When Disinfecting Fueling Equipment: Use Alcohol-based Sanitizers or Hydrogen Peroxide

The findings from Husky Corporation's tests of cleaning solutions used on fuel hanging hardware answer questions about cleaning and disinfecting practices, which gained new attention during the COVID-19 outbreak. Fuel dispensing facilities ramped up efforts to sanitize equipment, using an abundance of caution to slow the spread of the virus even though much is still unknown about the viability of surface to person transmission.

The image below shows the results of tests on fuel nozzles which used items on EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Use against SARS-CoV-1 (the virus that causes COVID-19). The tests focused on active ingredients that required a contact time of fewer than 30 seconds as well as common 'off the shelf’ products that required longer surface contact. Once an hour every day, the nozzles were sanitized with the various cleaning materials and then activated for use, to replicate the same activity experienced at a typical retail fueling outlet.

The findings led to Husky's recommendation that only alcohol-based sanitizers or those made of hydrogen peroxide be used to disinfect fuel hanging hardware.  The company issued a service bulletin on June 4, 2020 recommending that disinfectants with an alcohol base of at least 70% and/or hydrogen peroxide based disinfectants be used to clean aluminum hanging hardware.

The type of alcohol used does not matter as long as it is diluted with some amount of water, because pure alcohols that are in continuous contact with aluminum will degrade the aluminum over long periods of time. Alcohol-based cleaners applied to aluminum hanging hardware will evaporate within minutes. Once the alcohol evaporates the aluminum is exposed to air and the natural passive protective layer remains intact.

Significantly, it turns out the other two disinfectants on EPA List N can have a negative corrosive / pitting reaction with aluminum components. The materials that should not be used are disinfectants that contain active ingredients with chlorides – Quaternary Ammonium and Sodium Hypochlorite. Importantly, bleach should not be used to clean fuel hanging hardware.

You can read the entire Service Bulletin at this link: http://huskycorporation.blogspot.com/2020/06/husky-corporation-service-bulletin.html

What’s Happening with Enhanced Ethanol-Blended Fuel?

The Trump administration announced in late 2018 it would end certain limits on blending higher concentrations of ethanol with gasoline. The process of putting that into practice is in the hands of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which faces a May 2019 deadline to complete that work. Amid speculation the government shutdown slowed the process, EPA subsequently said in a Reuters report that the rule would be completed in time for the summer driving season. 

If that occurs, the days of fuel-dispensing outlets that offer E15 changing-out labels that state the fuel is safe for vehicles manufactured in 2001 or later (temporarily replacing them with labels about the summer-time E15 prohibition) might soon be over.

In 2011, EPA approved E15 for use in light-duty conventional vehicles of model year 2001 and newer, through a Clean Air Act waiver request, based on significant testing and research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The EPA’s position had been that summertime use of E15 puts more emissions into the atmosphere than smog-regulations permit. Ethanol producers disagree with this assessment.

Demand for E15

Fuel-dispensing outlets are likely assessing how much more demand there might be for E15 on a year-round basis. The U.S. Department of Energy states E15 is not widely available; sold at more than 1,400 stations in 29 states. But an interesting article on this topic appeared in American Agriculturalist, which noted in part that “…retailers are seeing higher demand for E15 when it is added as a choice. Having the Trump administration make the move to make it a year-round fuel could open the door to more sales, too…”

Stations are not required to sell E15, but some have started offering E15 due to equipment grants and better profit margins when compared with regular gasoline. Consumer education about the differences between E10 and E15 will almost certainly increase over time. An article in Axle Addict  gives E15 an edge with emissions, improved fuel economy, and engine performance. “And even though E15 has higher octane than E10, it normally costs less per gallon.”

There are additional regulations for stations selling blends above E10. For more information, visit the Department of Energy’s Codes, Standards, and Safety web page.

St. Louis Business Journal: Husky’s G.G. Sutcliffe Lives with Gusto

How's this for starters?

"Before he was 25, Sutcliffe, who goes by G.G., got kicked out of two colleges, worked at a ski lodge in Switzerland, traveled to Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, talked his way into Officers Candidate School and a rank of second lieutenant by claiming to speak French, German and Arabic (in truth, he knew enough to curse and order a beer), and served in U.S. special operations in Laos and Vietnam, with fierce fighting and heavy troop loss in Khe Sanh."

That's the beginning of a St. Louis Character story on Husky Corporation's president, which appeared in the St. Louis Business Journal. We are offering a link to the entire article here, as usually a subscription is needed for this publication. Here are a few pictures of the photo shoot by the publication. They also recorded a few video comments, which we will share when available.

We  hope you find this article as interesting as we did. One quote about G.G. Sutcliffe we found particularly insightful is this: “He’s smart as a whip, persistent, innovative and fearless, as anyone who has competed with him in business or sport knows.”


 
 

What's a Tilt Poppet? The Ultimate in Precision Fueling!

