LP/Gas articles from June 2007

LP/Gas archives from June 2007

Cabinet heater concerns.(VIEW POINT)
June 1, 2007... The timing could not have been worse for news to circulate about the rupture of five propane-filled composite cylinders at a Heritage Propane facility in Miami April 4, 10 and 13--just eight weeks before the propane industry had hoped to tap...

In The Know.(survey about plans for their company's future)(Survey)
June 1, 2007... Succession Planning We asked 415 retail propane marketers across the United States the following questions about plans for their company's future. We received responses from 21 companies. Here is what they had to say. Outcomes: ...

LP/gas stock index.
June 1, 2007... Propane Master Limited Partnership comparison Company Symbol Quarter Price Distribution Ended (5/14/07) AmeriGas APU Mar. $37.98 $2.44 Energy...

Heating degree days by state.(WEATHER WATCH)(Statistical table)
June 1, 2007... Heating degree days by state State April Deviation Last 12 Deviation from norm months from norm Alabama 209 58 2659 -160 Alaska ...

Upcoming events.(Calendar)
June 1, 2007... * July 5-7 Alabama Propane Gas Association's annual convention at the Perdido Beach Resort in Gulf Shores, AL. For details, contact Lisa Fountain at lisa@alabamapropane.com or 334-271-7666. * July 8-10 Michigan Propane Gas Association's...

Defense costs provide safety incentives: when you prevent accidents, you attack defense- and liability-related costs while protecting the bottom line.(SAFETY FIRST)
June 1, 2007... Beyond the standard insurance company costs of marketing, loss control and underwriting, we have liability defense costs. Generally an insurance company pays for the use of a defense attorney, the cost of depositions and investigation....

Financial mistakes in family business: successful family companies watch financial performance on a monthly basis and make adjustments.(BUSINESS MATTERS)
June 1, 2007... Many family owned businesses in this industry do a lot of things very well, yet can blunder terribly when it comes to financial matters. These errors can cost the family significant value and prevent it from achieving the very goals it set out...

Thoughts on the new gas check: what I like about the new GAS Check is that it makes clear what some courts have already said about the old program in published decisions: the program is completely voluntary.(LEGAL BRIEF)(Column)
June 1, 2007... It is sometimes hard to keep up with all of the new and excellent safety material streaming out of our friends at PERC. I think I could spend each article in the magazine writing about new products available from the PERC pipeline. So far the...

Electric co-ops seek, gain support: they argue that they are unable to compete against for-profit, privately financed, investor-owned utilities and thus must be protected with continued subsidies and benefits not given the private sector.(WASHINGTON REPORT)
June 1, 2007... Rural electric cooperatives (RECs) have not missed a beat in protecting their interests before Congress this session. The nonprofit RECs, through the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA) and their 900 member cooperatives,...

Learning curve: e-learning promises to revolutionize the industry's Certified Employee Training Program by making it more convenient, affordable and effective.
June 1, 2007... The big screen dominating the conference room wall flashed a PowerPoint slide with a bold, seven-digit number that froze two-dozen Propane Education & Research Council members and staff in a collective, nervous silence. The body of propane...

Fugitive on the loose: California study measures impact of fugitive emissions and weighs the results on future industry regulation.
June 1, 2007... A CONFIDENTIAL STUDY of fugitive emissions in California says that the propane industry should find ways to reduce the amount of fuel released into the atmosphere during and after product transfer--or risk losing the exemptions it has long...

Points of transfer.
June 1, 2007... POINTS OF LPG TRANSFER generate differing amounts of fugitive emissions. The California study calculated the average discharge per transfer and the number of transfers occurring each year to determine total emissions for each. It found: ...

33-pound composite cylinders made by Lite Cylinder Co. removed from service following ruptures.(FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE)(Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration ordered composite cylinders)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), an agency of the Department of Transportation, has ordered about 5,000 33-pound composite cylinders manufactured by The Lite Cylinder Co. removed from service. The...

Gas grills recalled for potential fire hazard.(NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA)
June 1, 2007... The Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling about 36,500 gas grills manufactured by Sagittarius Sporting Goods of China because of a potential fire hazard. The Perfect Flame Four-Burner Gas Grills were imported by L G Sourcing...

Eastern Propane & Oil honored for health plan.(LAS VEGAS, NEVADA)
June 1, 2007... The 2007 Consumer-Driven Health Care Expo has honored Eastern Propane & Oil of Rochester, N.H., for having the best implementation procedures for its Consumer-Directed Health Care Program. The award was presented to Brian Boudreau, vice...

