In the last week alone, over a thousand forecourts globally have taken Devon-based GripHero up on its offer of providing hand-protection dispensers free to protect customers from the transmission of Covid-19 at the fuel pump. The brainchild of inventor Oli Yeo, GripHero is an award-winning patented hand-protection dispenser, which sits on top of every hand-pump on the forecourt, so that the very first thing the customer interacts with is the hand-protection itself. This prevents customers from coming into contact with the fuel pump handle where Covid-19 could easily be passed from one driver to another. The right thing to do At a potential cost of up to £3 million to the business in up-front costs for the UK market alone, Oli Yeo decided that the only right thing to do was to provide the dispensers free of charge, as they are the only ones in the world permitted within the refuelling zone due to their use of ATEX-Certified anti-static materials. All other hand-protection must be stored away from fuel pumps as they are susceptible to static charges. Commenting on the incredible response and demand for GripHero’s hand-protection dispensers, Oli Yeo said: ‘In the last week alone, we’ve received enquiries and orders from operators with over 1,000 forecourts internationally. “They know full-well that when drivers cough or sneeze, small droplets of mucus are spread onto the steering wheel and their hands. If the driver were to have Covid-19, that could be easily passed on to other users via fuel pump handles. These are hard plastic and metal surfaces where Covid-19 can survive for upwards of 24 hours. In that time hundreds of hands could pick up and pass on the virus, which is why it’s essential for all drivers to use hand-protection at the fuel pump, every single time.” Independent research commissioned by GripHero, shows that over 80% of drivers regularly fill up without using hand-protection because they can’t find gloves, or because standard dispensers are empty. Fitting GripHero hand-protection at every refuelling bay, and in particular, on each fuel pump nozzle, helps put a stop to this problem. Adoption of GripHero Westmorland Ltd, an operator of multi-award-winning motorway service stations across the country, including Gloucester Services, is one of the groups that has adopted GripHero, providing protection against the transmission of Covid-19 across their network. Andy Smith, Group Fuels Manager for Westmorland Ltd explains: “It is more important than ever before to protect our customers in the best way we possibly can. By offering GripHero, Westmorland Ltd is playing its part in the battle against coronavirus and is dramatically reducing wastage that other glove dispensers produce. We’re also eliminating the static-risks for our customers in the fueling zone.” Oli Yeo added: “The global fuel industry has changed overnight. Demand for hand-protection at the fuel pump has hit an all-time high, as drivers look to protect themselves. That means it is vitally important to dispense protection efficiently to avoid running out of protection at the pump, and to prevent wastage of plastic, adding to a forecourt’s already high carbon-footprint. We hope to help all forecourts in the UK. Working at current production capacity, we could equip every petrol station in the UK within 6 months.”  

“We recognise that claims are often behaviour driven, which is why we have embedded Risk Management at the heart of every policy,” commented Stewart Ower, managing director of Compass Environmental As leaders in their respective industries, Evergreen Insurance Services and Compass Environmental Consultancy have joined forces to provide a unique insurance and risk management solution for fuel oil distributors. Alongside their insurance partner Aviva, one of the UK’s largest insurers, they have created ‘Oilshield’, a comprehensive insurance package to provide whole business protection, all under one policy. With ever increasing fines and significant reputational damage for causing environmental pollution, it has never been more important to have adequate protection if the worst should happen. Every year millions of deliveries are made to domestic and commercial premises. Getting it wrong, just once, could put you out of business. “Whether it’s the bulk storage of fuel at a depot, the transportation of fuel to clients or the delivery of fuel into their facilities, we recognise that each part of the journey presents its own unique obstacles,” said Dave Gardiner, of Evergreen Insurance Services. “That’s why Oilshield protects all aspects of fuel distribution operations – property, vehicles and driver actions all covered under one policy. “We recognise that claims are often behaviour driven, which is why we have embedded Risk Management at the heart of every policy,” commented Stewart Ower, managing director of Compass. “As part of an ongoing relationship, Compass Environmental will deliver a programme of risk management initiatives that are relevant to your business with emphasis on promoting continual improvement to minimise risk.” To discuss your insurance needs, call 020 3907 1361 or visit www.oilshield.co.uk.  

