Engineers wanted to replicate, and even surpass, the conditions safety regulators put in place when they test products. To learn more about Husky Corporation's quality processes, contact the company directly at 800-325-3558 or husky.com
For 70 years, Husky Corporation has served as a trustworthy guide, developing breakthrough, American-made fuel nozzles, safe-t-breaks, and accessories, plus relentlessly providing the most dependable customer service in the industry. But we never rest on our proven track record.
Monday, February 22, 2016
On Site Environmental Chamber Takes Product Testing to a New Level
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
New Resources Available to Prevent Misfueling in General Aviation
The consequences of placing the incorrect grade or type of fuel in an
aircraft are very serious. This situation is referred to as
"misfueling". In General Aviation (GA), where the majority of
aircraft are fueled over-the-wing, there is a significant risk of misfueling
which can lead to vapor lock, ignition failure or total engine failure.
However, following proper safety measures will prevent potential
disaster.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has launched the "Safety 1st Misfueling Prevention Program: Awareness Training for Line Service Professionals, FBO Managers, Customer Service Representatives and Pilots".
http://nata.aero/Education-and-Training/Misfueling-Prevention-Program.aspx
The program includes short videos that provide education about simple steps that can be taken to prevent misfuelings. A quiz follows the video presentation, after which individuals who pass can print a certificate of completion. NATA says the program is not intended to be a comprehensive training program, which must be completed before individuals attempt to fuel an aircraft. But it covers essential elements that serve as a good primer for those in each outlined job category.
The “Big Three”
NATA focuses on what it calls the Big Three items required to get the right fuel into aircraft every time: Proper fuel orders, the use of selective spouts, and grade verification.
Let's take a moment to focus on spouts. Industry standards and best practices require that selective spouts be installed on all aviation overwing nozzles, which in essence are designed to prevent jet fuel from being inadvertently put into aircraft requiring Avgas.
The Jet A Wide Oval Spout, also known as duckbill or J-Spout, is designed so it cannot be placed into most fuel openings for Avgas powered aircraft. However, some Avgas aircraft may not have restricted size filler ports. Other exceptions potentially include helicopters. So the selective spouts only provide a layer of protection against misfueling; they are not fail-safe. It is up to the ground fuel handler to make sure they have covered the big three fueling checks before dispensing the fuel into the aircraft. There are no exceptions to these checks.
One interesting point of the NATA online presentation is that if you want to use jet fuel, but need to use a round spout, the round spout can only be used temporarily. And it must be immediately removed after use. This is a very important practice to prevent any mistakes during the next refueling.
Additional Safety Practices
One additional layer of protection that is found in the field for Aviation nozzles is the use of colored nozzle handles. Black handles are in place for nozzles using Jet fuel. Red handles depict nozzles that dispense Avgas. Hewitt always asks customers about the type of fuel to be dispensed and the handle-color required before orders for nozzles are entered.
An additional resource with detailed information on preventing misfuelings is NATA Safety 1st eToolKit which is available at the following link.
http://nata.aero/data/files/safety%201st%20documents/etoolkit/safety1st%20etoolkit_24_%20jul-aug%202006.pdf.
Information on Husky /Hewitt nozzles can be found at www.husky.com. Be sure to check out our Osprey and Eagle Nozzles.
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has launched the "Safety 1st Misfueling Prevention Program: Awareness Training for Line Service Professionals, FBO Managers, Customer Service Representatives and Pilots".
http://nata.aero/Education-and-Training/Misfueling-Prevention-Program.aspx
The program includes short videos that provide education about simple steps that can be taken to prevent misfuelings. A quiz follows the video presentation, after which individuals who pass can print a certificate of completion. NATA says the program is not intended to be a comprehensive training program, which must be completed before individuals attempt to fuel an aircraft. But it covers essential elements that serve as a good primer for those in each outlined job category.
The “Big Three”
NATA focuses on what it calls the Big Three items required to get the right fuel into aircraft every time: Proper fuel orders, the use of selective spouts, and grade verification.
Let's take a moment to focus on spouts. Industry standards and best practices require that selective spouts be installed on all aviation overwing nozzles, which in essence are designed to prevent jet fuel from being inadvertently put into aircraft requiring Avgas.
