Fuel Oil News articles from May 2002

Fuel Oil News archives from May 2002

Agway plans to exit some businesses. (Dateline).(Agway Energy Products)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Agway, one of the country's largest cooperatives, and the number-two oil and propane marketer in the United States (behind Star Gas), has announced plans to "refocus" its efforts on a core group of businesses and divest itself of several...

Refiners want to stop reduced-sulfur rules. (Dateline).(Petroleum industry lawsuits over sulfur levels in diesel fuel regulations)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The petroleum-refining industry is suing to stop a rule requiring a sharply reduced level of sulfur in diesel fuel, and spokespeople warn that fuel shortages would result if the United States Environmental Protection Agency goes ahead with its...

NAOHSM to offer educational seminars. (Dateline).(National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers (NAOHSM))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The National Assn. of Oil Heating Service Managers has scheduled a series of technical seminars this spring and fall that will earn participants CEUs toward National Oilheat Research Alliance Silver & Gold Certification. The courses will cover...

Star Gas acquires Modern Gas. (Dateline).(Star Gas Partners L.P.)(Modern Gas Company Inc)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Star Gas Partners, L.P., parent company of Petroleum Heat & Power Co., has acquired the assets of southern New Jersey-based Modern Gas, which service about 8,000 customers with annual propane volume of approximately 5.7 million gals.

Gilbarco rides again. (Dateline).(Danaher Corp. acquires Marconi Commerce Systems Inc.(formerly Gilbarco Inc.))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Marconi Commerce Systems, formerly Gilbarco Inc., was recently purchased by Danaher Corp. from London-based telecommunications equipment firm Marconi plc for $325 million. Danaher officials will resurrect the Gilbarco name for the company,...

Taco and Potter Electric Signal form partnership. (Dateline).(Potter Electric Signal Co.)(Taco Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Taco, Inc. and Potter Electric Signal Co. have announced a partnership for the purpose of marketing Potter's HVAC-related products under the Taco name. Under the private-label partnership agreement, Taco will become the exclusive distributor of...

Riello and Eclipse form alliance. (Dateline).(Riello Condizionatori S.p.A. and Eclipse Combustion form a strategic alliance)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Riello S.p.A., Legnago, Italy, parent company of Riello Burners North America, Mississauga, Ontario, and Eclipse, Rockford, Ill., have formed a strategic alliance to serve the North American market. Riello is the world's largest manufacturer of...

ICPA seminar gets considerable interest. (Dateline).(Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association (ICPA))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A full house was on hand for an Independent Connecticut Petroleum Assn.-sponsored seminar in March on buying oil, price contracts and marketing. A group of experts in contract law, hedging and marketing helped marketers understand the issues...

Hearth industry may face lawsuits in California. (Dateline).(use of warning labels on barbecues and fireplaces fuels)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The hearth industry is scrambling to coordinate a response to the possible legal actions facing members under California's Proposition 65. Late last year, a number of barbecue chip and Pellet manufacturers, and at least two hotels with...

Duke Energy buys Westcoast Energy, sells DukeSolutions. (Dateline).(Duke Energy Corp. acquires Westcoast Energy Inc.)(and sells DukeSolutions to Ameresco Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Duke Energy, Charlotte, N.C., acquired Westcoast Energy Inc., Vancouver, B.C., in March in a deal that involved cash and stock. Westcoast Energy has assets of about $10 billion, and is involved in natural-gas gathering, processing,...

Fuel price index for May 2002.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... FUEL PRICE INDEX FOR MAY 2002 RENT CHANGE FROM CHANGE FROM PRICE LAST MONTH LAST YEAR CASH/SPOT PRICES(DAILY AVERAGE) UNLEADED GASOLINE ...

The bad old days. (Editor's Note).(Editorial)
May 1, 2002... Whenever there's a bull session among a group of industry people, the "veterans" invariably start comparing today to the "good old days." Everything was so much cheaper then and equipment wasn't made from cheap plastic and there was a work...

Clearburn Science is center stage at Visions Conference.(fuel oil industry conference)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Discover how far oil heat technology has advanced and in what direction it's headed during the inaugural Oilheat Visions Conference at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, R.I., from Aug. 19-21. "Clearburn Science" the new...

Weil-Mclain gets ready to turn up the H.E.A.T.(Hydronics Education and Training (H.E.A.T.))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Weil-McLain is ready to turn up the H.E.A.T. with a series of Hydronics Education and Training (H.E.A.T.) technical training courses. The company has announced spring dates throughout the New England region for the specialized one-day training...

ASHRAE energy guidance for residential buildings.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers has published ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.2-2001, Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings. The standard provides minimum requirements for the...

