LP/Gas articles from May 2008

LP/Gas archives from May 2008

Map leads back to Atlanta: one year makes all the difference when it comes to the propane industry.(Opening Delivery)
May 1, 2008... Glass littered some streets, and police barricades kept traffic from others. In some parts, Atlanta looked like a war zone. A tornado that blew through the city on March 14 reportedly packed 135-mph winds, leaving behind destruction and...

Ferrellgas accuses fired fleet manager of embezzling $3 million.(Vital Signs: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)(Scott Beeson v. Ferrellgas Partners L.P.)
May 1, 2008... The nation's second largest propane retailer is accusing its former fleet manager of using his position to embezzle millions of dollars for personal gain. In a lawsuit filed March 28 in the Circuit Court of Platte County, Mo., Ferrellgas...

LP/gas stock index.(Vital Signs: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)
May 1, 2008... [PROPANE MASTER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP COMPARISON] Quarter Price Company Symbol Ended (4/17/08) Distribution Yield Americas APU September $32.10 $2.44 ...

PERC responds to economy, higher propane prices.
May 1, 2008... PERC is hoping to grow off-season sales through new technology and to more strategically market propane to consumers and builders. This plan, PERC said, comes in response to the downturn in the U.S. economy and higher propane prices. ...

AmeriGas adds 3,000 customers through Missouri acquisition.
May 1, 2008... AmeriGas announced that it acquired all of the propane distribution assets of Scott Gas of Eldon, Mo. AmeriGas gains 3,000 customers through locations in Eldon and Iberia in Central Missouri. The company also purchased All Star Gas in...

PPL Corp. sells natural gas, propane subsidiaries to UGI.
May 1, 2008... PPL Corp. reached an agreement to sell its natural gas and propane subsidiaries to UGI Utilities Inc. for $268 million in cash plus working capital. An electric utility, Allentown, Pa.-based PPL said it expects the sale to close before the...

Dover Corp. adds Pump Solutions Group to organization.
May 1, 2008... Dover Corp. announced the establishment of its Pump Solutions Group (PSG). PSG joins its major legacy brands, Wilden, Blackmer, Griswold and Almatec, to form a pump organization with an array of pump technologies totaling more than $300...

Pennsylvania company set to join Dover's Pump Solutions Group.
May 1, 2008... Dover Corp. announced the acquisition of Neptune Chemical Pump Co. Neptune will become part of Dover's newly formed Pump Solutions Group within the Fluid Management segment. Terms of the transaction were not released. Neptune, based in...

Worthington announces another price increase.(Worthington Cylinder Corporation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Worthington Cylinders announced a price increase on all steel and aluminum propane and fuel gas cylinders ranging in size from 4.25 pounds to 420 pounds. Prices will increase from 6 to 8 percent with shipments effective May 10. This...

Comment period extended for driver training proposal.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended the comment period on its entry-level, driver-training proposal until May 23, after a request from American Trucking Associations (ATA), Transport Topics reported. However, FMCSA...

Ed Varney of Fisher Controls, Pat Hyland of LP Gas magazine, Bill Powers of Heritage Propane and John Geiger of Trinity Containers gather next to a blue Heritage Propane bobtail.(Vital Signs: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: Ed Varney of Fisher Controls, Pat Hyland of LP Gas magazine, Bill Powers of Heritage Propane and John Geiger of Trinity Containers gather next to a blue Heritage Propane bobtail that promotes prostate cancer...

Propane powered fleet vehicles.(IN THE KNOW)
May 1, 2008... Propane Resources surveyed 414 retail propane marketers from across the United States asking them the following questions about their use of propane powered vehicles. We received responses from 79 companies. Here is what they had to say. ...

Events.(Vital Signs: INDUSTRY NEWS & NUMBERS)(Conference news)(Calendar)
May 1, 2008... * JUNE 4-6 Propane Marketers Association of Kansas annual meeting at the Grand Prairie Hotel and Convention Center in Hutchinson, KS. Contact Vickie Woodbury at pmak@pmak.org. * JUNE 4-6 Propane Gas Association of Canada 2008 National...

Alternative fueled vehicles in use.(Data Points: PROPANE INDUSTRY NUMBERS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alternative Fueled Vehicles in Use [1995-2005 NUMBER OF VEHICLES BY FUEL TYPE] Year LPG CNG LNG M85 M100 1995 172,806 50,218 603 18,319 386 1996...

Liquid propane injected Ford OEM pickup trucks belatedly ready for delivery.(Data Points: PROPANE INDUSTRY NUMBERS)
May 1, 2008... It took a full year longer than expected, but Ford's F-150 pickup featuring a liquid propane injection system to its 5.4-liter, V-8 engine is finally rolling off the assembly lines. In partnership with Roush, Ford first displayed the trucks...

