LP/Gas articles from June 2008

LP/Gas archives from June 2008

Not so nifty at 50: milestone draws jabs from kids, reflections of years in propane industry.(The pH Factor)
June 1, 2008... Turning 50 last month subjected me to the standard quips about memory lapses, silver hair, growing paunch, out-of-style wardrobe and technological incompetence. Most were accompanied by the courtesy title, Old Fart. The bulk of those...

PHMSA proposes bobtail tax increase for large businesses.(Vital Signs: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)
June 1, 2008... The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed an increase in the hazmat registration fee (bobtail tax) that would apply only to registrants not qualifying as a small business or...

LP/Gas stock index.(Vital Signs: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)
June 1, 2008... LP/Gas Stock Index [PROPANE MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP COMPARISON] Quarter Price Company Symbol Ended (5/19/08) Distribution AmeriGas APU March $4.53 ...

PERC offers new online safety tool.
June 1, 2008... Consumer safety messages are available for retailers to use with company brochures, newsletters, invoices, meter tickets or bill stuffers to distribute safety messages to propane customers. The new documents were developed using the...

Study: flaming helps with milk production.
June 1, 2008... Propane-fueled flaming for bedding on dairy farms may increase daily milk production as much as 2.9 pounds per head, a research study funded by Propane Education & Research Council found. The 10-week study, conducted by the Department of...

American Welding & Tank increases prices for all product lines.(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... American Welding & Tank LLC announced price increases effective May 15 covering all propane tank product lines. The new price schedules will reflect a 7.5 percent increase for new tanks and a 3.5 percent transportation surcharge....

WeatherWatch.(Vital Signs: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)(Statistical table)
June 1, 2008... WeatherWatch [HEATING DEGREE DAYS BY STATE] DEVIATION DEVIATION FROM LAST 12 FROM STATE APRIL NORM MONTHS NORM Alabama ...

Gas pains.(Vital Signs: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)(Cartoon)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "YOU SEEM WELL-GROUNDED, ED... BUT, THE NICKNAME 'SPARKY' HAS GOT TO GO."

Wisconsin governor signs bill with new rules for propane.
June 1, 2008... Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed new legislation that changes the way propane companies work, WBAY-TV in Green Bay reported. Suppliers and construction companies must follow new rules when dealing with propane, and the law creates a...

EPA grant funding available for propane projects.
June 1, 2008... Almost $50 million in grant funding will be available through the Environmental Protection Agency for clean engine projects to reduce emissions. The grant program is administered through the National Clean Diesel Campaign, and propane...

Stellar to acquire K-PAC waste handling equipment division.(Stellar Industries Inc.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Stellar Industries Inc., a producer of hook hoists, truck cranes and service truck accessories, announced an agreement to acquire the K-PAC solid waste handling equipment division of Krause Corp. The sale will consist of the entire product...

Alternative fuel system class to teach LPG installation and service.
June 1, 2008... Technicians and fleet managers from all over the United States are expected to attend the annual ACME Alternate Fuel Systems annual class to be held July 15-17 in Mankato, Minn. The class teaches students how to perform installations and...

Midland debuts remanufacturing facility at open house.(Midland Manufacturing Co.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Midland Manufacturing, producer of railroad tank car safety valves and equipment and a division of OPW Fluid Transfer Group, unveiled its new valve remanufacturing facility with an open house on May 1 at the company's headquarters in Skokie,...

National Propane Gas Association.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... Debra Wilson has been hired as the public and government affairs assistant. She had been the administration coordinator in the Homeland Security & Technology Office of the National Governors Association where she managed meetings and...

Gas Equipment Company Inc.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... Jim Roberts, director of information systems in Dallas, was honored as employee of the year. Todd Meyer was named salesperson of the year for LP gas markets. He services Northern Missouri, Iowa, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Nebraska...

Elster Gas North America.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... James Ward has been appointed product manager for gas measurement products within Elster Gas North America's business unit, Elster American Meter. Ward will be responsible for driving the commercialization of new products, channel development...

JARCO Inc.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... John Kucharski has been named vice president and general manager. Kucharski has 30 years of experience in managing manufacturing operations with a strong background in industrial/ manufacturing engineering. William (Bill) Soulon has been...

Midland Manufacturing.(PEOPLE)(appointment of Zack Gorny)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Zack Gorny has been hired as the new director of supply chain. He comes to Midland after spending eight years working in several supply chain roles. He will be responsible for the purchasing and shipping departments at Midland with key...

Liberty Propane.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... Brian Keefer has joined Liberty Propane as general manager in the Jenkins Gas-Morehead City (N.C.) service center. Keefer possesses years of propane management experience across several markets in the West and Southwest.

Stellar Industries Inc.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... Al Kuhlman has been promoted to customer service representative. He will handle parts sales and technical assistance for Stellar customers. Kuhlman had spent two years as a truck assembler for Stellar where he was key in the final assembly of...

Control Instruments Corp.(PEOPLE)
June 1, 2008... Brian Barrett has been hired as a direct regional sales manager covering the Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana territories.

Employee benefits.(IN THE KNOW)
June 1, 2008... Propane Resources surveyed 419 retail propane marketers from across the nation about their employee benefits. We received responses from 79 companies. Here is what they had to say: Outcomes: A majority of responding retailers (70...