Field Controls celebrates 75th.(Field Controls Co.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Field Controls is celebrating 75 years as an industry leader in draft, venting and combustion air technology. Ted Field founded the company in 1927 in Evanston, Ill., and originally specialized in large, custom-built draft controls for...

New Burnham slogan.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Burnham Corp. has introduced a new company slogan. The new slogan replaces "I'm a Burnham Believer" that had been used for several years.

Steam seminar.
May 1, 2002... Wei1-McLain sponsored a special one-day Dan Holohan seminar on the Lost Art of Steam Heating this past November. Proceeds from the seminar were donated to the Dave Nelsen Scholarship Fund established by the National Assn. of Oil Heating Service...

See you on the Internet!(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Studies have shown that about 25-40% of oilheat technicians use the Internet for business or personal purposes. That's a good start--but the percentages should be much higher. Many manufacturers are making valuable technical support...

FMANJ has UST mailer; partners with school.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Energy Watch, a special direct-mail piece addressing underground storage tank issues, is currently being circulated by the Fuel Merchants Assn. of N.J. FMA Communications chairman Rob Van Varick reported, "We hope that this customer bill...

Freightliner observes 60th anniversary.
May 1, 2002... Freightliner kicked off its anniversary observance with the display of two historic trucks at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., March 21-23. The display included a 1942 Freightliner COE (cab over engine) truck and a 1930s-era...

"Hands-on" burner skills contest at NAOHSM show.
May 1, 2002... Back by popular demand, the National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers will again challenge the skills of oil heat technicians at its 2002 trade show, this year posing the "hands-on" skills test at two levels. Both veteran oil heat...

Grundfos standardizes all pump warranties.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Grundfos Pumps Corp. has announced that beginning January 1, 2002, all of its pump products began to carry a 24-month warranty dating from the time of installation but not more than 30 months from the date of manufacture. The previous warranty,...

Apex Software integrates SmartDrops GPS tracking.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Apex Software has integrated the Vertrax SmartDrops GPS tracking of oil delivery trucks into its Oil Manager applications. SmartDrops also provides automated routing, sequencing and mapping capabilities to the daily operations of retail oil...

Making the pieces fit: resolving grievances is a team effort.
May 1, 2002... Grievances and complaints that concern the individual service technician or service department employee and the service manager are an issue that is difficult for all service managers. Here are some suggestions to make resolving these...

Adrian Stow-All drawer. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Adrian Steel has introduced an all-new Stow-All drawer unit for service trucks. Made to accommodate items up to 48 inches in length, or organize smaller items, Stow-All has smooth rolling drawers to allow easy access to parts and tools, while...

C&S chemical cleaners. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... C&S Scientific offers a wide range of chemical products to help resolve a variety of fuel-related problems. This includes Omniclean-W, a water soluble concentrated all-purpose cleaner; Omniclean-S, a nonflammable heavy-duty solvent-based...

Testo heat-exchanger kit. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Testo has a new heat-exchanger examination kit featuring the Testo View Lighted Optic Visual Inspection Tool. The kit also includes a residential furnace inspection manual by heat exchanger experts that is filled with application instructions...

DeWalt compact cordless drills. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... DeWalt has redesigned its line of 12-, 14.4- and 18-volt compact cordless drill/drivers, making them smaller and better balanced, while adding extra power and durability. The new models are 7/8-inch shorter in length but have a newly designed...

Sid Harvey's is tool source. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Sid Harvey's boasts of being a one-stop shop for all tool needs, and carries Porter Cable, Klein Tools, Vaco, Duro Dyne, Lufkin, Crescent, Imperial Eastman, Ritchie, S&K, Malco and other brands. There are 78 Sid Harvey outlets nationwide. ...

Oventrop oil filters. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Oventrop is the leading European manufacturer of fuel-oil filters. A variety of inserts (sintered plastic, sintered bronze, felt or nickel mesh) allow adaptation to the system requirements from 10 microns and up. The transparent cup makes...

PowerMate stair-climbing hand trucks. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... PowerMate stair-climbing hand trucks are available in a wide variety of models to accommodate virtually any load. The heavy-duty steel M-series models have a weight capacity up to 1,500 lbs. In addition to the power-driven stair climbing and...

H&H custom-service bodies. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... H&H Sales Co. is designing and building custom-service bodies with aluminum-side boxes in custom sizes and configurations. Options include slide-out shelves, drawers and trays that fit into any size compartment, extra-height cabinets,...

Petro Green spill cleaner. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Fuel oil leaks can be emulsified, reducing odor, unsightly appearance and flammability using a diluted spray of Petro Green's ADP-7. The water-wet solution can then be easily flushed off of a hard surface onto soil or a lawn, where the mixture...