We've all been there: Filling up the gas tank while desperately trying to get the pump to stop at precisely $10.00, because that is literally all you have in your pocket to pay for the fuel! If feels like a small victory if you are able to manipulate the handle so the flow stops exactly on the number. And it feels like a small failure when you go over!

The poppet valve assembly and the lever work together to control the flow of fuel through the nozzle. Traditional designs made it difficult to stop the flow of fuel with precision.

“The previous poppet skirt operated by opening or closing the entire poppet valve seal at the same time. That situation made it difficult to start and stop fueling at the desired level,” said Husky Engineering Manager Zach Holcomb.

So Husky Engineers focused on re-designing the poppet skirt, and came up with an innovation called the Tilt Poppet; a poppet skirt that is angled on one surface. The effect of this modification is that when the fuel lever is engaged, one side of the poppet valve seal moves before the other. Fuel therefore flows through the nozzle in a much more measured way; fueling can be started and stopped very smoothly for precise manual dispensing. A slimmed-down poppet skirt design also reduces the amount of back-pressure experienced when starting and stopping the fueling process.

“Having the angled poppet skirt allows the flow to ease through on one side of the poppet valve and dispense to the penny much more easily,” Holcomb said.

This short video shows how it works.

“We know that many customers want to spend an exact amount when fueling their vehicles. There are also applications around the world where full-service fuel attendants must put only the exact amount of fuel requested into customer tanks. The Tilt Poppet is ideal for those situations,” said Husky Corporation Executive Vice President Brad Baker. “We think the Tilt Poppet will make the fueling experience more pleasant for everyone thanks to its smooth and easy operation.”

The Husky Tilt Poppet will be an included feature of all the company’s fuel nozzle designs. Contact Husky at 800-325-3558 to learn more.

Eliminate Diesel Splash-back and Early Shut-off with StreamShaper®

The patented Husky Corporation StreamShaper®, which the company invented to straighten the flow of fuel out of the nozzle spout, is now a standard feature included in Light Duty Diesel (LDD) nozzles.

Here is a news release with the details: https://www.husky.com/press/eliminate-diesel-splash-back-and-early-shut-off-with-streamshaper/

This video also shows how StreamShaper controls the flow of fuel out of nozzles.

StreamShaper® is inserted in the spout-end of Husky Corporation nozzles to uniformly direct fuel flow and reduce turbulence, resulting in less splash-back spillage during fueling.

Contact Husky Corporation (Sales or Customer Service) to learn more at 800-325-3558.

Husky Corporation Celebrates 70 Years of Manufacturing & Innovation

Family Business Grows into Worldwide Petroleum Dispensing Products Leader

Husky Corporation marked 70 years in business with a special celebration at the company’s production facilities in Pacific, Missouri. The event featured guided tours of the company’s expanding production operations, which is home to more than 140 employees. The company is a leading manufacturer of petroleum dispensing equipment (and has expanded into several related business segments in recent years.

The company was started in 1947 by Eugene and Hazel Sutcliffe, when they created the first gas nozzle guard from their own home. It then soon moved into the rebuilding and then designing fuel nozzles that would revolutionize this industry. The innovations gained wide-spread acceptance by gas station owners across the country. Husky Corporation has amassed more than 75 patents domestically and internationally.

“We are proud of our U.S. based manufacturing team. Thanks to the innovation of our engineers, our product line continues to grow. That’s because we put customers first. We try to solve their problems,” said Husky Corporation President Grenville Sutcliffe. “None of this company’s success would be possible without a strong and dedicated team. That’s what we have here at Husky: A great team.”

Husky Corporation’s General Fueling products include nozzles, swivels, Safe-T-Breaks® and accessories for service station fuel delivery systems. In recent years, the company implemented an acquisition strategy that expanded its product portfolio into related industries including BJE Lube and Oil Products, Hewitt Aviation Fueling Products and S.U.R.&R. Fluid Line Repair Solutions. Husky has also formed strategic partnerships with Benecor DEF Dispensing and Storage systems, Enevo Logistics Optimization, and RS Liquid Loading Arms.

The company has several employees who have been with the company for many years. Just one example is Tammy Steffens, who joined Husky in 1983. Currently responsible for accounts payable/production control, Steffens said has enjoyed the opportunity to watch the company grow and expand over the years.

“The Sutcliffe’s have been wonderful. The best thing about it is the family-oriented atmosphere. It was that way when I started and continues to feel that way today, even as the company has grown,” Steffens said.

Above: Husky Corporation President Grenville Sutcliffe greets guests at the company’s Pacific, Missouri headquarters and production facilities during the company’s 70^th anniversary celebration November 3, 2017.

Texas-based C & L Pump Service and owner Luis Magallanes credits Husky for the opportunity to be a direct distributor ten years ago. They have been working with Husky Corporation for 10 years.

“The quality of their product is excellent. Anything you need, the employees make it happen. They will go beyond in giving you what you need. That’s the relationship,” said Christina Magallanes of C & L Pump Service. “It’s what makes Husky what they are. They are family and they know your struggles.”