County Pumps

How safe is your fuel

sgarland — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:26:08 +0000

How safe is your fuel

There has been a significant rise in fuel theft across the industry and the criminals are getting braver and taking more risks to not only target vehicles

Tanks positioned near boundary fences are being targeted, with draw off hoses being placed in spare ports or through tank top hatches to access diesel directly from your bulk tank. Significant volumes can be lost in an overnight hit, leaving customers with the task of not only having to source a quick delivery replacement to keep their operation moving, but the headache of accountability to prove exact volumes of fuel loss, to recoup monies. but bulk storage tanks at depots.

Insurance premiums will then rise and a second hit is experienced.

Some smaller installation precautions may just stop the opportunist thief making your site the next target.

One of our leading customers in the south east had a number of depots targeted and significant fuel loss was experienced over a week long period. Thieves had accessed a spare gauge port on the tank top to drop a hose line into the unit and 30,000 litres of fuel was siphoned from the tank in an overnight operation. A repeated theft was made at another depot for the same company within a couple of days and another attempt at the first tank was made again.

Surveys were carried out by our tank fabrication engineer and any vulnerable tank top ports or access manways assessed and quoted for preventative works to be carried out. Some reduction in inlet sizes were made where access gauges or alarm cables had to remain, minimising the entry port size even if the thieves try to remove. Remaining open ports were capped or plugged and spot welding was undertaken. Tank access manway bolts were spot welded at intervals to prevent removal.

No further loss has been experienced to date and we hope to have saved the sites from further disruption. If given the time, every tank has vulnerable points for criminals, but reduce the ease of access and your tank will be bypassed for the next easier target.

Any advice or assistance on your installation can be offered. Please ring our offices and with the site information and photographs we hold, we will offer you the best help for your site set-up.

Routine Maintenance

sgarland — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:04:47 +0000

Routine Maintenance

In these current times of economic hardship, both personal and in business. It is with dismay that on reading a recent industry related article, that companies are truly ‘cutting corners’ to save money. Which is totally understandable, unless the short term saving could cost them alot more in the long run, and not just financially but also reputation.

Im sure lots of business managers are being asked to look at all overheads and to cut them wherever possible.

One service that has been hit hard is that of ’routine maintenance’ on site equipment, this could range from coffee machines right through to major mechanical/industrial equipment.

But in my opinion that is a mistake. Because waiting for something to go wrong rather than looking to avoid it is an accident waiting to happen.

For example a sites major storage vessel’s regular maintenance is cancelled, and the relevant parties only realise they have a problem when the Enviromental Agency knock on their door. To advise them that the local water course has been badly polluted, by a leak from their tank. They would then ask for relevant maintenance records, and when they could not be provided, it would ‘seal’ the sites fate. Huge fines could be made of thousands of pounds , all due to cancelling routine visits that cost a few hundred.

And then on top of that if the local media or industry publications were to get hold of the ‘story’ it could make the situation even worse.

So please, before making short term cost savings, think of the long term financial/reputation implications.

For more information on how we can help your business CLICK HERE

Safer Roads?

sgarland — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:05:56 +0000

Safer Roads ?

Could our roads be made safer?

Another truly horrific accident reported in the news this morning.

With the sad loss of a Royal Mail lorry driver, our hearts go out to all his family, these things always seem even more horrendous with Christmas fast approaching.

This is the second serious accident on the M5 in as many months, could more be done to make our roads safer?

Millions of people use our roads and motorway network everyday and improved early warnings and hazard signage could only help the situation, on many occasions we have experienced warning signs either showing wrong information or warnings that are either old or not applicable, this tends to make drivers take less notice of the signs when there is a serious incident.

This is an area the Government could definitely improve.

For more information on how we can help your business CLICK HERE

Trouble in the Snow

sgarland — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:32:31 +0000

Trouble in the Snow

Winter is coming ………….. With the weather changes fast approaching, County Pumps have actively checked and upgraded all vehicle winter essential kits in all their VW Transporters service vehicles. All engineers and workshop staff have been asked to raise their awareness to the importance of correct tyre inflation and more regular tyre tread checks over the coming months.