Tank-testing device. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Ira D. Conklin & Sons has the Ezy 3 Locator Plus, a vacuum/acoustic UST-testing device that consists of a microphone placed in the ullage of the UST and is connected to a signal processor and headset. This enables the operator to listen to the...

Reading Bodies are durable. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Reading Body Works' exclusive Lectro-Life immersion priming process insures maximum durability. Bodies are submerged in a vat of electrically charged primer, ensuring coverage to the most hidden areas. This provides the most complete rust and...

Oil spill treatment. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... MicroSorb ER is used on oil spills around fill pipes on soils or spills on concrete floors. It contains more than 140 billion hydrocarbon-digesting microbes per ounce in a clay powder. The clay will absorb the spill and the microbes will...

Copper tube joining system. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The ProPress System, a copper-crimp connection system from Ridge Tool Co., is now available for larger sizes of copper tubing, up to four inches. The system joins copper tubing in sizes 1/2 to four inches, replacing traditional soldering...

Hot-water pressure washer. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The Hotsy Model 5645 hot-water pressure washer provides six gpm of water volume at 3,000 psi of pressure. A 24-hp Honda V-Twin electric-start gasoline engine powers this self-contained unit, which can also be truck or trailer mounted for...

Wright-Spline wrench. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Wright Tool Co. has introduced the Wright-Spline, a wrench that provides higher strength, greater torque and more tool-to-fastener contact than any other wrench design. It is designed to fit and turn all four styles of fastener heads-hexes (6...

TSI Combustion analyzers. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... TSI Series CA-6200 Ca-Calc Combustion analyzers are easy-to-use instruments designed to provide real-time analysis of fuel gases for optimizing the combustion efficiency of boilers, process heater, furnaces and other combustion appliances....

Wheeler-Rex pipe threader. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Wheeler-Rex has a 1/2-4" pipe threading machine in a variety of models. Each model features self-opening die heads, through-the-die head oiling for cutting, threading and reaming. All machines offer adjustable thread length, ultimate accuracy...

UEI Pistol digital multimeter. (Tools & Services Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... UEI has introduced the DM600 "Pistol" digital multimeter with advanced features and a new look that combines one-handed operation with fork technology for fast, line-of-sight measurements. The standard open-fork, current clip helps make quick...

Video-inspection system. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The X2 exchanger eXaminer from Abatement Technologies is designed to provide a reliable and credible tool for inspecting and evaluating the condition of heating exchangers and other internal components. The kit consists of a flexible 36-inch...

Klein wire stripper/cutter. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Klein Tools' new lightweight wire stripper/cutters for stripping, cutting, looping and gauging solid and stranded wire features specially designed Klein-Kurve handles for ease of use when reaching into confined areas. Longer, double-dipped...

Scented truck floor mats. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Class 8 Custom Flooring has introduced AroMat, the first scented rubber floor mats for trucks. This scented rubber formula allows the mat to be cleaned without loss of the scent for up to a year. "New Car Scent" and "Pina Colada" are the...

Electrical contact cleaner. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A+ is a fast-acting solvent that rinses away dirt, grease, grime and hard oxidation from switches, relays, variable resistors and open-field contactors. It is an odorless, nontoxic, non-conductive fluid having no flash or fire point and is free...

Digital thermometer accessory. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Cooper Instruments has a new accessory for its FW2000MK digital waterproof thermometer line. The new rubber boots slip easily over the thermometer to make the already durable unit virtually indestructible. The bright red color of the rubber...

Pressure washers. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Kleen Machines offers a full line of hot- and cold-water pressure washers and steam cleaners for a wide variety of applications. This included self-contained trailer-mounted units for job-site cleanups. Kleen Machines, Inc. CIRCLE NO....

Improved inspection tool. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Provision has expanded its line of optical-inspection tools with the introduction of the ProVision 300. It has a three-foot shaft and improved halogen illumination for inspecting impossible-to-reach places. It provides easy access into holes as...

Oil-spill absorbent. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Absorption Corp. has introduced Absorbent W, an environmentally friendly absorbent that consistently absorbs oils, gasoline, fuel oil and all other petroleum-based fluids from aqueous liquids. Its effectiveness is due to the absorption of the...

Odorless adhesive system. (Tools & Service Equipment Roundup).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A new Plus range of popular epoxy acrylate anchoring systems from Powers Fasteners feature faster curing times and higher load capacities while maintaining the conveniences of a cartridge-dispensed system. The adhesive can be dispensed with a...

Plugging along: BNL program forges ahead despite continuing funding woes.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... It has been a terrific year for the oil heat industry and somewhat of a second renaissance for oil heat research. This Dept. of Energy program continues at a funding level of $500,000 during Fiscal Year 2002. (The federal government's fiscal...

