and represent tank containers as a safe, cost-efficient and flexible means of transport.

ITCO Tank Container e-learning has been available to purchase from December. z

ITCO is marketing its e-learning course on stakeholders such as tank operators and shippers

A system to support your tank cleaning business Record any relevant detail concerning tank cleaning activities Record details on heating, repairing or storing tanks Book activities in the calendar Give your customers overview through the Portal Print ECD forms, receipts and search history ... and much, much more

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TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 3

NEWS

Hoyer invests more than €8m in truck technology Hamburg-based leading logistics company Hoyer has invested substantially in its truck fleet with the purchase of 91 new truck units and six chassis from Volvo. The total investment volume in the state-of-theart trucks amounts to around €8m.

Sixty truck units were ordered for Hoyer’s Chemilog business units in Germany and Poland, while the remaining 31 truck units and six chassis are destined for the Petrolog business unit’s business in Norway and the Baltic states.

All the Chemilog trucks have full safety equipment going far beyond what the law demands, including

Hoyer is expanding its business by investing in 91 new truck units

adaptive cruise control with collision warning, a lane change assistance system, a driver fatigue warning system and a semitrailer coupling fitted with sensor monitoring. The Petrolog units are also comprehensively kitted out for optimum safety and efficiency.

Hoyer’s procurement manager, Alexander Radlowsky, said: “We

believe it is very important that our drivers feel comfortable in the truck units and can carry out their daily work in the best possible way and above all safely. The Volvo truck units enable this by, among other things, large driver’s cabs and storage spaces, ergonomic seats and beds, and engineindependent air conditioning.” z

XPO sells truckload operation to TransForce US-headquartered global logistics provider XPO has sold its truckload operation to Canadian logistics provider TransForce for $558 million (€525m). XPO will use the proceeds from the transaction to pay down debt.

The divested truckload operation encompasses approximately 3,000 tractors, 7,500 trailers and 29 locations that were part of the October 2015 acquisition of logistics firm Conway. XPO will continue to offer full truckload services to customers in the US, Mexico and Canada through its extensive brokerage

network. According to the company, XPO is the second largest freight brokerage provider in the world.

Bradley Jacobs, chairman and CEO XPO Logistics, said: “TransForce is getting the 19th largest assetbased truckload carrier in the US, a highly experienced workforce, and a presence in the crossborder Mexico freight corridor.

“We divested these assets to concentrate on growing our value to customers in the areas where we’re leaders in the industry: contract logistics, truck brokerage, less-than-truckload, last mile,

intermodal, drayage, expedite and managed transportation.

“This transaction strengthens our balance sheet and improves our long-term growth profile. In addition to deleveraging, the sale reduces our annual capex requirements, increases our return on capital, and lessens the cyclicality of our operations.”

The divested operations, which have been reported as part of XPO’s Transportation segment, were expected to generate approximately $10 million of operating income for the remaining two months of 2016, and depreciation of around $10 million. z

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WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

NEWS

Stolt-Nielsen Quala expands tank acquires Jo Tankers cleaning operations with Pennsylvania acquisition Stolt-Nielsen has completed the acquisition of the chemical tanker operations of Jo Tanker.

The acquisition of the Norway-based chemical tanker was finalised at the start of December.

The transaction comprises 13 chemical tankers and a 50% share in a joint venture with eight chemical tanker newbuildings, representing an enterprise value of $575 million (€503m). The acquired ships would satisfy the tonnage-replacement needs of the Stolt Tankers’ fleet for the next several years and add new trade routes that enhance the company’s global service capabilities.

Funding for the transaction has been secured through Stolt-Nielsen’s main commercial banks with a combination of bridge financing, secured term loans and corporate funds.

The financing of the ships in the joint venture will be off balance sheet. The net addition to Stolt-Nielsen’s debt from the transaction will be about $465 million. Following the transaction, available liquidity for the company will be approximately $300 million.

Stolt-Nielsen emerged as the best buyer after an open international process, Jo Tankers said in a statement. “The business environment requires economy of scale, global capacities and increased service flexibility,” said Nils-Petter Sivertsen, CEO. “In each of these areas Jo Tankers has reached the limit of our capabilities.” z

US bulk transportation cleaning specialist Quala has acquired Pennsylvania-based Penn Tank Truck Wash.

Commenting about the acquisition, Terry O’Brien, president of Quala, said: “Penn Tank Truck Wash is a leader in their market with an impeccable service reputation. At Quala, we are focused on expanding our food-grade line of business. We now have another strategically located offering to provide our customers with more options.” z

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TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 5

NEWS

Van den Bosch and MTG open tank cleaning station in Ghana Logistic services providers Van den Bosch and MTG have opened a tank cleaning station in the port of Tema, Ghana.

The cleaning station was built according to Western European quality standards and is the first of its kind in West Africa, Van den Bosch said in a statement.

The official opening was performed by Ron Strikker, the Dutch ambassador in Ghana, in early November. “I would like to congratulate Van den Bosch and MTG with this achievement. The cleaning is a new example of the expanding number of Dutch investments in Ghana,” said Strikker.

Speaking to TCM, Paul van de Vorle, member of the team of directors at Van den Bosch, said that Ghana was selected for its location, the stability of the country and its stable economic situation. He also said that Ghana has access to both import and export products which can be loaded into a cleaned tank container.

The start of the tank cleaning station is a new step forward on the African market for Van den Bosch. “A growing number of companies choose to ship their liquids to Africa as bulk freight instead of small packaging,” said Van de Vorle.

He added: “With the start of the tank cleaning station, we are able to link inbound and outbound cargo flows more easily and to support companies in making the switch to bulk transport. This will provide many advantages in terms of handling, heating and savings in packaging costs.”

He also said the new tank cleaning station will provide local employment opportunities.