Events.(Conference news)(Calendar)
June 1, 2008... JULY 10-12 Alabama annual convention at The Grand Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort in Sandestin, FL. Contact Lisa Fountain at lisa@ alabamapropane.com or 334-358-9590. JULY 13-16 Virginia Propane Gas Association annual meeting at the Hilton...

Barbecue grill shipments.(Data Points: PROPANE INDUSTRY NUMBERS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Barbecue Grill Shipments [1997-2007 NORTH AMERICA] Year Charcoal Gas Electric Total 1997 5,041,612 6,361,102 223,402 11,626,116 1998 5,033,205 7,969,537 215,534...

Home grill fires by power type.(Data Points: PROPANE INDUSTRY NUMBERS)
June 1, 2008... Home Grill Fires by Power Type [2005 FIRES ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST TEN] Structures fires Outdoor fires Other 3,420 (40) 4,900 (50) Charcoal or other 600 500...

Grill ownership.(Data Points: PROPANE INDUSTRY NUMBERS)
June 1, 2008... Grill Ownership [2005 vs. 2007 CHARCOAL vs. GAS BY PERCENTAGE] 2007 2005 Charcoal 53 47 Gas 63 70 Weber-Stephen Products Co./Greenfield Online Note: Table made from bar...

PERC research shows that grilling outdoors becomes more common.(Data Points: PROPANE INDUSTRY NUMBERS)(Propane Education & Research Council)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... A recent survey conducted for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) shows that 25 percent of respondents are cooking on the grill more than they were a few years ago. Grilling isn't just for special occasions anymore, the...

Sparking awareness: new booklet uncovers dangers of static electricity, describes how to control it.(STATIC ELECTRICITY)(Editorial)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ron Zezulka remembers the telephone call vividly. It came about two years ago, and Ed Ferguson from AmeriGas was on the other rod. The topic was static electricity. Ferguson, then manager of safety and...

Corrosion defense: new program instructs marketers on key points of cathodic protection.(CATHODIC PROTECTION)
June 1, 2008... With more customers choosing to hide their propane tanks with popular underground installations, the need to protect steel vessels from moisture and chemicals in the soil has never been greater. That's why the Propane Education & Research...

Back to school: Florida firemen, propane marketers team up to perfect gas firefighting techniques and build professional relationships before an emergency occurs.(TRAINING)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Flames shot 40 feet across the gravel lot to the edge of a singed tree line, hissing angrily and dancing in an ever-changing afternoon breeze. "You don't know how hot that flame is until the gas stream is three...

Assessing your debt needs: higher wholesale propane costs press need for working capital.(Business Matters)
June 1, 2008... The dramatic rise in wholesale propane costs has created serious pressure on everyone in the retail propane distribution business. Whether it's customers resistant to higher prices, difficulty collecting larger bills or the overall pressure...

Insurance safety solutions: choosing an insurance company is more than finding the best price.(Safety First)
June 1, 2008... After 30-plus years of working with insurance companies that specialize in the energy industry, I have learned a bit about salesmanship, spin and bravado. In some cases, rolling up your pants is a good idea. Woody Allen once said (from...

Some things old and new: industry change has dramatic impact on lawsuits in last 20 years.(Legal brief)
June 1, 2008... Today's propane industry litigation tends to generate many of the same themes as the cases presented when I first started defending them more than 20 years ago. A number of significant changes have altered the landscape in defending those...

Taking note of NFPA 58 changes: here are major differences in the 2008 edition, of interest to marketers.(Let's Talk)(Industry overview)
June 1, 2008... Many changes were made in the 2008 edition of NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code. Major changes of interest to propane marketers are listed here, with some reasons why they were made. A more complete list of changes has been included in the...

Transmission fluid.(Product Showcase)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Allison Transmission Inc. has teamed with ExxonMobil to release new Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF, a fully synthetic TES 295 certified automatic transmission fluid that is formulated to enhance the performance of...

Trucks.(Product Showcase)
June 1, 2008... The Stretch Truck Co. offers unique vehicles called stretch trucks, which have an extra set of doors. Energy companies can haul field workers, or the home office can use them as stylish executive transporters. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Backup lamps.(Product Showcase)
June 1, 2008... An addition to the SuperNova family of long-life LED lamps, Grote Industries' new SuperNova LED single diode back-up lamps provide the best light output, rivaling multi-diode versions, according to the company. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Coupling.(Product Showcase)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Permasert coupling from Elster Perfection has a pull-out strength greater than the connected polyethylene tubing. Its one-piece construction and design ensure consistent, gas-tight connections in all weather...

Catalog.(Product Showcase)
June 1, 2008... Durham Manufacturing Co. has published a new 126-page comprehensive catalog covering its expanded lines of industrial storage products, non-powered material handling equipment, safety products and literature organizers. The catalog is divided...

Freeway propane: Utah company has answer for high gasoline prices--propane conversions.(Snap Shot: COMPANIES TO WATCH)
June 1, 2008... Complaints of high gasoline prices have quieted somewhat in Springville, Utah. Residents there can thank Freeway Propane. The propane retailer located 50 miles south of Salt Lake City is making a push into the vehicle conversion business...