With 2023 approaching, let’s take a look back at some petroleum highlights from this past year. Northwest Pump attended a variety of trade shows and events, added a new vendor, and celebrated a number of well-deserved promotions and retirements.
Retirement and Promotions
Jeff Kelly
After 35 years of being with NWP, Bill Mathews will be retiring at the end of this year. Bill is the Petroleum Sales Manager for our Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Boise, ID branches. We thank Bill for all of his efforts and commitment to those he has worked with.
We are excited to announce that Jeff Kelly, who has been with NWP in Outside Petroleum Sales for 25 years with NWP will be taking Bill’s position. We fully trust Jeff will bring some exciting new ideas and continued commitment to his new position starting January 1st.
Scott Tracy
We would also like to announce that Scott Tracy has been promoted to the position of Vice President- Petroleum Corporate Sales Manager. Since joining Northwest Pump in August of 2000, Scott Tracy has been an integral part of NWP’s growth. Scott has worked hard in building a fantastic team of sales and operations in California. When Scott joined NWP, we only had one California office in San Diego. He has helped build a fantastic team of committed people in Anaheim, Glendale, Sacramento, Fremont, Fresno, and most recently, Valencia. Congratulations, Scott! We look forward to having him as the head of our Petroleum Division.
New Vendor Addition
This year, we added Red E as a new vendor. We made sure to create an EV team that’s been focusing on learning and understanding the new marketplace so we can attend to every customer’s needs. Northwest Pump is really excited about the electric charging initiative and look forward to the coming 2023 year.
About Red E
Red E is an EV charging network designed to make charging easy and available when you need it, where you need it. Red E was designed specifically around the needs of the fueling industry and municipalities. The Red E network delivers fast, convenient electric vehicle charging- right off the highway and in the heart of your favorite cities.
Chevron Tank Install
These 12,000-gallon and 14,000-gallon tanks were installed for a customer in Richmond, CA. These Xerxes underground tanks are an excellent solution because they are corrosion-resistant, both inside and out. To meet the needs of our customers, Xerxes offers several fiberglass tank options for a variety of applications and requirements.
At Northwest Pump, we highly encourage anyone who needs a tank to plan ahead so there is no disappointment when it is time to install your tank.
New Features For The Encore 700 S
In September 2022, Gilbarco-Veeder Root announced the release of two new premium features for the Encore 700 Series: 6-Grade Select option and the 15.6′ touchscreen. These features are designed to provide convenience store operators with enhanced flexibility and an improved customer experience.
The 6-Grade Select empowers retailers to leverage those trends by enhancing their own blending strategies. The 6-Grade Select allows retailers to blend any two of four inlets, with up to four hoses and six fuel grades at the same fueling position- allowing the most fuel flexibility possible.
The other new feature- is a 15.6′ touchscreen that provides a next-generation user interface, which maintains the familiar Encore experience that most fuel consumers know and regularly use. The touchscreen interface eliminates the need for softkeys, creating a modern feel that younger consumers expect.
Trade-Shows & Events
PFCS
Our California Sales Team attended the Pacific Fuels & Convenience Summit in San Diego. The event was a huge success, with several good customers in attendance. Thanks to our booth crew, led by John Lees, and our sales roadies. And another thank you to our out-of-town visitors, Bob Mathews, Mike Meyer, Jim Moran, Katie Hughes, and Ruthie Carlo.
APMA
We had the pleasure again of being one of the major sponsors at the annual APMA Scholarship Fund golf tournament. This is the major fundraising event for the scholarship fund and all those that participated seemed to have a great time. Over $80,000 was raised to go to the scholarship fund. Last year, APMA gave out twelve scholarships. Northwest Pump sponsored the “take a shot” hole this year. Players could shoot their ball with an air cannon to the green. It was a great time for all for a very good cause.
Hawaii Trade Show
In May, we finally held our long-awaited Hawaii Tradeshow and Customer Appreciation after having to postpone our event a number of times. It was nice to gather with customers and vendors. We have already received positive feedback from customers! Some customers, who were unable to attend because of conflicting engagements (like high school graduations), heard about our reception from others and have already asked when we plan to have another one.
