In a Word: Husky!

Husky Corporation invited sales representatives to its Pacific, MO headquarters recently for a series of one-on-one sessions about the company's product line and what differentiates those products from others on the market. There were four, two-day sessions held over two weeks for reps from all Husky's brands who sell on behalf of the company. Husky is actually a family of companies that serves customers in the petroleum dispensing and automotive service industries.

The Husky Sales Summit agenda featured peer-driven interactive sessions that included product sales training, new product pipeline/updates, Quality tools discussions, Engineering, collaborative new idea generation and tours of the company's U.S. based manufacturing operations. The sessions were attended by nearly 100 people who take the word about the company's product line straight to customers themselves. There is a 'photo gallery' of more pictures on the Husky Corporation Facebook page if you want to check it out.

We also took the opportunity to ask for a quick comment from each of the reps that sums up what Husky Corporation means to them. And when we had finished, we were amazed at the variety of answers. Here's a sample.

Thanks so much to all the distributors and reps for not only stepping in front of a camera to offer their thoughts, but also for taking their extremely valuable time to visit Husky and see first-hand what inspired those comments in the first place! Husky wouldn't be where it is today without the support of our partners, employees and customers!

Husky was founded in 1947 with headquarters and production facilities in the metro St. Louis area at Pacific, Missouri. The company offers General Fueling Products including a complete line of dispensing nozzles, swivels, Safe-T-Breaks®, hoses and related accessories for fuel delivery systems. Husky Corporation operating divisions include BJE Oil and Lube products, Hewitt Aviation Fueling Products, S.U.R.&R. fluid line repair solutions, and Oil Baron Oil and Grease Stain Remover. Additionally, the company offers Benecor DEF Dispensing and Storage systems, Enevo Logistics Optimization systems and Roman Seliger Liquid Loading Arms.

Brake Line Repair Solutions - A Third Party Perspective About S.U.R.&.R.

Trust is a critical, yet elusive, characteristic. It must be earned and demonstrated over time.

Vehicle repair professionals have a lot riding on the tools and repair solutions they use in order to build customer trust. Husky Corporation's S.U.R.&R. understands this fundamental fact and strives to make sure customers can trust the solutions we provide. But it's one thing for S.U.R.&R. to say our products deliver great value. It's another to hear about the actual value experienced professionals receive day in and day out.

Rick Muscoplat writes and owns a terrific blog for vehicle service professionals that offers extremely practical advise about tools and methods that can really help make jobs go more smoothly. Recently, Rick  wrote a series of blogs about brake line repair. We'll share the links to those blogs here so you can click them and get a feel for the depth and quality he brings to the topics.

http://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/fix-rusted-brake-lines/
http://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/best-brake-line-flare-tool/
http://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/make-a-double-inverted-brake-line-flare-part-1/
http://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/make-a-double-inverted-brake-line-flare-part-2/
http://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/how-to-make-a-double-inverted-brake-line-flare-part-3/

S.U.R.&R. is grateful Rick thought so highly of the PFT 409 Pistol Grip Flaring Tool, which he described as "Cream of the crop. It made quick work out of replacing 6 brake lines and 12 flares. This is absolutely pro grade."

In another blog, he discussed the value of high quality brake line tubing that can be easily manipulated to address situations which inevitably come up in the service bay. "I like S.U.R&R because it bends easily without kinking and is much easier to flare than steel brake line. It costs a bit more than the copper/nickel other brands you can find online, but it’s also a much better product. The cheap stuff is made with thinner walls so it kinks easily. Find S.U.R&R UltraBEND® Flexible Brake Line Tubing at at many national retailers and most commercial parts stores and tool distributors."

We encourage vehicle service professionals who deal with brake line issues to check out the links to the articles above. Then visit the S.U.R.&R. website or call our team for more information on the solutions we have available that will improve your business.

And thanks so much to Rick Muscoplat for his thoughtful blogs about brake line repair. Check out his blog often for other great and practical tips at  http://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/

 

Cutting-Edge Technology Wrapped in a Sturdy Package That is “Super Simple” to Install

Can something held within a uniquely shaped container that weighs just over a pound hold the key to transforming the way an industry serves its customers? The Enevo WEL-008L sensor represents just such a possibility. The sensor contains ultrasonic technology that gathers up-to-the-minute liquid level readings from widely scattered or remotely located storage tanks. Petroleum products distributors are using the Enevo system to optimize the way they service customers, cutting down on wasted time and money from traditional route-based approaches.

The sensor measures 6.5 inches tall by 4.7 inches wide and is made of extremely robust proprietary polyurethane that can withstand even the most extreme weather conditions. The construction ensures the technology inside functions consistently over the long haul. Ultrasonic sonar and motion detection technology is at the heart of the Enevo hardware. The WEL-008L measures tanks ranging from 10 inches to 16 feet deep and is accurate to within ± 0.4 inches. Details on all the specs are located at http://www.husky.com/enevo/enevo-sensors/wel-001-sensor/.