An interview with Timothy R. Reed.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... ECR INTERNATIONAL'S PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT HYDRONICS AND THE HEATING MARKETPLACE. ECR International is one of the largest heating-and-cooling manufacturers in the country, having made several acquisitions in the decade of some well-known...

Maintaining proper humidity: avoiding a callback worth 10 minutes of your time.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Spending as little as 10 minutes discussing proper humidifier operation and troubleshooting tips with the homeowner at the time of installation could eliminate future callbacks. Some simple strategies can be covered to keep homeowners happily...

David Schildwachter. (Strictly Personal).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... David Schildwachter, Fred M. Schildwachter & Sons, Bronx, N.Y., is the new Southern regional vice president for the Empire State Petroleum Assn. He had been ESPA Heating Oil Committee chairman since 1990, and is past chairman of the ESPA...

Charles E. Bartram. (Strictly Personal).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Charles E. "Skip" Bartram, former president of the National Assn. of Oil Heating Service Managers and chairman of its Convention Committee, passed away this past winter at his home in Sunset Beach, N.C. Bartram, who had been a member of the...

John L. McDowell III. (Strictly Personal).(McDowell Oil Service)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
May 1, 2002... John L. McDowell III, owner of McDowell Oil Service in Bloomsburg, Pa., and former president of the Pennsylvania Petroleum Marketers & C-Store Assn., passed away recently. McDowell had served on the PPMCSA board of directors for nine years, and...

Gene Tompkins. (Strictly Personal).(Webster Engineering & Mfg. Co.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Gene Tompkins has joined Webster Engineering & Mfg. Co. as director of engineering. He has been involved in the boiler and burner industry since 1975 and has authored several technical articles on boilers, burners, and emissions.

Craig Butler. (Strictly Personal).(R.W. Beckett Corp. )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Craig Butler has joined R.W. Beckett Corp. as a sales engineer. He will cover eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. He was formerly with R.E. Michel Co. as a sales representative in central Pennsylvania.

Michael Lehman, Robert Hood. (Strictly Personal).(Bard Manufacturing Co.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Michael Lehman has assumed the position of president of Bard Manufacturing Co. He moves up from vice president of sales and marketing for the company. Robert Hood, current vice president of manufacturing, becomes COO. Richard and Jim Bard will...

Michael L. Cecere, James A. Deleo, Howard D. Karp. (Strictly Personal).(Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Michael L. Cecere, James A. DeLeo and Howard D. Karp have been elected partners at Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP, Certified Public Accountants, the leading accounting firm serving the oil heating industry.

Darryl Deangelis. (Strictly Personal).(SpacePak and Koldwave)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Darryl DeAngelis has been named national sales manager for SpacePak and Koldwave products at Mestek, Inc. He has more than 16 years experience in the HVAC industry, and was formerly senior HVAC engineer at Electric Boat Corp.

Jim Herdeman. (Strictly Personal).(Watts Industries)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Jim Herdeman has been named vice president of marketing for Watts Industries North American operations. Herdeman was formerly with Invensys, where he worked for more than 20 years at positions throughout the world.

Lea Gaskill. (Strictly Personal).(Oil Heat Institute of Washington)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Lea Gaskill is the new managing director of the Oil Heat Institute of Washington. She was formerly with Grundfos Pumps Corp. and has a solid and varied background in marketing and management. Retiring managing director, Glenda Thomas, will...

John B. Dodge, Albert Morrison IIIm Donald E. Sweigart. (Strictly Personal).(Burnham Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... John B. Dodge, chairman of the board for Burnham Corp. for the past 13 years, is retiring after 30 years of service to the company. Albert Morrison III, president and CEO of Burnham, was elected to succeed Dodge. He will continue to also serve...

Angelo Catania. (Strictly Personal).(Petroleum Heat & Power Co.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Angelo Catania has been named president of the Petroleum Heat & Power Co. division of Star Gas Partners, L.P. He was formerly vice president and general manager of the Mid-Atlantic region, and succeeds Bill Powers as president. Powers is taking...

John Wyatt, Joel Usery ,Bret Thompson. (Strictly Personal).(Lochinvar Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Lochinvar Corp. has appointed three new vice presidents. John Wyatt is the new vice president of information technology, and is responsible for managing all information technology functions, including networks, system integration, programming,...

Curing estate-tax disease. (Tax).(what to do)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A dreaded disease is spreading like wildfire successful business owners then ravages some or all of the kids and eventually hurts the grandkids. Known by various names, the most common name is "estate tax-itus." The key question is: Is...

Help for the helpers. (Service).(National Association of Oil Heating Service Managers to host trade show)(Brief Article)(Column)
May 1, 2002... In my last few reports, I talked about the advancements being made in our industry. I spoke about filtration, firing rates, new tools being invented to assist us, all designed to do a better job of keeping our customers comfortable. As I have...