Mountain adventure: a propane airlift, a daylong hike--the blue flame is playing a major role atop the Great Smoky Mountains.(MOUNT LECONTE)
May 1, 2008... When night falls on Mount LeConte and a cold, stiff wind rattles the cabin walls, the blue flame of propane provides warmth to weary hikers inside. The temperature can drop in a hurry 6,500 feet up the third-highest peak in Tennessee's...

Propane industry pushes forward despite unknowns: officials forced to change location, floor plan of Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo following storm damage to Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center.(SOUTHEASTERN SHOWCASE REVIEW)
May 1, 2008... The National Propane Gas Association held the 2008 Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo as scheduled on March 29-31 in Atlanta. But it didn't happen without some last-minute changes by industry members and city officials...

Patience, perseverance key: NPGA, propane industry determined to hold show following Atlanta storms.(SHOWCASE REVIEW)
May 1, 2008... Jennifer Tomb was thrown into the whirlwind of unknowns following a March 14 tornado in Atlanta that jeopardized the Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo. The storm struck downtown two weeks before the propane industry's biggest...

Speaker: find right people: Gary Kunath provides energetic beginning to the Southeastern show.(SHOWCASE REVIEW)
May 1, 2008... Gary Kunath educated, inspired and made his audience laugh. The keynote speaker provided an energetic beginning to the Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo on March 30 at the Georgia World Congress Center. [ILLUSTRATION...

Propane-fueled partnership: neighboring Tennessee cities near Smoky Mountains take tourists on a cleaner ride.(MOTOR FUEL)(Cover story)(Column)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scott Marine has lived his entire life in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains. Born and raised in Gatlinburg, Tenn., the 55-year-old has been surrounded by nature's beauty and abundance. But over the years,...

Add value through accounts receivable management plan: a quality program incorporates quality customers and clear expectations.(Business Matters)(Column)
May 1, 2008... What if you could improve the quality of your customer base, permanently reduce your debt, enjoy larger profits and -increase the value of your company without the need for more people or capital? This is a possibility for all retail...

Owning lines and regulators: know your responsibility with maintenance and protection from elements.(Safety First)
May 1, 2008... Often in life we are told it is better to own. However, that is not always the case. Somehow we tend to lose track of things we own, loan to others, assume under forgotten promises or own by virtue of default. With these thoughts in mind,...

Is it new or deja vu? A look back on the last 20 years shows industry's similarities, differences.(Legal Brief)(Column)
May 1, 2008... Having defended propane companies for the past 20 years in cases around the country, I was recently asked a profound question by my editor, Pat Hyland. "Are the issues the industry faces in lawsuits the same or different than 20 years...

Heavyweights weigh in on world energy concerns: topics examined by 1,500 registrants from 45 countries at EIA conference.(Washington Report)(United States. Energy Information Administration)
May 1, 2008... Heavyweight energy policymakers, analysts and representatives came together last month to address pressing energy issues with some strong and sometimes surprising sentiments at the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) annual conference,...

Remembering Milford's contributions: the basis for PERC was formed one evening on the back roads of Texas.(Let's Talk)(Column)
May 1, 2008... My wife, Eileen, and I were sitting in the backseat of his car as Milford and his wife, Gayle, were driving us back to their home from a wonderful dinner of fried catfish. I was following my customary practice of paying a personal visit to the...

Pumps.(Product Showcase)
May 1, 2008... Ingersoll Rand has expanded its ARO Pro Series portfolio of diaphragm pumps by enhancing the 2- and 3-inch ported metallic pump models to include additional materials of construction. Previously offered only in aluminum, the Pro Series now...

Software.(Product Showcase)
May 1, 2008... Easy Jobber is creating a sense of relaxation for jobbers all over the country. It is a hard task to keep up with 10 stores, but imagine if you had 100. Three main concerns for jobbers and their staff are: time consumed in daily reports,...

Gas monitors.(Product Showcase)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RAE Systems Inc. introduces the ToxiRAE 3 family of single-gas monitors and the AutoRAE Lite bump test and calibration station. ToxiRAE 3 features a stainless-steel front cover to withstand harsh environments and is...

Data loggers.(Product Showcase)
May 1, 2008... Gas and petroleum processors tracking temperature or humidity conditions affecting product quality now can have the convenience of real-time data and the ability to download data for further analysis with the redesigned Dickson...

Pipe and cable locator.(Product Showcase)
May 1, 2008... Improvements have been made to the Pipehorn 800 Series high-frequency pipe and cable Iocator by Utility Tool Company Inc. The Pipehorn 800 Series features the same high frequency (480 kHz) performance as the Classic Pipehorn. It works on the...

Eliminator sales & service: Sparks Propane Inc. founder shows creative ability, versatility for industry.(Snapshot: COMPANIES TO WATCH)
May 1, 2008... As a propane retailer, Kevin Sparks was frustrated with not getting tanks where he needed them. Then last September, he drew up a plan of a machine that would help eliminate this challenge. The prototype was ready in November, and the...