‘A first’ Van de Vorle explained: “Tank containers cannot be cleaned professionally anywhere in West Africa yet. Through this tank cleaning station, it is now possible to have tank containers cleaned in Ghana, which leads to new possibilities for shipping and transport companies.

“Whilst making use of existing knowledge from the European market for the basics,

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Van den Bosch is beefing up its operations in Africa by opening up a tank cleaning station in Ghana

Van den Bosch says that its new tank cleaning station will provide local employment opportunities

we have trained the people locally.

Knowing your business, working with the best people, selecting the right suppliers and world-class operating systems are always at the basis of our strategy and these values have also shown their value throughout this new challenge.”

Teamwork The cleaning station is operated by MTG, a subsidiary of logistic services provider Portside. Last year, Van den Bosch started a partnership with Portside, to act as its appointed agent for the Ghanaian market. MTG also owns the container depot in Tema, where the cleaning station is located.

Portside managing director Bas de Vaal said: “We can now provide a full logistics concept to all importing and exporting companies of liquid bulk goods. Moreover, tank containers can

also be used to transport liquid bulk goods to various landlocked countries, such as Burkina Faso and Niger.”

Van den Bosch said that the tank cleaning station was built according to the “highest European quality standards and also meets all Kosher and Halal cleaning requirements”.

Ghana is not the only African country that Van Den Bosch has invested in. Earlier this year, the company strengthened its position in Africa by a close joint venture with logistics provider Aspen International in South Africa.

Speaking about the company’s outlook, Van de Vorle said: “We are always planning more steps ahead; stagnation equals regression. However, we will first of all focus on the current set-up. Once it is fully up and running at a satisfying level for all parties involved we will most certainly go ‘to the next level’ and keep you informed of the developments.” z

WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

NEWS

Fleet Logistics celebrates birthday with new structure

Germany-based Fleet Logistics has announced that it is marking 20 years on the international fleet management scene with a series of new developments to mark the occasion.

The company, which is headquartered at Oberhaching, Munich, alongside parent company, TÜV SÜD, is combining with Germany’s leading independent fleet management experts, Fleet Company, to create the Fleet Logistics Group.

The new enlarged group will sit alongside sister companies, FleetVision and TCOPlus, within the TÜV SÜD Business Unit Fleet, to provide a unified, joined-up and holistic approach to global fleet management.

Fleet Logistics currently has around 180,000 vehicles under contract for around 200 customers in 50 countries throughout the world, with a workforce of 380 employees.

It recently went live in a number of different countries in Latin and Central America from a hub operation in São Paulo, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Panama, Guatemala and Mexico. This latest expansion was an accompaniment to the hub operation it set up in Singapore in July last year to be able to service 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, China,

Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

Jörg Löffler, CEO of Fleet Logistics, said the new developments marked the continued progression of the company towards becoming one truly global brand.

“The year 2016 represents an important landmark in the history of Fleet Logistics as it celebrates its 20th anniversary,” he explained.

“To mark this very special occasion, we have taken this opportunity to combine two market leading brands: Germany’s leading independent fleet solutions expert, Fleet Company, with Europe’s largest and longest established independent fleet management provider, Fleet Logistics International. z

New container weighing technology unveiled

UK engineering company Hy-Dynamix has joined forces with load cells and equipment supplier Dynamic Load Monitoring (DLM) to build time- and cost-saving new wireless reporting technology into its portable container weighing solution — the Hy-Weigh.

The four-corner hydraulic jack system, launched in May this year, raises containers in situ, and is now operable in a wide range of high and low temperatures, maintaining an accuracy reading of +/-2%, which is required to satisfy the

Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Verified Gross Mass (VGM) weighing requirements.

DLM’s load monitoring technology means that Hy-Weigh can now give a graphical view of a container and load readings at each of its four corners, as well as the total load reading and centre of gravity, in real-time and wirelessly.

“It is almost six months since the new SOLAS regulations became law, and we are now starting to understand the cost implications of container weighing,” said Graeme Parkins,

managing director, Hy-Dynamix.

“There are costs associated with every stage, from ongoing administrative commitments, to weighbridge, and now new port charges, and I estimate the global bill for VGM implementation to be in the region of $4 (€3.7bn) billion a year.

“Our products provide bespoke, portable, and cost-effective solutions to implementing VGM weighing and, working with DLM, we have now also incorporated important technology which will save customers time and cost.” z

TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 7

NEWS

Odyssey enters into logistics agreement with Kemira

US logistics provider Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corp. has entered into a logistics service agreement with Kemira, a global chemicals company headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, serving customers in water-intensive industries.

As part of the contract, Odyssey will operate Kemira’s external road transportation activities in North America and Europe.

“Our goal is to provide strategic and operational value by optimising Kemira’s logistics processes,” said Bob Shellman, president and CEO at Odyssey. “Our specialised chemical experience and supplier network enables Odyssey to manage a company’s multifaceted logistics requirements and we look forward to increasing efficiencies for Kemira.”

“Odyssey is a leader in the chemical logistics industry, and its global safety management process and client

references were instrumental in our decision criteria,” said Esa-Matti Puputti, executive VP at Kemira’s operational excellence division.

He added: “Their expertise and

commitment to safety, sustainability and providing end-to-end logistics solutions for its customers are consistent with our priorities, making this a natural partnership. z

UK opens new shipping terminal Liverpool2, one of the world’s most modern shipping terminals, was officially opened in early November by the UK’s Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox MP. The new deep water facility – a £400 million investment by Peel Ports,

one of the UK’s largest port operators – will complement the existing Royal Seaforth Container Terminal at the Port of Liverpool, with each having capacity to handle around one million containers per annum. The Port of Liverpool is

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already the country’s biggest transatlantic port with 45% market share, and the only major container port in the north of the UK. Liverpool2, which is one of the UK’s largest private sector infrastructure projects, was developed in response to changing trading patterns and shipping industry trends towards the use of ‘mega’ ocean-going container ships. It will now be able to handle the biggest cargo vessels in the world.