This year, to supplement our tradeshow, we wanted to show our aloha to the vendors and sales representatives by hosting a traditional backyard barbeque (Hawaiian pa’ina). We were able to stake out a great spot at the local beach park next to the hotel. Overall, everyone had a great time networking and gathering information on products from our many supportive vendors.
Looking Ahead To 2023
We appreciate the support we have received from our customers, vendors, and employees over the past year. We are excited about 2023 and wish you all the best as we enter into the new year! In the meantime, if you need to contact us, email us at sales@nwpump.com, call us at 1-800-452-PUMP, or find your nearest location here.
Red E is an EV charging network designed to make charging easy and available when you need it, where you need it. Red E offers a full line of both L2 and DCFC products to meet the needs of any project, big or small. With chargers ranging in speed from 10-400kW, Red E has systems in every style and configuration available to ensure you have the best equipment for your application.
Types of Chargers
Level 2 Chargers:
Whether for your home, workplace, or retail location, Red E has the right EV chargers to get you back on the road.
RED E WAKLLBOX HOME, RED E JUICEBOX HOME, RED E JUICEBOX PRO 40A, RED E WALLBOX PRO48, RED E WALLBOX PEDESTAL
DC Fast Chargers:
From 40-480kW Red E offers every configuration of DC Fast Charger available at best-in-class pricing and minimal lead times.
Easy to use – Charging should be easy. Anyone can use any Red E site by simply just scanning the QR code or swiping a card.
Easy to find– Available on all apps, maps, and in car navigations, you can easily find a Red E station near you.
Conveniently located – Red E works with partners nationwide to select sites where you need them. Whether next to your favorite restaurants downtown or right off the highway on your road trip, they prioritize quality locations over quantity.
Straightforward pricing – No hidden costs, no complicated time based fees, all chargers are set to competitive, straight forward $/kWh pricing so you can predict your charge.
24/7 driver support – They have a team of experts that are on call day and night to help get you back on the road.
With sales support, Red E doesn’t just sell chargers, they offer solutions to ensure every project is a successful one. They have developed a system to quickly and efficiently turn a lead into a sold completed job.
Next Steps
Join the Red E network and bring fast and reliable EV charging to your business or community members. Reach out to our sales team sales@nwpump.com for more details, call 1-800-452-PUMP or find your nearest location here.
In recent months, gas prices in the U.S. have surged to record highs, causing more people to attempt to steal fuel. Thieves are getting more and more bold, sophisticated, and aggressive. Therefore, we are encouraging our customers to develop a security plan to help prevent fraud. No single solution will completely prevent attacks, but careful procedures can significantly reduce the opportunity.
According to motorbiscuit.com, “Mostly, gas thieves were able, on occasion, to steal around $50-60 worth of fuel. But as the price of gasoline and diesel fuel have risen in such huge leaps, it is becoming a more desirable commodity. That means there is a vast market for it, regardless of how it was obtained. The majority of convenience stores that sell fuel; Shell, Exxon, Mobil, and Chevron have the most stations in the U.S. In most cases, cashiers or store employees are involved in the theft.” Taylor, T. “Thieves Are Stealing Thousands of Gallons of Gas: Here’s How They Do It”, April 11, 2022, accessed September 1, 2022, Thieves Are Stealing Thousands of Gallons of Gas: Here’s How They Do It (motorbiscuit.com)
How to Prevent Fuel Theft
Encore 700 Pulser security cover kit protects against gas theft at the pump. The Encore 700 Pulser Security kits include:
2ea covers
8ea star drive with pin security pan head self-driving screws
One kit is needed per dispenser
This should be a good solution for the pulser tampering that has been happening.
Next Steps
Do you want to stop fuel tank theft from your dispensers? Northwest Pump has the solution to get you covered. Protect your dispenser by purchasing one today so your dispenser can’t be broken into! Reach out to our sales team by emailing us at sales@nwpump.com, or call 1-800-452-PUMP to get started.
FuelCloud is a fuel technology company that builds fuel management systems designed for the future of business. The platform combines flexible, lightweight hardware with powerful cloud-based software that gives managers the data they need to make better decisions about their fuel. FuelCloud is a great option for winemakers looking to save their fuel.