Throughout the UK, we have experienced two severe winters over the past couple of years and with our nationwide engineering response and service cover, we are pleased to employ dedicated staff who were willing to make the effort to support the company and remain operational at all times.

With our Head Office location positioned rurally close to the Cotswolds, some office and engineering staff have the use of 4X4 drive vehicles to access our company premises. County Pumps have helped to keep their main communication link open to their customers needs and appreciating that a fuel pump failure effects them on the road. We are all reliant on local Highway Agency and Councils to manage our main road networks to a degree of suitability for driving conditions but we did find some of the main problem areas were the Distribution Centre access roads and entrances to depots and yards. For our customers, this must have caused even more problems.

For more information on how we can help your business CLICK HERE

Every Drop Counts – Fuel Calibration

dgillbanks — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:39:22 +0000

Every Drop Counts – Fuel Calibration

With the increasing pressures of fuel costs, it’s even more important to make every litre count.

Does your diesel pump actually issue what it records?

With manual figures or fuel management systems, the figures will only be as good as the pump fitted. Varying ranges of equipment, from flowmeters (accuracy +/- 2%) to calibrated meters (+/- 0.5%), W&M’s equipment, direct drive or air separated units (alleviating air), all effect how accurate the recording shows.

The pump meter gives a measure of fuel and drives the register to record fuel issued. Regular checks are needed to ensure ‘true’ figures are recorded. Weights and Measures calibrated measures are used to ‘test a measure’ against fuel drawn. A 20L certified measure checked against a registered 20L, enables a millimetre scale reading of plus /minus to be checked against ‘strike’ measure. Within +/- 50ml on 20L, is to W&M tolerances. Recalibration is required outside this.

Prudent regular maintenance, recommended every six months, enables the fuel calibration to be kept as accurate as possible.

Key facts:

A 20L measure giving a discrepancy of +200ml, would give a loss of 10L in every 1000L shown on the register.

With a site usage of 15,000L per week, over 52 weeks, this would give a fuel loss of 5,875L.

The benefits of fuel calibration checks quickly become essential to any part of your operation. With fuel costs spiralling and potential environmental concerns for accountable losses, FUEL is one of biggest areas we need to address.

MAKE YOURS PAY:

Are your pumps checked and working for you. No matter what model pump or FM system, we can ensure the equipment is doing ‘what it says on the tin’. 34 years experience in the petroleum industry, with all engineers directly employed by County Pumps, we can offer support on all models of pumps. Engineers carry certified measures and can sort out the problem the same day.

We currently work for a number of the largest Transport firms in the UK and can offer a ‘ONE STOP’ complete package, covering the UK, offering advice on servicing, gauging, tanks, regular testing and upgrades, ensuring only the best product for the job.

For more information about how we can help your business CLICK HERE

Commercial Vehicle Show

dgillbanks — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:35:40 +0000

Commercial Vehicle Show

County Pumps are pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at the Commercial Vehicle show which will be held at the NEC between the 24-26th April 2012.

This is will be our first visit to this exhibition and we are relishing the opportunity to meet with our existing customers and expanding our loyal customer database.

We are also hoping to exhibit a wide range of the latest products currently available in the commercial refuelling market.

In the past ten years, the Commercial Vehicle Show has become the most productive sourcing and selling opportunity for the entire UK road transport and logistics industry.

Whether operator or supplier, it is the elected meeting place for many thousands of visitors with real buying power and is therefore the obvious event choice to help you win orders in a market on the rise.

Above all, the Show provides the truly unique benefit of genuine face-to-face encounters with decision makers who have purposely left their business to call on you!

DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC

Without question, the CV Show is the largest and most comprehensive road transport event staged in Britain, catering for every operator’s requirements. From heavy trucks to car derived vans, temperature controlled transport to waste disposal and street cleansing, the CV Show is the best sourcing opportunity found anywhere in the UK. To ensure the industry’s wheels keep turning, the CV Show and accompanying Workshop zone also showcase everything from OE and replacement parts to logistics management systems and garage equipment.