Mark Whitworth, CEO of Peel Ports, said: “This marks the beginning of a new era for the Port of Liverpool.

Our investment will help global shippers to transport cargo more efficiently to their end destination with lower costs, congestion and carbon emissions. Liverpool is in the right location, providing state-ofthe art facilities and technology, and offers a real competitive advantage with a shorter supply chain and providing an all-water route right to the heart of the UK via the Manchester Ship Canal. z

WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

NEWS

US OSHA fines tank cleaning company after worker’s death

An air quality test and harnesses properly tethered to a lifeline for rescue might have prevented tragedy for three workers overcome by a lack of oxygen inside a rail tanker last year in New Orleans, US, federal workplace safety and health investigators announced.

Dedicated TCS is a tank cleaning service with about 55 employees in Louisiana and Illinois, according to the US’ Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found Dedicated TCS failed to test the atmosphere inside the tanker before the three employers entered the tank, and to mandate that the workers attach a lifeline to their harnesses to allow a rescue. One of the workers died, and two were hospitalised in the incident.

OSHA has cited Dedicated TCS for the same confined space violations three times before at its locations in Illinois.

In April 2012, the agency issued eight serious violations at the company’s location in Channahon. In May 2012, inspectors found nine serious and two wilful violations at its

Lansing location. In July 2014, an investigation in Channahon found four serious and seven repeat violations.

Dedicated TCS faces $226,310 in fines for two wilful, three repeat and four serious violations for exposing workers to hazardous health conditions in New Orleans. z

Eikelenboom Cleaning to power operations with LNG Eikelenboom Cleaning Amsterdam, a Dutch tank cleaning and food transport specialist with multiple locations across the Netherlands and Belgium, will power its operations with LNG from Titan LNG instead of heating oil.

The company will get its LNG supplies from a Flexbox supplied by Titan. Commenting on the launch, Ronald van Selm, operations director at Titan LNG, said: “We developed the Flexbox to serve customers with a relatively small gas use and for the mobile gas market. It’s a valuable addition to our product portfolio, providing a plug and play solution that enables easy access to clean and affordable natural gas.”

With no access to the local gas-grid, Eikelenboom’s location in the Port of Amsterdam has, until now, relied on the use of heating oil; a less environmentallyconscious solution.

Ary Eikelenboom, director of Eikelenboom Cleaning Amsterdam, said: “By switching to LNG, we’re not

only increasing our competitive advantage, but also ensuring that we play our part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Koen Overtoom, interim CEO Port of Amsterdam, said: “Eikelenboom Cleaning Amsterdam and Titan LNG have achieved

an important milestone in the development of a cleaner environment in our port. As LNG becomes an increasingly viable solution for both industrial and marine applications, it will play a key role in improving air quality in the Port of Amsterdam.” z

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TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 9

NEWS

Abbey Logistics expands fleet Abbey Logistics Group, a UK-based bulk liquid and powder transport provider, has expanded its fleet with the addition of 20 DAF XF and CF tractor units, as it continues to increase the efficiency and flexibility of its nationwide transport network.

The new vehicles will support operations serving the food ingredients, construction, and non-hazardous chemical sectors and also provide flexible support to Abbey’s palletised business.

“Abbey worked closely with DAF to tailor these units to suit the specialist products we transport,” said David Batty, Abbey Logistics fleet manager.

He added: “Safety and hygiene standards are critical to the services we provide, together with fuel efficiency, CO2 emissions and driver comfort. DAF clearly demonstrated they understood our requirements and the decision to add these new vehicles to our fleet was ultimately an easy one.”

“We’re naturally delighted to continue our strong partnership with Abbey Logistics,” said, Mike Hudson, Truck sales executive at supplying DAF Dealer, North West Trucks. “Abbey was the first UK operator to take our CF Silent low-noise tractor unit, demonstrating the company’s willingness to put its environmental credentials on the road where it matters. Our latest fleet deal is another example of working with Abbey on conquest fleets to supply solutions that meet customer requirements.”

liquid and powder transport company. Specifically, this will include leading a drive towards increased efficiency and further growth in new and existing markets.

New appointment Steve Granite, CEO at Abbey Logistics Group said: “We are Elsewhere, Abbey Logistics has also announced the appointment delighted to have found someone of David’s calibre to join our of David Thomas as its new chief financial officer. team. We have made substantial progress towards achieving our Thomas joins Abbey from global supply chain services vision in recent years, adding new services and industry experts to company XPO logistics where he worked as a finance director our business, and working tirelessly to provide our customers with at its UK-based supply chain division. A chartered management a best in class service in terms of compliance, service and cost. accountant, Thomas has extensive finance, risk and operations “David has impressed the board immensely with his experience experience within the logistics sector and has held a number of and we are confident he is the right person to help us as we senior roles with national and international logistics companies. embark upon the next phase of the firm’s development.”

Thomas will sit on the Abbey Group Board and will oversee The company also announced the appointment of an the finance, corporate development, risk and commercial engineering manager to lead the firm’s engineering department. legal functions. He will be tasked with helping Abbey David Batty, a former chairman of the British Transport Advisory achieve its 2020 vision of becoming the UK’s leading bulk Consortium, will manage Abbey’s rapidly expanding fleet of liquid and powder tankers, trucks and distribution trailers, and take responsibility for Bolondi Cleaning Heads Abbey’s maintenance Via A. Volta, 4 depots across the country.

42027 Montecchio Emilia (RE) Italy Tel. +39 0522 864434 Batty will oversee all Fax +39 0522 865780 E-mail: bolondi@bolondi.com new vehicle specification Web Site: www.bolondi.com to ensure Abbey provides the most appropriate equipment for each of its customers. He will also play a leading role in supporting Abbey’s commitment to vehicle maintenance compliance.

