LP/Gas articles from July 2006

LP/Gas archives from July 2006

Pinnacle no more.(National Propane Gas Association cancels the Pinnacle Conference)(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... Like the annual meeting in Chicago and the Northeast Convention before it, Pinnacle--the propane industry's premier educational conference--is now just a footnote in the industry archives. At its June meeting in San Antonio, just one day...

In the know.(employee turnover in propane industry)
July 1, 2006... Employee Turnover We asked 425 retail propane marketers across the United States questions about employee turnover for their businesses. We heard from 56 companies. Here is what they had to say. Outcomes: All businesses that...

Propane master limited partnership comparison.(LP/GAS STOCK INDEX)(Statistical table)
July 1, 2006... Propane Master Limited Partnership Comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Ended (6/14/06) AmeriGas APU Mar. $29.20...

Heating degree days by state.(WEATHER WATCH)(Statistical table)
July 1, 2006... Heating degree days by state State May Deviation Last 12 Deviation from norm months from norm Alabama 53 13 2580 -259 Alaska 538 ...

When it comes to safety--are you aware?(SAFETY FIRST)(Column)
July 1, 2006... Awareness is the first key to successful safety management. Without awareness, we may be whistling in the dark, assuming we understand exposures and degrees of risk that may impact our employees, our customers, our suppliers, our vendors, our...

Know your time, part 5.(BUSINESS MATTERS)(time management improves efficiency)(Column)
July 1, 2006... This is the fifth in a series on business topics inspired by the 20th century business management icon Peter Drucker. A current retail propane industry debate is how to improve the efficiencies of retail operations. The prevailing logic is...

Rust never sleeps.(keeping check of corrosion in the peyrochemicals industry)(Column)
July 1, 2006... There are some things in life that are as inevitable as the rising and setting sun. Death and taxes are the leading candidates and not far behind these twin powers is rust, which never sleeps. As propane marketers, the presence of rust and...

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2006... * July 17-19 South Carolina Propane Gas Association annual convention and board meeting to be held at the Marriott at Grande Dunes Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. For details, contact Corky Clark at 803-865-2284 or scpga@sc.rr.com. * July...

Slip slidin' away: Poconos-area indoor water park powers its fun with propane.(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... The scene is a child's dream come true. Wide-eyed youngsters squeal with delight as water from a massive bucket 48 ft. above comes cascading toward them, their shrieks almost obliterated by the thundering rush of 1,000 gallons of water. ...

Getting a 'lift': uplifting results of emissions testing raises future of propane forklifts.(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... The most complete testing to date offers uplifting evidence that propane's benefits to the material handling industry - in engine performance, durability and emissions quality--will protect the 85 percent market share that propane owns among...

Saw it at Pinnacle.
July 1, 2006... More than 300 propane marketers, manufacturers and distributors attended NPGA's annual Pinnacle Conference held June 13 and 14 at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio. Animated keynote speaker Ken Schmidt recounts his experiences...

Exemption to propane transportation rule published.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(Department of Transportation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a special permit to allow the one-way transportation of consumer storage tanks containing more than 5 percent propane. The permit applies to tanks of up to 500 gallons water capacity and...

IRS releases alternative-fuel vehicle tax break guidelines.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
July 1, 2006... Users of alternative-fuel vehicles can finally start reaping the tax credits specified in the 2005 national energy law, now that the Internal Revenue Service has issued guidelines. IRS Notice 2006-54 outlines the procedures vehicle...

Small-business expensing program extended.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... President Bush has signed into law a two-year extension of the $100,000 small-business expensing program. The measure, originally passed in 2003, dramatically increased the amount of money small businesses can deduct for capital...

Forklift emission proposal adopted in California.(SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA)(Air Resources Board)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has finally adopted a proposal calling for state emission standards for forklifts and other large spark-ignition equipment. The proposal is favorable to the propane industry, according to the...

Inergy grows with Florida acquisitions.(KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI)(Inergy L.P. acquired Homestead Gas Co. and Delta Gas Co.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Inergy has acquired the assets of Homestead Gas Co. and Delta Gas Co. The two operations deliver retail propane to about 5,000 customers from three jointly operated retail locations in the Miami, Homestead and Key Largo, Fla., areas. ...