TOP QUALITY AUDIENCE

Research from previous CV Shows confirms that 3 out of every 4 visitors is a fleet owner, director, senior manager or engineer and most have sole or joint purchasing responsibility within their company. Incredibly, over 50% of visitors attend no other industry exhibition making the CV Show the undeniable number 1 face-to-face sales opportunity for industry suppliers.

For more information about how we can help your business CLICK HERE

Pumps, Tanks & Fuel Management – Installation & Servicing

dgillbanks — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:20:18 +0000

County Pumps is one of the UK’s leading specialists in fuel dispensing systems, including installations,

repairs, emergency breakdown and fuel monitoring systems. If you need:-

Fuel Pumps
Bunded Tanks
Self Bunded Tanks
Fuel Management Systems
Fuel Monitoring
Fuel System Installations
Fuel System Servicing

For More Details Of How We Can Help You Just Your Name & Email

To Receive Updates & Our Newsletter

Email Marketing You Can Trust

County Pumps installs a wide range of products from basic hand fuel dispensing pumps to sophisticated commercial fuel dispensing systems with fuel management.

Being an Authorised Distributor for Merridale, Pumptronics and Hytek, County Pumps can remain unaffiliated to any particular pump, tank and fuel monitoring manufacturer so County Pumps can continue to offer an objective assessment of a customer’s individual needs and a professional solution to installations and servicing the equipment.

We look forward to speaking to you

Dan Gillbanks

Sales Manager

County Pumps Ltd

Fuel Contamination from Bio-Fuels

dgillbanks — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:36:11 +0000

Fuel Contamination from Bio-Fuels

With the ever changing focus on bio-grade fuels, we have a long way to go before the fuel storage vessels and pumping equipment will prevent the ambient conditions for breeding micro bacterial growth.

Diesel was always considered a dirty fuel and over the years endless perfecting and purification made it one of the cleanest oils to store and transfer through the pumps into your vehicles. Over a period, natural sludge build-up would prevail, but this would only be considered a 6 to 10 year review programme, depending on usage. With the higher bio mix introductions, now including red diesel mixtures, this will be become more prominent in any business operation where fuel storage and usage is critical.

Water content in petroleum diesels was typically 60ppm of suspended water, giving an almost insignificant level of water. With regular use and replenishment of fuel stocks, microbial contamination was rarely a problem. Bio-diesels typically hold up to 25 times more suspended water, greatly increasing the potential for problems. Bio-diesel breeds the perfect habitat for vigorous microbial growth.

Fuel exposed to condensation, temperature variances or idle time sat in unused (undisturbed) storage facilities enables the bio-fuel to deteriorate much faster, allowing colony forming units of bacteria to grow with the water/fuel interface, forming bio-films and sludge build-up on a much faster scale. The bacteria feeds on the fuel, breaking down the carbon chains, reducing the quality of the fuel, reducing pump output and eventually blocking filters.

There are many considerations to help keep the problems from manifesting and keeping your fuel in as good condition as possible:
Regular internal inspections and clean of the storage tank to minimise build-up of sludge and microbial growth
Cleansing of fuel in tanks to turn over the fuel and minimise water content
Fuel Conditioners fitted to suction lines to magnetically attack and break down microbes, preventing colonies and rendering cells dormant for longer periods
Re-circulation kits fitted to storage tank as a permanent fixture, ensuring regular filtration and turn-over of fuel

These methods can be looked at individually or as combined package to help you to get the best from your fuel.

If you would like to see how we can help your business please CLICK HERE to fill in the form or call us direct.

Thank You Page

dgillbanks — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:23:11 +0000

Thank You For Your Details.

We Have Emailed You Details Of How We Can Help You.

In The Meantime CLICK HERE For Our Online Catalogue

CLICK HERE To Continue Browsing Our Website

Spill Kits

admin — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 02:02:18 +0000

We now offer a wide range of spill kits and clean-up pads which are available to view in our on-line catalogue.

Kits are in stock and can be dispatched for next day delivery.