Batty joins the business with more than 40 years of industry experience where he gained a wealth CLEANING HEADS SELF PROPELLED OR MOTORIZED FOR WASHING AT HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE of knowledge through SUITABLE FOR FOOD, CHEMICAL, PHARMACEUTICAL, WINE AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY, working with some of the TRANSPORTS, URBAN AND BUILDING CLEANING INDUSTRY. UK’s leading companies. z

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WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

NEWS

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TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 11

EVENT REVIEW

ECTA 2016 annual meeting in Düsseldorf What the tank cleaning industry needs is interconnectivity and communication

Tank cleaning stakeholders of all stripes converged on Düsseldorf, Germany, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, for the European Chemical Transport Association’s (ECTA) annual meeting on 10 November.

After the meeting, which took place early in the morning, ECTA’s president Andreas Zink welcomed participants to the organisation’s followup conference, which hosted a series of interesting presentations. The event also produced a summary of ECTA results and projects created

by Evert De Jong, ECTA’s responsible care coordinator.

Common trends were highlighted throughout the course of the day by the guest speakers, which provided a lot of interest to the delegates.

Firstly, the audience were treated to a presentation from Dirk-Jan de Bruijn, programme director at EU Truck Platooning.

He challenged a governmentdriven programme for improved utilisation of transport infrastructure.

He revealed the topics of “platooning”, or loadability of vehicles sharing free room on trailers, and sharing information systems amongst transporters while improving safety performance. One of the basic conditions to make this work is electronic interchange of data. Stakeholders in the system need to be e-connected, he explained.

In spite of not having all required systems in place yet, de Bruijn was confident that the industry would eventually get there, taking into account the speed at which e-systems

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and devices are developing and being made available.

The truck evolved Mid-morning, delegates heard from Peter Brock, managing director at Mercedes-Benz. He discussed the state-of-the-art truck, the common vehicle that has technologically developed faster in the past decade than during the entire century before.

His presentation Milestones in the Evolution of a Truck was completed with very specific examples of safety devices, like the fourth generation of ABS brakes and – as a world premiere – the active brake assist 4 (ABA4), the first brake assist with pedestrian detection.

E-technology now allows drivers to avoid head-to-tail collisions. The implementation of sensors will keep on reducing the human failure factor, which is still the root cause of fatal road accidents.

Fuel consumption technology generates €4,320 in savings per truck for every single litre of fuel consumed, which is easy to achieve with today’s chips and sensors, speed management, active suspension and radar technology, and other devices.

The technological development evolves towards stunning ratios – the purchase price of a truck will count only for 10% in the total cost of owning and operating it. Mercedes-Benz Uptime covers three new services: real time monitoring of the truck, breakdown prevention,

Simon Axup, VP of consulting and organisational safety for DEKRA in EMEA

Conference delegates at ECTA meeting

and efficient repair and maintenance management with real-time support for the customer. The autonomous driving experiment was demonstrated with the pilot driving on multi-lane highways, alongside with how the pilot supports platooning in cooperative autonomous driving in convoys.

The key word here is again “connectivity”. There is ample room for improved productivity since almost 50% of overall tour time is wasted on standing/ parking, with only 35% used on driving. Trucks, trailers, and docks are sending data, but they do not communicate with each other. Future connectivity leaves plenty of

possibilities for applications to improve productivity.

During his presentation, Brock also showed a design of a truck that will take to the roads in less than ten years’ time. This truck is, apparently, luxury personified. It is almost on a par with today’s private jet plane - equipped with e-tablets to connect to management systems, not only for safety and logistic solutions but also for the driver’s comfort.

Perhaps this design could also solve the problem of a shortage of truck drivers?

Safety and history Simon Axup, VP of consulting and organisational safety

WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

EVENT REVIEW for DEKRA Insight at EMEA, illustrated with a number of situational examples how safety should be valued in all supply chain operations, with his presentation entitled Building a high-performance culture where safety is a value.

Safety requirements are made clear in signs and labels, safety standards are translated into written procedures, safety commitments are signed off on paper, safety is policed by monitoring, safety rules are regulated and sometimes fines are issued, safety is a cost in the organisation, Axup maintained.

Axup called for the building of a high-performance culture, where safety is a value.

Achieving such a culture is a matter of communication and awareness in all layers of the organisation with the emphasis on its value rather than the cost or the sanctions. Axup’s many years of experience throughout the EMEA area ensures that he promotes the “safety value” approach that generates safety performance improvements and at the same time pays itself off in higher service quality.

In the afternoon, Stefan Bartens, VP of logistics procurement for Europe at BASF, explained how

companies’ SQAS dedication is implemented in the safety and quality of the logistics services’ procurement process.

He highlighted the bonus-malus (an incentive programme designed to give a negative bonus for poor performance) approach to SQAS in road transport procurement with the periodic evaluations, improvement actions, SQAS performance, and contract awarding, with priority being on the bonus effect. He emphasised BASF’s prioritisation of continuous improvement through SQAS, with SQAS being an essential reference in the procurement decision process. It was encouraging to see the statistics of the SQAS Report downloads by chemical companies – 5389 hits in 2015, while in 2011 the same number was a meagre 2925.

Max Haberstroh of the RWTH Aachen University took the audience for a trip through history, from the Industrial Revolution to today’s Industry 4.0 and Logistics 4.0 – the Internet of Things (IoT). In a profound speech, he said: “At the end of the day, it is not about how much data you have, it is about how well you use it”. In his examples of

ECTA meeting took place in Germany in November

research and development, four key elements stand out: interconnection, information transparency, decentralised decisions, and technical assistance. Logistics and transport are going to change on all levels in the context of the fourth Industrial Revolution.