Propane shippers win safety award.(JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA)
June 1, 2007... Three propane shippers are among winners of the Chemical Safety Excellence Award from CSX Transportation Inc. The winning shippers are Aux Sable Liquid Products Inc., ConocoPhillips and Targa Midstream Services LP. The 2006 winners...

Biogas project wins EPA award.(DAVIS, CALIFORNIA)
June 1, 2007... The Biogas Energy Project has won praise for developing a new waste-to-energy technology that is fueled by propane. The research project is a joint endeavor by the University of California-Davis, Onsite Power Systems, the Propane Education...

Propane fuel infrastructure earns tax credit.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)
June 1, 2007... The Internal Revenue Service will grant tax credits for infrastructure improvements made to propane vehicle fuel refueling stations, according to its May 2 guidance. An alternative fuel vehicle refueling property includes property for the...

Bobtail tax will not increase in 2007-2008.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(National Propane Gas Association)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Propane haulers will not see their federal bobtail tax increase during 2007-2008 after Congress decided to allocate the same amount to the Department of Transportation that it had in the previous budget. DOT had hoped for $28 million in...

Arizona passes limited-liability legislation for marketers.(PHOENIX, ARIZONA)
June 1, 2007... Arizona's governor has signed a bill establishing limited liability for propane marketers in that state. The bill, which was signed by Gov. Janet Napolitano on May 1, will take effect in late August or September. The law limits liability...

Women enjoy grilling, but admit qualms about safety.(WASHINGTON, D.C.)(Survey)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... A new survey by the Propane Education & Research Council shows women are increasingly staking their claim to what used to be a man's domain--the grill. According to the survey, 34 million women use the grill several times a week during the...

Char-Broil recalls grills with wrong heat shield.(COLUMBUS, GEORGIA)
June 1, 2007... Char-Broil LLC of Columbus, Ga., is recalling about 600 gas grills with an incorrect heat shield. Some of the grills, sold exclusively at Big Lots stores between January and March, had an incorrect heat shield that does not fit the grills....

Propane exemption for farmers dies in committee.(OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON)
June 1, 2007... A committee chairman of the Washington state Senate has nixed a bill that would have exempted propane from sales and use taxes when used for agricultural purposes. The bill, which passed the House March 13 and was approved by the Senate's...

AmeriGas acquires cylinder refurbishing company.(VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA)
June 1, 2007... AmeriGas Partners LP announced that it has acquired the assets of McKnight Cylinder, Ruffs Dale, Pa. McKnight Cylinder is the largest independent cylinder refurbisher in the country. Its primary business is the testing and refurbishing of...

Pocket knives.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Klein Tools announces the addition of six lightweight lockback pocket knives to its product line. The new knives fit in a pocket and have a textured thumb stud. The blades are corrosion-resistant and are made of AUS 8 stainless steel. Multiple...

Worm gear winch.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Ramsey Winch introduces the HY-800 hydraulic worm gear winch, which offers a short coupling and low-profile style shifter. The new design is shorter and narrower than its standard HY-800 counterpart. The overall height has been reduced by 6.22...

TRIAC valves certified.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... A-T Controls has received TA-LUFF low-emission certification for its direct-mount valves with a patented pyramidal stem seal system. Fourteen TRIAC series valves with the live-loaded packing system passed the TA-LUFT standard established by...

Fuel coupling.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Marshall Excelsior has unveiled the ME220FSN MOTO-SEAL soft nose motor fuel coupling for LP gas applications. The coupling offers the user a safer connection because it ensures a positive seal and has a replaceable tip seal design. For...

Gas detector.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Honeywell Analytics has new infrared (IR) cartridge options for its multi-gas Lumidor Impact Pro IR portable gas detector. One of three IR sensors can be chosen as one of the four sensors that come in a four-sensor multi-gas cartridge. Two IR...

Smoke Detection System.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... AirSense Technology is bringing artificial intelligence technology for aspirating smoke detectors to the North American market. Most detectors have preset thresholds that are not able to distinguish normal, minor changes to the environment,...

Tubing reel.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... COXREELS offers its new LG Series geared for tubing and air/water applications. It is equipped with a continuous radius grommet-style tubing guide. Its design has no comers to pinch the tubing, no rollers for the tubing to catch on and a slick...

