Starting in August the new roadside checks, which aim to improve air quality in towns and cities, will target those who try to cheat the law.
In this major government crackdown, truck drivers and operators who try to cheat vehicle emissions could be taken off Britain’s roads.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is taking tough action after the government consulted on a draft plan to improve air quality across the UK.
Councils are responsible for improving their area’s air quality – but under the government’s plan they will be expected to develop new solutions to reduce emissions quickly, while avoiding undue impact on the motorist.
The crackdown follows emerging evidence, including from DVSA enforcement staff, that unscrupulous drivers and operators are using cheat devices to cut the cost of operating.
‘XPO will help to ensure our customers receive the vital safety equipment they need to run their operations,’ said Neil Griffiths, divisional director, logistics
XPO Logistics has been awarded a national distribution contract by Arco, supplier of safety equipment, workwear, gloves and maintenance supplies to several industries including oil and gas.
Arco has been growing rapidly and recently invested £4 million in its 27,000 square metre national distribution centre in Hull, where the company is based. XPO will manage the movement of up to 60,000 pallets a year for Arco from Hull to 11 strategically placed regional hubs and onwards to customers through its own distribution network.
“The scale of XPO enables us to be flexible across the UK, while their technological know-how provides invaluable on-site scanning, consignment management and tracking, direct order entry and resource optimisation tools,” said Arco’s Neil Griffiths, divisional director, logistics.
“As we continue to grow, we know that XPO will be there with us, helping to ensure our customers receive the vital safety equipment they need to run their operations.”
“Our distribution solutions for Arco will help them shape their growth ambitions and deliver superior customer service,” added Arron Kendall, commercial director, XPO Logistics.
“We are proud to support them in achieving both objectives. Our fully integrated shared user network and extensive experience add significant value in the form of enhanced productivity, quality and cost-effectiveness.”www.xpo.comwww.arco.co.uk
Award success for Essar Stanlow – ‘demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record,’ says Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events
The commitment to occupational health and safety at Essar Oil UK’s Stanlow manufacturing complex has been recognised in the 2017 awards given by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) in its centenary year.
With 21 consecutive golds the refinery has achieved the Order of Distinction award in the prestigious annual scheme run by the national charity.
“Health and safety is a key priority for everyone at Stanlow,” said chief executive officer Mr S Thangapandian.
“We’re delighted to have received this prestigious award, demonstrating external recognition of our outstanding performance.”
Essar will be presented with the award during a ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel next month. The award was achieved during a special year for family-safety charity RoSPA, as it celebrates its centenary
“This is a special year in the history of RoSPA, and we congratulate all of our winners in this, our centenary year,” said Julia Small, RoSPA’s head of awards and events.
“The RoSPA Awards are the most prestigious in the world of occupational health and safety, and held in high regard around the world. Winning an award demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to maintaining an excellent health and safety record. Achieving the standard required is no mean feat.”www.rospa.comwww.essaroil.co.uk
JET is also sponsoring the JET Super Touring Car Trophy races
Next month will see JET’s fourth year as the official fuel partner of the Silverstone Classic, the world famous, action-packed racing event, which takes place from 28 – 30th July.
“JET is considered by many to be a classic British brand, so we’re delighted to be official partner for the fourth year running,” said Mary Wolf, managing director, UK marketing for Phillips 66.
“It’s a great opportunity to raise awareness of the JET brand among the vast number of car enthusiasts and their families who attend the event each year – last year saw over 100,000 visitors over the three days! It’s also an opportunity for us to invite customers from across our entire business to share the excitement of the event and meet up with their industry counterparts.”
JET is also sponsoring the JET Super Touring Car Trophy races, which will take place on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons. For the first time, these races will have two separate grids: the first for the much-loved high-tech super tourers from the 1990s, with the second for the earlier generation Group A saloon racers, featuring a large number of fire-breathing Ford Sierra RS500s.