New, data-driven services and business models, the formation of new crosscompany networks, and the emergence of new stakeholders are the challenges ahead of us in a rapidly changing market.

The interconnection of everything with everything in real-time is and will keep on changing our organisational and social environment, Haberstroh maintained.

So, if there is one word to take away from the meeting, it is connectivity. As a matter of fact, here is an interesting case for tank cleaning stations when analysing the total time spent on the cleaning operation versus the total time spent on collecting and distributing the data needed to execute the proper operation. No doubt that interconnecting the tank truck, the cleaning station, and the loading industry will generate efficiency and transparency while saving resources and time for each stakeholder. We only need someone to take the lead. z For more information:

This article was written by an industry expert close to the tank cleaning supply chain.

Visit: www.ecta.com

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TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 13

COMMENT

From Russia with love Russian tank cleaning operators are waking up to the necessity of adhering to quality standards to secure their business

Havila is a privately-owned group of companies which was established less than ten years ago. Currently, it operates ten offices located in Russia, the Baltic States and Eastern Europe. Havila’s main goal is to develop professional and reliable intermodal tank container operations in the business area. Moreover, there are other activities where the company is deeply involved, one of them being railroad operations on a route with a track gauge of 1,520mm. In this sector, Havila is a major player in the railway freight industry and operates its own fleet of 40ft and 60ft rail platforms. During the last five years, the Havila Group has been evaluating the possibility of entering a new market for Russia – professional cleaning of tank containers. Two years ago a

Havila’s tank cleaning operation in Tambov, some 450km southeast from Moscow

pilot project was launched in Tambov, some 450km southeast from Moscow.

Russia was and still is a producer of commodities and a net importer of specialty chemicals, produced by wellknown global companies. The first tank containers made their appearance in Russia just recently – around 25 years ago, mainly for delivering import cargo to the country. Due to Russia’s widely varying geography, the majority of domestic and export transportation of liquid chemicals was always performed in rail tank cars (RTC), and most of the chemical plants were designed for handling RTCs. Fast forward to the last few years and construction of new RTCs for transportation of chemical cargoes has been very limited, which has stimulated growth in tank container operations.

This development in combination with a favourable rail freight tariff for tank containers created a unique case where the longer the distance is, the more cost efficient tank containers become compared to RTCs. The current Russian market

Havila president Nikolay Grigorev

14

In Russia and previously in the Soviet Union the culture of cleaning tank equipment was not developed because the majority of RTCs were used as a shuttle with no cleaning happening between transportation stretches. However, every significant plant had a steam supply within their premises, and this was used to “steam clean” the RTCs. Such cleaning

was usually done with open steam, without the use of detergents or drying.

Currently, the market of tank containers in Russia does not exceed 10,000 units.

Most of these are owned or operated by local market participants, and Havila estimates that there are around 37,000 import jobs done yearly to Russia and about 30,000 export jobs. For the last few years, average market growth has stayed around 10% per annum. The majority of the domestically-owned tank containers are used by the local tank container operators as a substitution for RTCs for shuttle transportation. This is because RTCs are currently banned due to their technical conditions.

Meanwhile, containers are operated mainly domestically or between loading plants in Russia and the terminals in Finland, the Baltic States and China.

Main import-export players for Russia are global tank container operators who use different scenarios – some of them have Russian offices responsible for the development of the region, some of them are trying to work in Russia remotely, and some are using local forwarding companies in order to avoid idling equipment or empty truck runs.

There are some examples of Russiabased operators trying to develop intermodal operations from Russia to Europe, but their numbers are quite limited due to scarce technical and commercial knowledge of the Russian market in Western Europe. When tank containers started to become popular in

WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

COMMENT

Havila is planning to expand its activities in the tank cleaning sector in the next few years and set up a network of depots within Russia

Russia, a number of companies lacking sufficient professional understanding of the market leased equipment and rushed into the transporting business without knowing all the ins and outs. As a result of this, this can sometime create frustration not only with the shippers, but within the market in general.

Due to the growth in the number of tank containers in the past years and the necessity of providing cleaning to Western operators, the Russian market came up with primitive cleaning solutions, mainly “garage-type” stations, with spray guns and without any knowledge of cleaning safety, protective measures and utilisation of waste. For example, in Russia it is possible to clean tank containers from hazardous products at just car wash stations.

Presently, there are around 150 of these car wash-type cleaning stations spread across the country. Unfortunately, they are widely used by many international tank container operators.These depots are mainly concentrated around Russian

sea ports or in chemical clusters, close to possible shippers. The biggest threat for all is that there is no guarantee of cleanliness and safety procedures do not exist, which could cause serious consequences for employees of such depots. Every year in Russia there are several fatalities due to unsafe cleaning. Taking into account that such businesses do not require any special license, their numbers are growing yearly.

A developing situation Due to the development of the cleaning market in Russia, costs for backloads from Russia in the middle Volga region to central Europe were optimised from around €120-150 per tonne to €200 per tonne. This allows Western operators to increase imports from Russia and use their equipment more efficiently.

Havila made a decision to establish and develop the so-called “McDonalds”, or franchising, concept for cleaning stations in Russia. This concept assumes a unified standard for cleaning and repair depots, which is developed and will be implemented within different regions of Russia. The first project launched was the Tambov depot in 2014. Through the Eastern European Tank Cleaning Association, it was accepted as a full European Federation of Tank Cleaning Organisations (EFTCO) member with rights to issue European Cleaning Document (ECD) certificates.

Currently, this is the only station in the

former Soviet Union with such right.

The cleaning station is running on Western equipment and has a complete in-house solution for its IT system, wastewater treatment, and safety measures. On a monthly basis, it provides around 300 cleanings to different global clients who are devoted to safe and professional treatment of their equipment. Besides cleaning, the depot is fully equipped for providing repairs and tests for the tank containers.