Dual-acting Air Shift.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Chelsea Products, a division of Parker Hannifin, has improved the design of its 823 Series Dual-Acting Air Shift. The space-saving design eliminates more than one-half inch of length on the pump flange side of the air shift. The shorter air...

Multiple head valve.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Cavagna is touting its total brass multiple head valve (including hand wheel of service valve) for underground ASME applications. The product features a service valve with Cavagna QualiHandwheel system. It has a pressure valve with protective...

Anode tester.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Anode Systems is touting its Anode tester. The product, distributed by Leran, is ideal for those who do not want to have to kneel to take cathodic protection readings. The product allows the operator to take multiple testings around a tank by...

LPG pumps.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Blackmer says its LGL and LG Series sliding vane pumps produce less noise and less vibration than similar models. This, the company says, results in longer pump life and reduced costs. The LGL and LG pump lines are engineered specifically for...

Sight flow check valves.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Marshall Excelsior introduces its new ME875 Series sight flow check valves for use in LP-Gas plant piping applications. The Marshall Excelsior line of sight flow valves feature cast ductile iron bodies with durable baked powder coat finish...

Palm-dipped gloves.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... Perfect Fit Glove, a Bacou-Dalloz company, offers a new line of Tuff-Coat gloves. This line of palm-dipped gloves includes a new "hybrid" style, which provides the best features of both existing palm-dipped gloves products. A lightweight...

Loading arms.(PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2007... OPW Engineered Systems has upgraded its Endura Series loading arms to help in the loading and unloading of hazardous materials. Endura dual split flange swivel joints offer high load-bearing capability, redundant sealing and leak detection...

Ramsey Industries.(PEOPLE)(Bruce Barron promoted)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Ramsey Industries has promoted Bruce Barron to executive vice president and chief operating officer. He will be responsible for day-to-day operations of Ramsey Winch and Auto Crane. Barron has been Auto Crane's president since 2000. Also,...

Modern Home Products.(PEOPLE)(appointments)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Modern Home Products announces the appointment of new independent sales representatives. Ross Johnson of JBL West Inc., in Atlanta, will be responsible for Kodar, ProFire Gas Grills and MHP's product lines in Tennessee and Kentucky. Chuck...

RMSCO Inc.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... Joan Osier has been appointed president of RMSCO Inc. She replaces Richard Villari, who retired. Osier has been with RMSCO since 1981 and most recently was the company's vice president of operations. The company is a licensed third-party claim...

OPW Fueling Components.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... Michael McCann has been named president of the OPW Fueling Containment Systems Inc. McCann has held several positions within the company over the last 14 years. He most recently served as the company's vice president of dispensing products....

Blackmer.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... Blackmer has appointed Wayne Harris to the position of key account manager to grow and develop key accounts throughout the company's various markets. Harris began with Blackmer in 2002 as a product specialist for the company's centrifugal...

Gas Equipment Co. Inc.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... Donnie Moore has joined the Orlando sales team of the Gas Equipment Co. Inc. He will be the customer service manager for the Orlando distribution warehouse and service manager. He has more than 29 years of experience in the propane industry.

Virginia Propane Gas Association.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... The Virginia Propane Gas Association has won the Governor's 2006 Virginia Fire Service Award for Excellence in the Private Sector Virginia Fire Services Support. Tim Spicer accepted the award as VAPGA's Education and Safety Committee's...

Midland Manufacturing.(PEOPLE)(appointment of David Clugg)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... OPW Fluid Transfer Group's Midland Manufacturing division has appointed David Clugg as product manager. Among Clugg's responsibilities will be new product development, product rationalization and product advertising and marketing. He previously...

Cavagna North America.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... Cavagna North America Inc. has appointed Federico Bruschi to its sales team at its North American Distribution Center in Somerset, N.J. He will be the firm's LPG product manager. Bruschi moved from the company's Italy headquarters to work...

FACTOR.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2007... W.R. Hess Company's FACTOR division has appointed Matthew D. Ziehme as its vice president of development. He will be responsible for software and product development including driving solutions. Ziehme previously worked as director of delivery...

Texas Liquids Partners.(PEOPLE)(appointments)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Texas Liquids Partners has made several appointments to its staff. Joe Aldina, who had worked with the company as a financial consultant, will be vice president--financial risk management products. He will help develop a new line of financial...

Our industry's progress depends on everyone doing their fair share.(LET'S TALK)
June 1, 2007... 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). As evidence of its commitment to the industry's continued progress at this important juncture, the council has launched an important new campaign to improve the...