The Jet A Wide Oval Spout, also known as duckbill or J-Spout, is designed so it cannot be placed into most fuel openings for Avgas powered aircraft. However, some Avgas aircraft may not have restricted size filler ports. Other exceptions potentially include helicopters. So the selective spouts only provide a layer of protection against misfueling; they are not fail-safe. It is up to the ground fuel handler to make sure they have covered the big three fueling checks before dispensing the fuel into the aircraft. There are no exceptions to these checks.
One interesting point of the NATA online presentation is that if you want to use jet fuel, but need to use a round spout, the round spout can only be used temporarily. And it must be immediately removed after use. This is a very important practice to prevent any mistakes during the next refueling.
Additional Safety Practices
One additional layer of protection that is found in the field for Aviation nozzles is the use of colored nozzle handles. Black handles are in place for nozzles using Jet fuel. Red handles depict nozzles that dispense Avgas. Hewitt always asks customers about the type of fuel to be dispensed and the handle-color required before orders for nozzles are entered.
An additional resource with detailed information on preventing misfuelings is NATA Safety 1st eToolKit which is available at the following link.
http://nata.aero/data/files/safety%201st%20documents/etoolkit/safety1st%20etoolkit_24_%20jul-aug%202006.pdf.
Information on Husky /Hewitt nozzles can be found at www.husky.com. Be sure to check out our Osprey and Eagle Nozzles.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
The Processes That Deliver Continuous Improvement
Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said "Perfection is unattainable. But if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." That is the essence of what companies that utilize Quality Systems Management seek to accomplish.
The notion of continuous improvement is based on "Kaizen", a Japanese concept for constantly seeking ways to improve operations. Total Quality Management defines the concept further by saying it involves identifying benchmarks of excellent practices and instilling a sense of employee ownership of the process.
Husky Corporation produced a video that defines the approach the company takes to Quality Systems Management.
We welcome your feedback on the issues addressed in the video or regarding any items in the Husky Corporation product line. Contact us at 800-325-3558 or at husky.com.
The notion of continuous improvement is based on "Kaizen", a Japanese concept for constantly seeking ways to improve operations. Total Quality Management defines the concept further by saying it involves identifying benchmarks of excellent practices and instilling a sense of employee ownership of the process.
Husky Corporation produced a video that defines the approach the company takes to Quality Systems Management.
We welcome your feedback on the issues addressed in the video or regarding any items in the Husky Corporation product line. Contact us at 800-325-3558 or at husky.com.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Test Case: Husky Nozzles to the Rescue
Reliability is a must in highly
competitive industries. Customers simply expect nozzles to work when they are
refueling their vehicles. If for some reason a nozzle doesn’t work, that could
be all it takes to send a customer down the street to a competitor the next
time.
Husky manufacturer’s
representative Bill Fritts of Jack Pittman & Associates, Inc. learned of a
situation where a territory manager responsible for nearly 200 service stations
had been experiencing a high failure rate using nozzles supplied by a Husky
Corporation competitor.
“It was a problem with handles
being stuck open. The nozzle has an automatic shut off, inside the handle, which
allows you to auto-fill your car. Let’s
just stay those had not been working correctly,” Fritts said.
Successful Test Site Using Husky Hanging Hardware
Fritts suggested the territory
manager try Husky nozzles and related hanging hardware as a way to reduce or
eliminate the failure rate. He agreed to set up a test location, which after
almost 11 months did not have even one failure with a Husky nozzle. Meanwhile
his other locations continued to have a high failure rate using the competing
product.
“He also said several of his
colleagues had been watching the test with great interest and then decided to
install Husky products at some of their locations,” Fritts said.
The customer is using Husky XS pressure-activated
automatic shut-off nozzles with three notch hold open clips and waffle splash
guards. The nozzles are paired with Husky Standard Safe-T-Breaks and swivels,
plus EagleFlex Premium Hardwall Gasoline Pump Hose and Whip Hose.