EPA certifies propane conversion for 2005 Ford.(LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA)(Environmental Protection Agency)(certification of SEQUIN system of EDPRO Equipment Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The EPA has issued a Certificate of Conformity to EDPRO Equipment Inc. for its propane conversion technology for the 2005 model year Ford 4.6-liter engine platform, the company said. The approval marks the third consecutive year for which...

Fireside offers retail partnership program.(MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA)(Fireside Hearth & Home)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Fireside Hearth & Home has launched a new retail partnership program geared to offer independent dealers the chance to leverage the collective power and promotion of the its retail and service brand. The program offers dealers access to...

Prices rise on all products containing brass.(MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA)(Sherwood Operations)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... An "unparalleled escalation" of brass supply costs caused by worldwide demand is causing Sherwood customers to pay increases on all product lines, the company announced. As of July 10, all product lines were subject to the increase. ...

Propane cylinder refurbisher earns ISO certificate.(RUFFS DALE, PENNSYLVANIA)(McKnight Cylinder)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... McKnight Cylinder has received ISO 9001:2000 certification from the International Organization for Standardization. the company announced. The certification is a confirmation that an organization employs quality management systems in the...

Worthington Cylinders praises Diversco Supply.(COLUMBUS, OHIO)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Diversco Supply Inc., a propane-product distributor based in Ontario, Canada, has been selected as Worthington Cylinders' 2006 Platinum Distributor. The designation is based on each master distributor's total sales dollars and their percentage...

EPA certifies CleanFUEL USA's liquid propane injection system.(GEORGETOWN, TEXAS)(Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... CleanFUEL USA has received an EPA certificate of conformity for its newly designed liquid propane injection system, built for use with the GM 8.1-liter Vortec engine on all Family II and Family III medium-duty truck applications. The...

Four fleets are honored for using propane.(PHOENIX, ARIZONA)(Port Arthur Transit, Warren Wilson College, Capital Area Rural Transportation System and Historic Tours of America are winners of the 2006 Propane Exceptional Energy Fleet Awards)(Clean Cities Congress & Expo 2006)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Fleets designed for rural transportation, tourists, city bus routes and commercial mowing are winning praise for their use of propane. The four organizations were recognized as winners of the 2006 PROPANE Exceptional Energy Fleet Awards...

PERC votes to continue market study another year.(SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS)(Propane Education & Research Council)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Residential propane use will show a substantial decline in use this year but should rebound in the next two years, according to new investment calculations devised under the propane industry's Market Metrics Initiative. The initiative,...

Nexgrill gas grills recalled for potential fire hazard.(CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA)
July 1, 2006... About 16,000 gas grills produced by Nexgrill Industries Inc. are being recalled because the hose connecting the propane tank to the burner can melt and detach, causing a gas leak and fire hazard. The grills, model 720-0025, were sold at...

Stationary LPG pump.(PRODUCTS)(Corken Inc)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Corken Inc., a unit of IDEX Corp., is offering a new three-in. Z3500 LPG pump for stationary and foot-mounted truck applications. The pump offers the same locked-rotor design used in the Corken Z-Series truck pumps. The Z3500 has high flow...

Data management system.(PRODUCTS)(Liquid Controls )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Liquid Controls introduces its LectroCount DMS Data Management System. The in-cab data management system is designed to work with the LetroCount LCR and LCR-II Electronic Registers. The system offers large internal memory storage, a USB Flash...

Gas leak detector.(PRODUCTS)(Nova Systems Inc. (Canton, Connecticut))(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Nova Systems Ltd. has added its BOLO hand-held instrument, a portable, battery-operated detector of combustible gas leaks. It measures 4-1/8 in. x 2-1/8 in. x 7/8 in. and weighs just six ounces with its batteries installed. With its...

Sensor System Solutions' new Web site.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Sensor System Solutions Inc. has launched a new Web site to offer more of its products and services from its three divisions: Sensor System Solutions, Automotive Sensors and Sensor Components. The site, www.corp3s.com, offers more accurate...

Safety fill adapter.(PRODUCTS)(Marshall Excelsior )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Marshall Excelsior introduces its FLOMAX Safety Fill Adapter for use with LP gas delivery truck hose outlets. The full-port design allows for up to 30 percent more flow than standard fill check adapters. With this manually operated safety fill...