One of the best things about the Enevo sensor is that is very easy to install. The professionals at Missouri’s Santie Oil Company know firsthand just what that means.

"I think we've set 50 or 60 of these monitors. We've had no issues," said Robbie Sims, Santie Oil General Manager. "It's a plug and play system. It was a good decision to go with Enevo. And we look forward to putting more out in the field." 

Check out this short video to hear what they think.

Power is supplied by a 3.6-volt high performance lithium battery that will last for five years or more. The data gathered is transmitted over available networks using penta-band technology capable of operating at 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, which are the cellular frequencies used in most parts of the world. Any software upgrades for the WEL-008L are transmitted back to the sensor in the same way. This makes the Enevo system functional even in remote locations, as long as a cellular network connection is available.

The sturdy construction, industry-leading battery life and ease of installation make Enevo a set-and-forget solution for managing liquid tank levels. The WEL-008L will transmit data to the web portal for five years or more, allowing game-changing efficiencies and higher service levels for customers.

EZ Lever: Filling Up Made Easy

A fuel nozzle that requires dramatically less force to operate a fuel nozzle continues to make inroads in the automotive refueling market. Husky Corporation's EZ Lever is a uniquely designed two-piece lever that requires less than 5 pounds of force to operate, compared to 10 pounds or more for a regular nozzle.

As a result, EZ Lever adheres to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. The design also permits exceptional fingertip control that allows purchases to be rounded off to the exact desired amount. Check out this short video on how EZ Lever works and its benefits.

When used on Husky Model X nozzles, fuel flow will be identical to nozzles equipped with a one piece lever. Fuel pumped with EZ Lever on Model V34 nozzles will flow 1.5 to 2 gpm more than with a one piece lever at 10 psi back pressure. EZ Lever is also available on Husky Model XS nozzles.

Husky is focused on ways to make the fueling experience more pleasant for customers. The EZ Lever is just one example. So is the recently designed Tilt Poppet, which allows fuel to flow through the main valve of the nozzle in a more measured way, so fueling can be started and stopped very smoothly for precise manual dispensing. The Tilt Poppet also reduces the amount of back-pressure experienced when starting and stopping the fueling process.

Contact Husky Corporation at 800-325-3558 for a demonstration or more information.

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.

Petroleum Dispensing Equipment Now at Wholesale and Retail Outlets Near You

When you need something, it never hurts to have multiple options. Husky Corporation understands that very well. That's why the company has rolled out a new option for customers who need fueling and tank monitoring systems.

Now retailers and wholesalers can display the fastest-moving and most popular Husky General Fueling Products and BJE Oil & Lube Products right in their locations for their fleet, farm and agriculture customers.

These display Plan-O-Grams feature Husky gasoline, diesel and DEF nozzles, swivels, Safe-T-Breaks, and fuel hose. The displays also feature BJE tank monitors, gauges and oil filter crushers. These Plan-O-Grams focus on:

• Size, fuel type and full description: This important information allows for proper selections, resulting in fewer alleged defective units and higher customer satisfaction levels.
• Prominent display of all ISO, USA and Canadian certifications: The “Made in USA” product acknowledgement is proudly announced and supported by patriotic graphics.
• Easy visual access for inspection purposes: Most products can be inspected without opening and destroying the packaging, permitting customers to see and feel the quality of the items.

The Husky retail displays are available for wholesale and retail locations. There are 38 SKUs that represent popular Husky and BJE items. The Plan-O-Gram also will contain new products that have been developed especially for  the fleet, farm and agriculture markets.

Contact Husky Corporation if you'd like more information about these special retail displays at 800-325-3558 or sales@husky.com.

Why G.G. Sutcliffe invested in American manufacturing (St. Louis Business Journal Video)

The St. Louis Business Journal conducted this video interview with company president G.G. Sutcliffe in conjunction with a feature article that appeared in the publication December 7, 2018 (it was online December 5). St. Louis Character: Husky's G.G. Sutcliffe Lives with Gusto is available at this link: http://bizj.us/1prsf2

The video interview with another article that accompanies it available at this link: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2018/12/17/watch-why-g-g-sutcliffe-invested-in-american.html

One of the most interesting excerpts from the article is this: "All of our competitors were going to China back in the early '90s,” he said. “What I realized was that we did not have good manufacturing process control here in St. Louis, and if we didn’t have it here in St. Louis, we sure as hell couldn’t get it done 6,000 or 10,000 miles away.” At that point, Sutcliffe began investing in American manufacturing, and today it has really paid off for the company as it nears $50 million in revenue. Sutcliffe said the company works diligently on being responsive to its customers' needs, and the only way to do that is by staying in the region.

Thanks to the St. Louis Business Journal for their interest in Husky Corporation and in G.G. We think the entire staff did a wonderful job relating the many interesting facets of this story!