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Vectec system offers solution to rising fuel theft problem
The first of its kind, the new Metron4 24-hour fuel theft detection system is making waves for its ground-breaking technology which measures fuel through rate of change functionality, rather than simple quantity sensors.
The fully customisable system enables users to configure the trigger sensor based on individual usage levels on site, sparking a site-based beacon and klaxon, along with email notifications to designated staff, upon the pre-defined rate of change being witnessed. Integrated UPS ensures that the system continues to operate as normal even in the absence of mains power for effective and efficient response to theft.
The new system comes at a time when thieves are understood to be taking between 1,000 and 30,000 litres of fuel at a time from often unmanned sites such as ambulance stations, fire stations, and council premises. The advanced drilling techniques utilised by thieves today can create an urgent need for site cleanup which can, in many cases, amount to more than the cost of the lost fuel due to the potential severity of flooding.
Vectec’s Simon Fowler said; “When we heard about this growing problem from our clients, our first response was to identify an existing solution that would tick all the boxes, yet we found that a solution that met our strict standards didn’t seem to exist. We found that many of the pre-existing solutions out there were known for their false alerts caused by external factors, so as fuel management experts we came together to design and develop our very own detection system that looks at the rate of fuel change over a set period.”
The system utilises rate of change technology which ensures that alerts are only sent in instances of real risk. Simple to install, Vectec’s new solution can be used on existing above-ground and below-ground tanks, and is easy to install across a selection of sites.