Visitors to the JET Village Green and Fun Fair will be able to take part in a special promotion in addition to enjoying state-of-the-art virtual racing simulators, rides on the JET Big Wheel, crazy golf, vintage fairground rides, mini racing simulators for children and a host of food, fun and entertainment to keep all ages happy.
For ticket details and all the latest Silverstone Classic news, please visit www.silverstoneclassic.com.
Jonathan Wiltshire who recently joined the Cobo team
Having been appointed as Cobo’s new sales manager for the UK and Ireland Jonathan Wiltshire got straight down to work on the Cobo stand at FPS EXPO 2017 in Liverpool.
With copies of OFTEC’s Vision for the future of off-grid domestic heating in England and Wales, Niall Fay (l) with OFTEC CEO Paul RosePhoto by ©Andrew Higgins 2017
OFTEC welcomed its new chairman Niall Fay of Grant Engineering at last week’s AGM and mini-conference. Niall takes over from Nick Hawkins, director of commercial operations at Kingspan Environmental, who has held the post for two years.
Speaking as he passed the baton on to Niall, Nick said:
“It has been another strong year for both our industry and for OFTEC. Boiler sales increased by 15%, further building on the excellent growth we saw in 2015, and industry innovation has seen manufacturers offering low NOx solutions 18 months ahead of the September 2018 deadline.
“With oil prices predicted to remain low for some time to come, we’ve every reason to believe our industry will retain its competitive edge. But we can’t afford to be complacent and OFTEC is already investigating the viability of low carbon biofuels, which we see as the future for our industry.”
“I look forward to building on the excellent contribution Nick has made during his time as chair and to helping OFTEC take its next steps forward,” said Niall.
“Through the technical innovation of OFTEC’s members, and our expanding technician registration base, we will continue to provide the best progressive support and services for the 2.3 million oil using households across the UK and Republic of Ireland,” Neil added.
Other key achievements for OFTEC over the past year include the successful launch of the Tank Safe campaign in association with FPS to encourage consumers to look after their oil storage systems. Also, the continued growth of OFTEC’s competent persons scheme covering oil, solid fuel and renewable technologies, which now has almost 9,000 registered technicians – the highest level since 2013.
OFTEC’s proposals to improve energy efficiency and carbon reduction for off grid homes in England and Wales were also officially presented at the annual conference.
For a link to the document and a video visitwww.oftec.org.uk/news_and_press_releases/oftec-officially-launches-vision-at-annual-conference
This week UKPIA announced the appointment of its new director general – Stephen Marcos Jones will take up his role when the existing director general Chris Hunt retires in November.
“Stephen comes to us with an excellent academic record, many years of trade association advocacy experience and extensive knowledge of the sector,” said Paul Bray, UKPIA president and Valero’s director, European government & public affairs, who announced the appointment.
“UKPIA’s Council is excited to be working with Stephen on the many challenges that face the downstream oil industry over the coming years.”
Paul Bray also took the opportunity to “thank Chris for the 20 excellent years of service he has given UKPIA and his achievement in developing the Association into the effective and proficient body it is today.”
CEO Paul Rose – OFTEC is looking to introduce a low carbon liquid fuel as a replacement to kerosene from 2022
On Tuesday 20th June OFTEC will officially launch its vision to improve energy efficiency and carbon reduction for off grid homes at the trade association’s annual conference and AGM at the Puckrup Hotel in Tewksbury.
The vision focuses on a two-stage approach, looking at a boiler replacement programme in the short term (2018-2022) and introducing a low carbon liquid fuel as a replacement to kerosene from 2022.
“We’ve have been working hard behind the scenes for a number of months now to prepare our vision for the future of off grid domestic heating,” said OFTEC CEO Paul Rose who will share the proposals with members and guests.
“Our proposals aim to address BEIS’ four key requirements to keep energy bills low, cost effectively reduce carbon emissions, ensure a secure, resilient energy supply, and avoid unreasonable upfront costs for consumers in the process.
“We believe our two-stage approach of a boiler replacement scheme in the short term followed by the introduction of a ‘green’ liquid fuel, ticks all these boxes and provides a realistic and practical solution to an urgent issue.