“That customer told us ‘Husky has
a quality nozzle. It’s a great product’,” Fritts said.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Husky Low Permeation Fuel Hose Earns California ARB Certification
The California Air Resources
Board (ARB), the agency responsible for air quality and climate protection in
the state, has certified that Husky Corporation’s EagleFlex Low Perm
Conventional Hose Assembly meets the state’s strict low permeation standards
for gasoline fueling hose.
California and Ohio require gasoline dispensing facilities
to use hoses designated as low permeation to reduce the amount of fuel that
diffuses through the hose wall.
Executive Order Certifies EagleFlex Low Perm Hose
An executive order issued September 27,
2015 by the ARB indicated Husky EagleFlex low perm hose conforms to
requirements for a permeation rate no higher than 10 grams per square meter per
day. That is also the standard for low permeation for fuel
loss through the flexible hose, at the fittings and at the connection between
the hose assembly and the dispensing equipment spelled out in UL 330.
EagleFlex Low Perm hose is made of
black Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE), reinforced by multiple textile braids
with dual static wire helix, and features permanent external crimp zinc-plated
steel couplings and/or swivels. It is designed for a variety of applications
where hardwall fuel hose is needed.
The California ARB has estimated low permeation
hose would save approximately 1.7 gallons of gasoline per hose each year and
reduce statewide emissions by one ton per day of reactive organic gases. Ohio
estimates low permeation hose will reduce VOC emissions by approximately 10.8
pounds per hose per year in the state.
Monday, December 7, 2015
Production Best Practices for On-Time Delivery
The result of an exceptional production system is a high percentage of customer orders that are delivered On-Time. To hit the benchmark, all processes in the system must be aligned across the supply chain.
Husky Corporation put in such a system within the last decade. The result is that 99.5 percent of all customer orders are created and shipped within four days of receiving the order. This short video shows how the Husky production system to create fuel dispensing nozzles, swivels and related accessories made the transition that created a host of benefits for the company and its customers.
In 2004, Husky Corporation decided to eliminate finished goods inventory and moved to a production system where fueling products are only created when orders come in through Husky’s customer service department. Orders are routed to the appropriate production cell, where each product is assembled and tested in one-piece flow which proves to be more efficient than traditional assembly lines. Operators are trained at multiple cells to allow great flexibility and keep the staff’s skills fresh.
Customer benefits from the Husky production system go beyond reliable on-time delivery of the highest quality fueling products. By being able to reduce their own inventory, customers also find their own systems are more profitable.
To know more about Husky Corporation, visit http://www.husky.com/
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Best Practices for Rotary Wing Aircraft Refueling - Nozzles Designed for the Task
A useful publication for aviators is the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Safety Best Practices Manual. It is a document worthy of being checked and reviewed from time to time, even by the most experienced people in the business, to review best practices for safe aircraft operation.
Chapter Four deals specifically with Standard Operating Procedures for Rotary Wing aircraft, covering topics including flight crew check in, flight planning, weather limitations, even refueling procedures.
Chapter Four deals specifically with Standard Operating Procedures for Rotary Wing aircraft, covering topics including flight crew check in, flight planning, weather limitations, even refueling procedures.
The Osprey Aviation Nozzle is designed with all the features required for safe fueling of helicopters. Hewitt, a division of Husky Corporation, engineered the Osprey to meet the needs of helicopters and small aircraft over-the-wing fueling. This nozzle features automatic shut-off capability
to facilitate filling fuel tanks while preventing spills and/or over filling.
Osprey
serves aviation applications that do not require high-volume nozzles. It offers
a light-weight design that includes these features:
·
Automatic shut-off
·
Easy-to-service 100 mesh stainless steel fuel
filter assembly
o
Required for aviation fueling applications
·
Dust cap to place over spout when the nozzle is
not in use
·
Ground Cable with clip
o
Grounding plug also available as an accessory
for helicopter fueling
·
Aluminum body
·
One piece contoured steel lever
·
Red fuel grip guard to identify for use with
AvGas or Black Fuel Grip for Jet Fuel
·
Waffle guard to protect against damage to wing
or helicopter surfaces.
·
Aluminum inline and multiplane swivels available
as accessories
The Osprey S nozzle also prevents fuel from being drained out of the hose. The nozzle shuts off
when the pump shuts off, when the tank is full or when the lever is opened before the pump turns
on.
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