Portable outdoor fireplaces.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Patio Embers announces the launch of its new Web site, www.patioembers.com, for the sale of its portable outdoor fireplaces. The gas fire pits, imported by Virginia Beach-based Agio International, can be ordered and delivered to homes in...

Inverted reels.(PRODUCTS)(Reelcraft Industries Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Reelcraft Industries has added an inverted modular reel to its Series 40 large frame reels. Designed for a hanging or wall-mount installation for liquid propane applications, an optional air brake makes it useful for the fuel oil industry. The...

Heavy-duty work benches.(PRODUCTS)(Durham Manufacturing Company Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Durham Manufacturing Co. is offering three new extra-heavy-duty benches able to bear up to 10,000 lb. on their top surface. Constructed with a 3/16-in. steel top surface, the benches have sturdy angle iron legs that are predrilled for floor...

Ratcheting cable cutters.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Klein Tools is offering two heavy-duty ratcheting cable cutters (Cat. Nos. 63600 and 63750) for large-capacity jobs. Both cutters boast a high-leverage ratchet mechanism, making it easier to cleanly cut copper and aluminum cables without...

National Propane Gas Association.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The National Propane Gas Association has elected its slate of officers for 2006-2007. At its June gathering at Pinnacle, Randy Rutherford, president of Georgia-based Rutherford Equipment, became NPGA's chairman of the board. Rutherford was...

Gas Equipment Co.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Dallas-based Gas Equipment Co. announces several organizational and sales staff changes. Debbie Cannon, a sales representative for East Texas and Louisiana, has relocated to Jackson, Miss., and will serve the Mississippi and Alabama...

Cavagna North America.(PEOPLE)
July 1, 2006... Cavagna North America Inc. has promoted Frank Marusiak to the newly created position of customer service manager. He has been with the company for more than six years, holding various positions including logistics, inside sales and customer...

R.W. Lyall & Company.(PEOPLE)(Obituary)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Robert (Bob) William Lyall, the founder of R.W. Lyall & Company, died May 25. His passing followed a four-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was 75. Born in 1930, he formed the R.W. Lyall & Company in 1970. The company provides...

Actaris Metering Systems.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Trusted custody transfer from the dawn of the petroleum age Since the 1890s, the Neptune trade name has been known for accuracy and reliability. Today, with its home in Actaris Metering Systems, the Neptune product line remains the trusted...

American Management Corporation.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Experts in Fuel-Related Insurance Risks American Management Corporation is known for our expertise, integrity and knowledge throughout the fuel industry, and for our continued development of innovative and unique insurance products. ...

American Welding & Tank.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... An uncommon commitment to excellence American Welding & Tank began producing high-quality propane tanks and pressure vessels in 1917 and will celebrale 90-years of uninterrupted service to the propane community next year. AWT's plants are...

Bergquist Inc.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Propane equipment and technical assistance is our business Bergquist is a 40-year-old distributor of equipment to the propane industry. The company was founded by Karl Bergquist in Toledo, Ohio, as one of the original distributors for...

Blackmer.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Dover Resources Inc. Blackmer)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Company Profile Blackmer, A Dover Company, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-quality flow technologies, including positive displacement pumps and oil-less non-lube compressors used in the transfer of hazardous,...

CHS Inc.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Manage volatility with confidence Are volatile prices negatively affecting your propane business? CHS understands the pressures you face. That's why we're committed to providing innovative ways to help our customers gain control, improve...

Chelsea Products Division of Parker Hannifin.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Chelsea Products Division of Parker Hannifin is the leading manufacturer and producer of Power Take-Offs for the vocational truck industry. The must trusted name in the PTO business, Chelsea continues to propel the industry forward by building...

ConocoPhillips Propane.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Your ConocoPhillips North American Propane Marketing Team ConocoPhillips' experienced propane sales representatives understand your business and are ready to provide you with reliable propane supply and outstanding customer service. We...

Dixie Chopper.(Dixie Chopper )(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... For more than 25 years, Dixie Chopper has been building the most productive machines in the mowing industry. With 18 models--ranging from one with a 22-horsepower engine with a 34-inch cut to a 50-horsepower engine with a 72-inch cut--there is...