ESL lab manager, Dave Barratt, carrying out fuel testing for third parties A low energy process has been developed by ESL Fuels in laboratory space at the University of Chester’s Thornton Science Park. The new and innovative Molexis technology will complement large volume production of diesel, heating oil and marine fuels from sites across the UK. The first production unit is currently being built and is expected to process up to 50 tonnes per hour and be capable of running on a 24/7 basis. “I am extremely excited by the potential for our new Molexis process, something which we’ve been working on at Thornton Science Park for the past two years,” said Stephen Whittaker, managing director for ESL Fuels.

Phillips 66 and Square Robot have teamed up together to develop an autonomous robot that would enable petroleum storage tanks to remain in service for tank floor inspections. The robot is expected to enter service in mid-2018. Above ground storage tanks are routinely removed from service to be drained, opened and cleaned at great expense in order to evaluate tank bottoms. The new robot is being developed to automatically survey and map obstacles within a tank while the tank remains in static service, creating a specific route map allowing maximum coverage of the tank floor. Using the non-destructive testing (NDT) data gathered, a certified inspector will produce a floor thickness map allowing for a more accurate prediction of a tank floor’s remaining life.  Phillips 66 and Square Robot, a rapidly growing Boston based start-up, are advancing into the unmanned robotics inspection market through the joint development of an autonomous robot that would have the capability to inspect petroleum product storage tank floors while product remains in the tank. The untethered robot is being designed and will be certified for use in a wide range of petroleum products. “Our collaboration with Phillips 66 provides access to a significant team of experts in NDT inspection, safety, procedures and operations,” said Eric Levitt, Square Robot co-founder. “As a start-up, we would not have access to these tremendous resources outside of our core business of developing autonomous robots for confined spaces.” “Ensuring the integrity of our equipment is one of our top priorities and we are always looking for innovative new technologies to help us achieve this,” said Todd Denton, general manager, midstream operations, Phillips 66. “Our collaboration with Square Robot presents a unique opportunity to develop technology that will enable us to maintain our equipment and minimise disruption to our customers.” www.phillips66.com           www.squarerobots.com

To book MechTronic’s no-obligation demo, email brad@mechtronic.ltd.uk After positive feedback at this year’s FPS show, MechTronic has commissioned a new van – a mobile showcase –  which can now bring live equipment demonstrations right to your doorstep.

(l-r) Jim Hunt and Kevin Kelleher who were involved in the production of Carbery Plastics’s first tank – a 1550L – 30 years ago, with Cal and Michael McCarthy beside the 650L Combi R – Carbery’s newest design This month Carbery Plastics is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the launch of a brand new oil tank. Over the last three decades, Carbery Plastics has embraced new design technology, developed a new generation of fuel tanks and welcomed the next generation of the McCarthy family to the business.   The company’s 40-strong workforce is managed by an experienced team with a passion for rotational moulding. Offering innovative fuel storage solutions and robust mobile fuel pumps, Carbery Plastics produces high quality oil tanks to European Standard EN13341 ensuring that tanks are fit for purpose.  Not only does its oil tank range meet European Standards, all tanks are fully OFTEC registered. Since the initial hand drawn designs of the company’s first oil tank, design techniques and technology have come on leaps and bounds. CAD has rapidly improved the design process allowing Carbery Plastics to simulate and modify designs more efficiently and more effectively whilst Finite Element Analysis tools enable the company to simulate the strain tanks must endure once in real world use. Carbery Plastics has a strong presence in the agricultural and construction sectors across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Backed by design improvements and increasing knowledge of customer requirements, the company was quick to develop both single skin and bunded oil tanks; the latter now required for all commercial, industrial and institutional installations in Ireland and the UK. To mark its 30th anniversary, Carbery Plastics is launching a new low capacity oil tank.  The ultra-compact Carbery 650 Litre Combi R is ideal for customers seeking a smaller tank for security and cash flow reasons; it also works well for households with renewable technologies where oil demand is less.www.carberyplastics.com