“It’s an exciting time for the oil heating industry. Manufacturers have already shown their strong ability to innovate with the development of modulating and multi stage burners. These, coupled with advanced control systems will further increase the efficiency of oil fired heating systems.
“But this will only take us so far and we need to look at greening the fuel itself. If we can unite industry and government behind this aim, I am confident we can turn our vision into a reality.”Join in the OFTEC conference
Tristan Suffys, secretary general of Eurofuel, will discuss the state of the oil heating market across Europe, and Martin Cooke, technical director of EOGB will talk about the latest developments in modulating domestic burners and their benefits.
Paul Rose will also welcome OFTEC’s new chairman who officially takes over from Nick Hawkins, director of commercial operations at Kingspan Environmental after two years in the post.
To book a FREE place please contact Andy Peirson apeirson@oftec.org or call 01473 618552.
www.oftec.co.uk
INEOS has just announced plans to construct a world-scale PDH (Propane Dehydrogenation) unit in Europe. The plant will produce 750,000 tonnes per annum of propylene for INEOS units across the continent.
A number of possible locations are currently being considered including a number of INEOS sites at Antwerp in Belgium.
INEOS also intends to increase the ethylene capacity of its cracker facilities at Grangemouth in Scotland and Rafnes in Norway to over one million tonnes each. The cracker expansions will add up to 900,000 tonnes of ethylene to overall production capacity.
“These projects represent the first substantial investments in the European chemicals industry for many years,” said Jim Ratcliffe, founder and chairman of INEOS.
“It has only been made possible because of INEOS massive $2 billion investment in our Dragon Ships programme which allows us to import ethane and LPG from the US in huge quantities.”
INEOS currently produces nearly 4.5 million tonnes of ethylene and propylene across Europe, but remains the largest buyer of ethylene and propylene in the region.
In combination, these three major projects will significantly increase the quantities of propylene and ethylene produced by INEOS in Europe, and will support the continued growth and future profitability of INEOS’ ethylene and propylene derivative businesses.
www.ineos.com
With increased hazardous waste capacity, Adler & Allan’s Rainham facility offers flexible opening times including evenings and weekends. The site also has a new quarantine facility with lab analysis for unknown wastes plus a lounge and refreshment area for drivers
Adler & Allan’s Rainham facility in east London has been expanded and upgraded. The facility now provides improved waste management and disposal, emergency response – covering flooding, spills and fuel delivery – and asset resilience solutions for tanks, drains and separators.
Located on the A13 and close to the M25, customers from London, Essex, Kent and East Anglia can conveniently access the site.
“With the south east the most densely populated part of the UK, it’s important that we have suitable facilities to service customers in this region,” said Alan Scrafton, Adler & Allan’s head of marketing.
“Rainham’s expansion and upgrade is an exciting development that should help businesses in the area better manage their waste and maintain their assets, with disasters dealt with quickly, and essential equipment, such as tanks and separators, kept in good working order.”
Adler & Allan Rainham can accept and process a wide range of packaged and bulk hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, including chemicals, corrosives, firewater, drummed, IBC’s and lab smalls, plus provide the decontamination and disposal of associated containers.
Its emergency response provision is available 24/7, 365 days a year to local customers, designed to minimise damage and clean-up following an environmental disaster. Fuel delivery is also covered, ensuring essential vehicles, plant machinery and general operations and fully functional.
The onsite fleet of tankers, fitted with the best pumping equipment on the market, are available to carry fuel and other bulk liquids/products, or remove waste. Adler & Allan Rainham also offers separator cleaning and maintenance, essential for preventing pollution and flooding on forecourts and other sites that store or handle fuel.
Other services include above or below ground storage tank cleaning and removal, using the most advanced manual and automated tank cleaning technologies available, High pressure industrial water jetting – for hydro demolition and cleaning contaminated surfaces, such as drains – and 24 hour fly tip clearance.www.adlerandallan.co.uk