Looking forward, Havila is planning to expand its activities in the tank cleaning sector in the next few years and set up a network of depots within Russia. The company expects to launch a cleaning depot in the city of Togliatti in the south of Russia in the next few months. This would be the next step in providing quality cleaning to its clients.

Western European operators have showed limited interest in the Russian tank cleaning market, as the top focus has always been on return loads and the quality of a clean tank. Nevertheless, Havila estimates that with the increasing number of professional cleaning stations, operators in Russia will stop using unofficial depots and will follow environmentallyfriendly and safe standards. z

For more information:

This article was written by Nikolay Grigorev, president at Havila. Visit: www.havila.ee

The only professional cleaning depot in Russia Member of EFTCO SQAS audit Cleaning of tank containers / road barrels Repairshop

Telephone: + 7 915 660 60 50 Email: info@ecochemplus.ru Address: Montazhnikov str. 1, 1392000, Tambov, Russia

TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 15

COMPANY PROFILE

Business software and mobility Embracing modern mobile technologies will offer tank cleaning stations plentiful benefits

Business software helps companies and businesses to accomplish their corporate goals by, for example, helping to track business activities and improve productivity. To be able to improve productivity, companies need to understand their processes and activities and know their numbers before they can change work flows or methods.

Once operators know what they want or need to change, they will then need to get a business software system that supports their needed changes.

A wide range of applications can be grouped under the term business software. To name but a few, these include accounting software, office suites, groupware, human resource management systems, outsourcing relationship management, customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and more. Huge software companies like Oracle, SAP, and Microsoft build enormous organisations to cover certain business areas. Their successes are based on software licensing and consultancy models.

Katakumo is also a company developing business software. Tankmin is Katakumo’s business software for tank cleaning businesses. The software’s success is based on it being flexible, adaptable and cost-effective. Anyone who has bought a database license from either Oracle or Microsoft knows that it can be tricky to understand how much it will cost to use the product in their particular environment.

Katakumo has both small and large companies as competitors, but some

of the toughest competition can come from the internal IT department.

Legacy applications continue to be developed. In the past, the workforce had to adapt to IT systems, but these days the reverse has happened.

Times are changing and cloudbased service delivery is becoming an accepted part of the industry.

The need to understand services that support mobile workforces is becoming more widespread in today’s world.

A smaller solution

browser of a tablet or a smartphone. The company primarily targets tablets due to the more favourable screen size. A tablet can be fitted in the front panel of a forklift. As a result of this, the driver never needs to spend valuable time getting out of his lift to pick up the next order or communicate with management.

This very small detail in the workflow for the forklift driver will save lots of time. It will also decrease risks of injury and save money due to decreased use of paper and the need to buy new printers that have a hard time coping with the industrial environment.

An area where Katakumo sees great opportunities for improving business Benefits of mobility productivity is the mobility aspect of business software. We have now come A mobile workforce can do several things further than just exploring the mobile way that benefits the business and thereby of living with e-mails and web surfing. justifies the development costs for the The tank cleaning business is, of course, system. However, it is important to make following this path as well. There is a need the calculations before starting a mobility to release the desktop-only applications development project. Operators need to be used in places other than the office. to understand their actual needs and Tankmin exemplifies a firm commitment find applications that can create mobile to the mobile strategy. All software in the environments. The industry has passed suite is useable on a mobile device in one the tipping point of developing for the way or the other. The trick with mobility pure joy of it or because it is a fancy service creation is that the developer technical challenge. Today, we develop needs to think through what kind of mobility because it makes sense and it mobility the end user needs and what is aligned with the strategy of the whole kind of mobility the stakeholder paying for the development is in need of.

One small but important step towards mobility for the tank cleaning business that Katakumo offers through Tankmin is the possibility of handling orders through a web application that also works through the web

Mobile data traffic in Western Europe from 2015 to 2020

16

WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

[HI ALI. Please put table two. Where two stars are.**]

COMPANY PROFILE business and the environments around us.

In Western Europe, the expected mobile data traffic is projected to increase exponentially in the near future.

The mobile workforce is here and it cannot be stopped. If businesses do not create mobility solutions now, there is an increased risk that the employees will build their own solutions or that competitors will replace them on the top of the ranking as the most valued supplier or best employer.

A few arguments to create a mobile workforce are: • Increased efficiency of the workforce • Immediate traceability • Improved cash flow • Improved security and decreased injuries • Accessible through channels other than the office computer A common question when discussing mobile tools in a business is whether to use a so-called native app or a web app.

A native app is a software application developed specifically for a type of device, e.g. an Android smartphone or

an Apple iPad. Though both use the same backend data sources, they access and present the data a bit differently.

A couple of years ago, before Apple introduced its App Store, mobile Java and HTML

were the hottest Percentage of time spent on mobile web and apps in US from 2013 to 2015 topics. Now, it is the new version of the web development programming business wants to achieve and how language, HTML5, together with flexible they are to use a mobile app in their presentation layer languages and environment, and also what budget techniques (Javascript, CSS3 and similar) there is for software development. z that compete with native app developers.

The accompanying table illustrates the time spent in the US using mobile web apps versus using native apps.

To keep it short there are advantages and disadvantages with both For more information: implementation strategies. It very much This article was written by Michael Wallenius, comes down to what a particular CEO at Katakumo. Visit: www.katakumo.com

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COMPANY PROFILE

Pure uncontaminated fuel:

More than just a pipe dream?

After years of research and testing, a simple innovative product has emerged which may leave the problems of fuel contaminated by water as a distant memory

Aqua-Zorb UK has developed a water-free cell, which is designed to eliminate the ongoing problem of water contamination in fuel tanks. Having recently launched the product in the UK, the manufacturer has already begun to expand into Europe via its overseas distributor Top Filtration Europe. The water-free cell, manufactured in a variety of sizes, is attached to a stainless steel tank rod with stainless steel marine clips and consists of an inert, nontoxic chemical contained within a coated lightweight material.

