Leak detection systems for petrol stations - ErpecNews

UPP was the future. Apart from the fact that
PetroTechnik bought Cookson & Zinn in 1999,
the rest as they say is history.
EN: Describe your toughest career moment?
JB: With three children at public school and an
MD’s job at CZ, I opted for the very speculative
option of building a business with PetroTechnik,
based on the potential of a non metallic product
that was not yet known outside Scandinavia.
Needless to say, my wife Vanessa had to be very
supportive, which indeed she was throughout the
early days. A hard decision though all the same.
Jan Ageheim too was extremely supportive – the
sort of friend one would “die for” if need be.
EN: What has been UPP’s biggest achievement
in it’s 27 year history.
JB: Having never lost a drop of customer product
through the high quality nature of our system and
becoming the number one pipework producer
in the world!
EN: PetroTechnik are operational in 150 countries
currently, but which part of the world has
been the most challenging to work in and do
you still enjoy all the travelling?
JB: I have never been to a country yet where
I feel that I do not want to do business, not
wishing to underestimate the difficulties which
often present themselves. Trying to understand
varying legislations and agreements in standards
and the committees through which they operate,
has always been a complex process, but one
which must be overcome if we are to succeed.
The travelling is still something I look forward
to in many cases and I particularly value the
time I spent in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil,
India, China and the US.
EN: Are there any developments in PetroTechnik
you are able to talk about which represent new
opportunities for you?
JB: Opening three new manufacturing locations
in 12 months, which is something we are currently
in the process of doing! Also, we are working
on some ground breaking product development
surrounding pipework manufacturing, which
is very much a departure from what currently
exists. But enough said about this for now.
EN: Do you have any personal ambitions outside
of work and if so what are they?
JB: Spending time with my grandchildren, fishing,
boating, supporting Ipswich Town Football
Club, following English rugby and generally
trying to make up for the lost time spent at the
office, when I should have doing things with
my own children. Visiting India and China
as a tourist is also high on my agenda when I
get a chance.
EN: Describe your music tastes and name a few
bands that you still listen to even though they
may have passed their sell by date?
JB: I have over 180 different artists on my iPod,
25 percent of which are French artists playing
music that you will probably not relate to. I call
it French thinking man’s music. I went to see
the Eagles in concert two weeks ago and they
were incredible. Generally I love music and
whilst we are on the subject, if anyone has a
copy of the Queen video of Brian May playing
the National Anthem on top of Buckingham
Palace, please contact me as I have never seen
it and I would very much like to.
EN: What stands UPP apart from other products
in the marketplace?
JB: The people behind the product, meaning
service, customer care and being there when
the client needs us.
EN: What is the secret of your success
JB: Single mindedness and remaining focused.
Thank you John. Hopefully we will see
you at erpec next March, in Italy.
A bit more about PetroTechnik
With offices in seven countries, over 100
worldwide distributors and 4 000 accredited
installers, PetroTechnik is certainly well positioned
to supply it’s products to the far corners
of the world, but during a walk around the
offices, workshops, labs and the warehouse
Lab work tests fuels against pipes one last check and this kit will be on it’s way Centre aisle of the packed warehouse at ipswich HQ pipes for a variety of applications
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THE BIG INTERvIEW
of PetroTechnik HQ, with Sales & Marketing
Director, Stephen Maley, he feels there is a
misconception in the marketplace that Petro-
Technik does not manufacture anything.
Stephen says: “PetroTechnik is a hybrid OEM
supplier and we own most of the tools needed
for the manufacture of the UPP system. This
represents a capital investment in excess of
US $ 2 000 000. In addition, all the components
in the UPP system are designed and tested by
PetroTechnik, to provide an integrated specialist
fuel system, with a life exceeding 30 years and
don’t forget, PetroTechnik focuses exclusively
on petroleum products. PetroTechnik utilises
manufacturing partners to provide consistently
high quality components and we control the
supply of key raw materials to our various
manufacturing plants, to ensure continuous
compliance and quality of supply.”
In the labs it was interesting to see how the
UPP pipework is strength tested against
various fuels, through on-going experiments
which Stephen says are vital in order to
maintain a high degree of quality. For me,
someone who knows next to nothing about
pipework, it was interesting to see how the
computerised electrofusion system works to
create a seamless leak tight assembly between
the pipe fittings and the sumps. Also, I found
the CAD and prototyping machine, allowing
the product development teams to design and
view solid models of parts and interface them
with other UPP or third party components,
fascinating.
Moving from the workshops into the warehouse
you begin to understand the scale
of PetroTechnik’s operation, with an array
products stacked up and down this extremely
large building. Outside it is like some sort
of theme park with vast amounts of piping,
colour coded to indicate varying shapes sizes,
being sourced by operatives loading up one
of the many trucks which leave this yard on
a daily basis, bound for some far off part of
the world. I wonder where? NN
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