Fisher LP-Gas Equipment.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... A Tradition of Providing Peace of Mind Our commitment to providing customers with innovative solutions, dependable products, exceptional quality and excellent service is a tradition dating back to William Fisher, the founder of Fisher Controls,...

Fueling Technologies Inc.: the best inventory management solutions in the business.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... MASS STORAGE PRECISION GAUGES Fueling Technologies' patented and UL-labeled Mass Measurement Gauge provides you with tools to help make smarter buying decisions (allowing increased "operating capacity" and the certainty of knowing that you...

H&H sales company.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Committed to quality H&H Sales Company Inc. specializes in fabricating custom service and delivery vehicles, bulk tank trailers and LP gas and in-plant gas cylinder handling and storage equipment. Based in northern Indiana, H&H Equipment...

Hannay Reels Inc.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Hannay Delivers Superior Reels to the LP Gas Market Designed and built in alignment with the specific demands of LP gas market applications, Hannay LPG reels have garnered a reputation as the durable, reliable choice for hose management....

Liberty Financial Group Inc.(CORPORATE CAPABILITES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Liberty Financial Group Inc. is a national commercial equipment finance company. Our management team and staff provide personal service with competitive and creative financing products while building long-term relationships with customers and...

Liberty Propane.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Building a Big Company with Small Company Values Liberty Propane was founded in July of 2003 with the goal of acquiring, consolidating and operating quality retail propane distributors in strategic geographic regions of the country. Led by...

MID:COM.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... MID:COM pioneered the computer register business in 1975. There are more than 30,000 of our computers and registers operating in all types of weather. Operating range is as diverse as the tropical heat of South America to the bitter cold of the...

Perfection Corporation.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Leading the Way in Gas Distribution Products Perfection introduces the LP gas industry's first complete line of gas distribution products molded from PE100/Bimodal PE3408 resin. This innovation is our most recent in a long history of...

Ray Murray Inc.: gas equipment and hearth distributor.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Ray Murray Inc.--Top Brands, Top Support, Top People Ray Murray Sr. had to quit his job to start Ray Murray Inc. (RMI) This decision was a significant one--he had devoted 25 years to a propane equipment manufacturer. He also had a growing...

RegO[R] Products.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... RegO[R] Products--Proudly made in America Remember your first? Chances are it was a RegO[R]. That is because RegO valves and regulators were the first to be designed specifically for propane gas. Propane marketers have always relied on...

Rochester Gauges Inc.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... World-Class Liquid Level Gauges Rochester Gauges Inc. is dedicated to establishing the industry standard for quality in LP gas liquid level gauges. The leading supplier of LP Gas liquid level gauges for more than 50 years, Rochester...

Seymour Industries Ltd.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Seymour Industries is built on a simple belief: We succeed when our customers succeed. Our company was established as a foundry 44 years ago. After nearly a half-century of going where our customers' needs led, Seymour is now a producer...

Sherwood Valve.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... High-quality gas control products Sherwood has been producing high-quality gas control products for nearly a century, and is universally recognized as a leading ISO 9001 manufacturer whose products consistently meet the highest of industry...

Trinity Industries Inc.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Manufacturing metal vessels, transport barrels far the world Trinity Industries' logo represents more than 60 years of continuous manufacturing and metal fabrication experience. Trinity is recognized as a leader in the markets that it...

UPS Logistics Technologies.(CORPORATE CAPABILITIES)(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Improve Operational Efficiencies with Roadnet UPS Logistics Technologies, a global provider of transportation management software, enables propane and gas dealers the ability to create a more efficient delivery operation. Propane and gas...

Worthington Cylinders.(Company overview)
July 1, 2006... Our commitment to excellence With 35 years of industry experience, Worthington Cylinders continues to exceed industry standards and customer expectations with the products we manufacture, the services we provide and the people we employ....

Distraction causes most crashes, study says.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
July 1, 2006... Drivers who are drowsy, applying makeup or talking on a cell phone are responsible for causing 80 percent of car crashes, according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. After reviewing thousands of hours of...

Securing debt financing.(LET'S TALK)
July 1, 2006... Changing market dynamics often lead to additional debt financing requirements for companies active in the LPG business. Management needs to access the required capital, at a competitive interest rate and with the best available terms and...