The cell is placed within a fuel tank via the fuel entry point, whereby it absorbs free water from the fuel and retains this within the cell. Once full, the cell can then be easily removed from the tank using the retrieval line and rod and replaced with another cell to begin the process again. Provided that the instructions, which are issued with the product, are adhered to, the cell can be disposed of with domestic waste without any environmental issues.

Problems with water in fuel have been difficult to address for many industries and the water-free cell has been found to be effective for tackling fuel affected by condensation, poor quality fuel delivery, leaking tanks, transferring, and any other process that allows the fuel to be affected.

The larger the volume of free water, the more likely it is that microbial growth will take hold, with the resultant algae, fuel bugs and other contaminants reducing the quality and effectiveness of the fuel. This leaves engines and other equipment open to significant damage over a period of time. The water-free cell aims to leave diesel-powered equipment, generators, and emergency stand-by pumps with pure clean diesel fuel in the tank to enable them to run at full efficiency and to eliminate other issues created by poor quality fuel, such as filter blockage, engine failure, and interference with the smooth operation of fuel pumps and injector systems.

Case studies

A new product has been developed that tackles the problem of water contamination in fuels

The cells were most effective at removing all the water in the tanks 18

A recent testimonial was received from a well-known fuel company. Wessex Petroleum was experiencing problems with free water contamination in some of its customers’ fuel tanks. The tanks were situated at marinas and therefore exposed to water ingress and difficult to access. The company feedback was that the cells were quick and easy to install, thus eliminating the need for specialist access to the tanks. The cells were most effective at removing all the water in the tanks. They therefore saved a huge amount of money in terms of arranging and carrying out manned entry tank cleaning and increased the safety of company engineers by completely removing the need to enter the tanks.

Other companies have recognised the value of using the water-free cell as a low-cost preventative maintenance product and additional feedback from Volvo UK Construction highlighted the fact that even with water separators fitted to storage tanks, the issue with free water can be such that the separators alone could not cope with the problem until the water-free cell was introduced.

At this point the water could be removed from the tanks more effectively.

The cells have been tested by independent laboratories and found to be suitable for diesel, petrol, paraffin, and aviation fuel. Aqua-Zorb is working with four UK and one overseas distributor, all of whom have been carefully selected for their knowledge and expertise in the filtration industry.

Expansion is planned and it is hoped that more filtration and tank cleaning companies will recognise the product for what it is – a simple and effective low-cost maintenance tool essential to eliminating the issues highlighted above. After all, prevention is always better than cure. z For more information:

This article was written by Carl Killingsworth, director of Aqua-Zorb UK. Visit: www.aqua-zorb.co.uk

WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

Full tank

COMPANY PROFILE

A Belgian tank cleaning specialist provides solutions for both new and old installations

When Cotac needed a new range of high pressure and tank cleaning equipment, the Belgian company turned to tank cleaning firm Car & Truck Wash (CTW) to produce a new Latex cleaning unit.

The CTW Latex Unit consists of a buffer tank, a feeding pump, washing heads, a membrane pump, a filter, and a flow measurement device. In the future, the tank cleaning unit will be available in several sizes, depending on the needs of customers.

One of the most important challenges was to have as few parts as possible in contact with the product to avoid agglomeration of the latex. Therefore, an external heating coil around the buffer tank was used. To avoid foaming, instead of circulating product with pumps, a mixer was installed to have a homogeneous mixture and heating. This specific unit was developed to use three washing heads on two washing lanes.

To start with, a 2,000L buffer tank is filled with a mixture of water and chemicals and heated up to 85°C. The tank is heated by an external steam coil around the isolated tank. The mixer takes care of the movement of the product in the tank. An external pump can feed up to three washing heads, each equipped with automatic valves and connected to the unit through stainless steel hoses with teflon lining. A membrane pump then pumps the product with latex residue back through a two-inch filter into the buffer tank, where the product can be heated again.

The CTW latex unit is protected by a flowmeter that will detect eventual problems in flow or product level. A temperature sensor will give an external alarm when the product reaches its lower or higher set point. Through the control panel the customer can select different programmes with different

The new CTW tank ceaning unit ready for shipment on the trailer

pre-programmed settings in time, temperature, pressure etc. The settings can easily be changed by the customer without intervention from CTW. In November, CTW Cleaning started the construction of a new tank cleaning station at Eikelenboom in Ardooie, Belgium. This two-lane food tank cleaning station will use the new HP CTW tank cleaning unit as the heart of the installation. Each lane is equipped with four 50L/100Bar Bolondi washing heads on top of a 9m platform.

The tank cleaning unit has all the latest

features, including frequency control, flow and temperature measurement, and low-pressure chemical dosing, etc.

The whole installation can be linked through the new data communication box to an external computer system for data logging and printing of all necessary documents and certificates. z

For more information:

This article was written by Marc Cumps, tank cleaning sales manager at CTW Cleaning. Visit: www.ctwcleaning.com

TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 19

COMPANY PROFILE

A tank cleaning operator gives an insight into its daily operations

A day in the life

of a tank cleaning plant Germany-headquartered Cotac Europe sees itself as a neutral service provider for the internal cleaning of tank, silo and container wagons and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) for all hauliers in Germany and abroad. Cotac is represented in four European countries – Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France.

The Dormagen site in Germany offers cleaning services for tank and silo wagons, tank containers and IBCs that have transported chemical products and materials such as foodstuffs. It also carries out kosher cleaning work, as well as cleaning containers for gas equipments and products in Classes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9 of the ADR (European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road).

