Adapting to the Times: Husky Goes Virtual for PEI @ the NACS 2020

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That's one way to look at the state of things in 2020, a year like none before. The pandemic's impact on life 'as usual' is profound and widespread. But we adapt. Such is the case with the petroleum dispensing industry's most important annual gathering. The PEI@ the NACS Show is going virtual this year November 10-12.

“The virtual show means attendees can set their calendars now for the sessions, Q&A’s, networking groups and exhibits they want to attend,” said Rick Long, executive vice president and general counsel at PEI in a news release.

As usual, Husky Corporation will be well-represented. Instead of a large booth on the convention floor, there will be virtual opportunities to learn about the company's latest product offerings. Here are a few samples:

Husky Plant Tour: Join the company for a virtual tour of the facilities in Pacific, Missouri where our 100% Made in the U.S.A. products are manufactured. Sign up at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ehdfx038e73b5503&oseq=&c=8b7975ca-f78b-11ea-a425-d4ae529ce120&ch=8b7ca416-f78b-11ea-a425-d4ae529ce120

 

Live Enevo Presentation: Husky has put together a unique, live digital experience showcasing the ENEVO remote tank monitoring program. Register for a session at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ehcxkgid6e589276&oseq=&c=&ch=

 

Husky metallurgist and quality manager Steve Baynham will present at a PEI Virtual Breakout Session session on Wednesday November 11 at 11am. The important topic will be "The Conundrum of Sanitizing Dispensers & Hanging Hardware". If you are registered for the virtual convention, hear Steve breakdown what is happening.

• If you noticed increased equipment damage, your cleaning solution could be the culprit.
  
• Most cleansing solutions contain some form of bleach, which will literally eat away aluminum (causing nozzle failures).
• Similar issues--with different causes--have occurred with touch screens and the plastic buttons on dispensers.
• While contact with contaminated surfaces may now be second to the dangers of aerosolized droplets as a priority in combating the COVID19 virus, people still need to feel that "something" is being done to keep things clean. 

 

The full schedule and registration details (the fees are lower than for the traditional in-person convention, which could mean more people are able to participate) are at https://www.pei.org/show/schedule.

Virtual Roadshow - Husky General Fueling Products

Trade shows and other in-person meetings have taken a pause during these times of social distancing. But the economic engine keeps moving along despite these limitations. Companies are finding ways to stay in touch with their customers, which puts technology front and center. 

Husky Corporation is no exception. The company has produced short videos that are packed with useful information about key product offerings. This example is a short introduction to Husky General Fueling products presented by Technical Service Engineer Paul Nilsen. 

The video focuses on nozzles and swivels for various applications, including retail, truck stops, ethanol fueling, bulk fluid transfer, and farm service.

There is also a video about the company's MAGBREAK, which makes reconnecting fuel hoses to dispensers after an accidental separation fast and safe. A magnetic mechanism essentially pulls the breakaway halves back together without effort. A twist-and-click feature indicates when the assembly is locked and reconnected. Nilsen shows how the UL listed MAGBREAK works, along with proper inspection and re-installation methods following a customer drive-off.

 

 

Husky looks forward to the day when we will be able to meet with more of our valued customers at important trade shows and industry events. Until then, we will do our utmost to connect with you virtually. And remember to call any time with questions or suggestions at 800-325-3558.

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

Husky Corporation Service Bulletin: Recommended Cleaning and Disinfecting Practices for Fuel Dispensing Hanging Hardware

Do Not Use Cleaning Solutions that Contain Chlorides (Bleach) on Fuel Dispensing Hanging Hardware

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions regarding the proper cleaning and disinfecting practices for commonly handled products – hanging hardware included.  

Many retail fuel dispensing facilities have updated/implemented frequent cleaning, sanitization, and disinfecting practices to limit the transmission of the Coronavirus.  While much is still unknown regarding the viability of surface to person transmission, the CDC has recommended the EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Use against SARS-CoV-1 – the virus that causes COVID-19 - as the source for products to used disinfect for human Coronavirus.

Husky’s investigation focused on active ingredients that required a contact time of fewer than 30 seconds, as well as, ‘popular/off the shelf’ products that required a longer dwell time.

USE - DISINFECTANTS THAT CONTAIN	DO NOT USE - DISINFECTANTS THAT CONTAIN
·      Ethyl Alcohol 70%+ concentration ·      Hydrogen Peroxide /	·      Quaternary Ammonium ·      Sodium Hypochlorite

Disinfectants that contain active ingredients with chlorides – Quaternary Ammonium and Sodium Hypochlorite - can have a negative corrosive / pitting reaction with aluminum components.

Husky recommends removing dirt and grime with a soap and water solution followed by disinfection with a 70%+ Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide based disinfectant.   Disinfecting timing will vary by location, consumer traffic, and usage; however, Husky recommends hourly cleaning as a standard practice.

A complete list of EPA approved disinfectant active ingredients, product names, required contact times, and manufacturers can be found at - https://cfpub.epa.gov/giwiz/disinfectants/index.cfm.

HANGING HARDWARE DISINFECTANTS - USE Active Ingredients ·       Ethyl Alcohol 70%+ Concentration ·       Hydrogen Peroxide / Peroxyacetic Acid   Common Product Names ·       Accel 5 RTU ·       Lysol Neutra AirA ·       Maguard 1522 ·       Nathan 2 ·       PeridoxRTU ·       Suretouch

HANGING HARDWARE DISINFECTANTS - DO NOT USE Active Ingredients ·       Quaternary Ammonium ·       Sodium Hyprochlorite   Common Product Names ·       Bleach-Rite ·       Clorox Everest ·       Clorox QS ·       Descide Ultra Disinfecting Towelettes ·       Lysol Brand All Purpose Cleaner ·       Lysol Kitchen Pro Antibacterial Cleaner