Articulated road tankers, tank containers and IBCs are also cleaned externally.

Cotac has ISO-9001 certification, is Safety and Quality Assessment System (SQAS) audited and is an IBC inspection agency recognised by the BAM (German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing). The management system is based on four pillars: safety, health, environment and quality.

Paperwork The cleaning plant at the Dormagen site operates in three shifts, Monday to Friday.

A variety of tank wagons, containers and silo trucks are cleaned every day. When applying for tank cleaning, the driver must enter information about the truck, details about the tank that is to be cleaned, and details about the last product that was carried in the truck into a Cotac form.

The form gives essential information to the cleaning staff before a cleaning operation and after a cleaning operation. It also informs staff if a cleaning has taken place.

Shipping documents, the Convention

20

on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), the ADR Class and the UN number, are also relevant documents that need to be included in the form. This ensures the documentation and traceability of the cleaning. After cleaning is complete, the

Nine cleaning lines are available, not all of which can be used for every type of cleaning driver receives an original and copy of the European Cleaning Document (ECD).

For example, the Cotac site in Dormagen has its own database and has access to a product database (named the IGF Company’s C-Base).The database includes all the cleanings, all the products previously handled with their UN numbers, the cleaning programme used in each case and the aqueous effluent pathway. This enables quick, safe and secure decisions. Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), a United Nations international labelling system, and EU regulation Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) are also established – insofar as information is available.

The mechanical process When cleaning products relevant to “TA-Luft” (the German regulation “Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control”), multi-stage suction air exhaust through the open manhole is brought into operation. In most instances, toxic substances are loaded and unloaded

from a “dedicated container” (the vessels involved are mainly containers, and only a single product is transported at all times), and they are also cleaned in the same way (the tanks are “top only” tanks that have no bottom outlets).

Exhaust air arising during cleaning the tank interior and from the collection tank downstream of the gravity separator is purified through a scrubber followed by an active carbon stage. The scrubber needs 1-2m3/h of water. Neutralisation takes place by adding NaOH/H2SO4 (caustic soda/sulphuric acid). The active carbon filters (2 x 5m3) are replaced approximately every three years.

Cleaning is preceded by residue removal. Nine cleaning lines are available, not all of which can be used for every type of cleaning. For example, foodstuff cleaning is segregated. The lines in which aqueous effluents containing MEK (methylethyl ketone, acetone) solvents can arise are run separately. Aqueous effluents containing solvents are collected in ASF (waste collection containers for liquid hazardous wastes) containers and are disposed of separately.

Latexes are dealt with by circulation cleaning, i.e. the cleaning agent is collected, pressurised and reused to clean the tank. At the customer’s request, tanks containing latexes are pre-served/ disinfected with an H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) solution after cleaning.

Cleaning normally takes place using cold water (12°C), warm water (60°C) and/or hot water (90°C) at a pressure of 80 bar (800 kPa). Piston pumps are used. Hot water is produced by a heat exchanger. The demineralised water has a hardness of 3°dH (German hardness degrees) and is fed pre-pressurised into the pipes leading to the high-pressure pumps from a reservoir tank. Special tank container cleaning is carried out manually using a pressure of 2,500

WINTER 2016 • TANK CLEANING

COMPANY PROFILE

Cotac is represented in four European countries – Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France

bar. In order to do this, the container is put into a rotating frame so it can be turned around its longitudinal axis.

A matter of waste The cleaning lines have three channels to separate the aqueous effluent into its component streams: wastewater containing latex, bio-toxic wastewater and biodegradable wastewater.

Wastewaters containing Adsorbable Organic Halogen (AOX) and the prewash water from toxic products are fed into separate tanks via closed pipework.

The aqueous effluent treatment process begins with coarse material removal via a sieve at the end of the channels. A pump is then used to pump the wastewater into one of the aqueous effluent tanks, which are designed to allow them to collect a day’s amount of wastewater (approximately 150m3). Wastewaters from cleaning vessels, tanks and containers into which latex or AOX substances had been loaded are each collected in one of the tanks, separately from the other aqueous effluents, and stored there until a decision

is taken regarding further treatment.

At the next step, the wastewater is passed through a gravity separator, then into a tank again for intermediate storage. This is followed by batch-wise treatment, initially via a floatation stage (15m3/h or 12m3/h and flocculation using poly-aluminium chloride - PAC).

Floatation agent addition takes place in an inline pipe mixer designed as a PE (polyethylene) pipe. The annual consumption of PAC is approximately 24-30 tonnes. The resulting dilute sludge is mixed with lime slurry and dewatered in a chamber filter press (40-50% solids).

The purified water is collected in a transfer tank with a capacity of 400 m3.

Sampling and examination in accordance with specified criteria take place in the facility’s own laboratory. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) limit value is 700mg/L. However, average measured TOC values are around 400mg/L. The aqueous effluent is discharged into the biological wastewater purification plant operated by Chempark, Dormagen. This involves satisfying certain criteria specified by the sewage treatment plant operator.

Wastewater containing AOX is reduced in volume by an evaporator.

The condensate is fed through active carbon adsorbers and into the transfer tank (check sampling for AOX). Sludges and oily residues together with coarse materials resulting from cleaning tank interiors or purifying the aqueous effluent are pressed and disposed of.

Declaration of the waste takes place via the Electronic Waste Documentation Procedure (eANV) in which the producer and disposer each report the amounts, origin, transport and final whereabouts to the Web Application for Trans-Frontier Shipment of Waste (ZEDAL) electronic waste recycling platform. An annual report is submitted by the environmental officer responsible for Waste Management and Waterway Protection. z

For more information:

This article was written by Udo Scheide, plant manager at the cleaning station division at Cotac Europe, Dormagen.

Visit: http://www.cotac-group.eu

TANK CLEANING • WINTER 2016 21

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