How does FuelCloud benefit winemakers?
Automates tax refunds: FuelCloud automates the completion of federal and state fuel tax refunds for off-road fuel use. California’s state fuel taxes are among the highest in the US — wineries could be recouping thousands of dollars if they’re not already filing tax refunds, or taking the pain out of completing the refunds they do every year.
Decrease fuel slippage: FuelCloud’s hardware is easy to install on any tank, so fuel managers can protect their most remote tanks from theft and detect leaks or inventory discrepancies faster.
Easily manage seasonal fuel access: Do more drivers need fuel access for just a few weeks during harvest? Add, edit, or remove fuel access for drivers and vehicles with a few clicks on FuelCloud’s web portal, available on any internet-connected device. You can even activate or deactivate tanks on a month-by-month basis to get FMS when you need it.
Are you ready for the future of fuel management with FuelCloud?
Next Steps
If you are looking for a fuel management system to save fuel for your winery, reach out to our sales team here, email us at sales@nwpump.com or call 1-800-452-PUMP to get started.
FlexWorks, by OPW Retail Fueling, is a completely integrated underground fuel transfer and containment system. Designed to provide the highest level of dispensing performance, installation efficiency, and containment protection. OPW FlexWorks piping consists of highly engineered components that are designed to operate in unison to ensure long-term system integrity and performance. FlexWorks offers a high degree of flexibility to meet virtually any underground piping requirement.
OPW developed FlexWorks Piping in response to customer feedback. You asked and they delivered! The OPW FlexWorks piping is more flexible, lighter, and has reduced memory. Additionally, it can also be replaced without breaking concrete.
What Makes This Pipe Different?
Eliminates the hassles- installation time and potential leak points of rigid pipe installations.
Fast and easy installation- results in less installation labor, time, and cost.
No adhesives- heat assists, curing problems, or electrofusion welding of joints.
Easy to bend- no special fittings to install in order to make bends.
Eliminates burdensome cutting, fitting, and cleaning.
Features & Benefits
Increased Pipe Flexibility – the force required to bend the pipe has been reduced to facilitate piping layout. This makes installation quicker and easier, especially in cold weather.
Pipe Weight – has been reduced to facilitate shipping and handling.
Pipe Memory – inherent pipe memory has been reduced significantly to facilitate the connection of pipes inside sumps.
Enhanced Kynar Pipe Liner – fluoropolymer chemical structure makes it dense and permeation resistant.
Next steps
If you are interested in OPW’s FlexWork piping, contact us by emailing sales@nwpump.com or calling us at 1-800-452-PUMP. Click here to find a local branch near you!
Industries across the globe are struggling to overcome a backlog caused by lost time, a shortage of materials, and severe weather-related impacts and the fuel industry is no exception. While fueling businesses are eager to proceed with plans to build new gas stations or upgrade existing ones, it may be a while until they see their plans come to fruition.
Major equipment with the longest lead times is fiberglass piping and fiberglass tanks. There are many manufacturers that make tanks for stock and only to order. The result of these activities is creating longer lead times at the manufacturers, some of which are extending out to 18-24 weeks from date to order. Compared to the late 2020-early 2021, it only took 8-10 weeks for fiberglass tanks to arrive.
How did we get here?
During the beginning of the pandemic, the surge in purchases of plastic products, when manufacturers anticipated less of a demand.
Overwhelming shipping volumes domestically and internationally, resulting in port bottlenecks.
There was a nationwide shortage of resin, which is used in fiberglass fittings, piping, tanks, and glues.
Shortage of drivers, port labor, and manufacturing employees.
Plastic manufacturing plants now perform required 2020 preventative maintenance shutdowns, called “turnarounds,” which are taking around 60 days.
Xerxes by Shawcor has the ideal solution for your underground fuel tank needs. Xerxes tanks are rust-proof, made out of fiberglass, and have a cost-effective alternative to steel tanks. Xerxes provides a complete solution for your project’s storage tank needs with a wide range of sizes and accessories. They have an extensive network of equipment distributors and knowledgeable fuel-system installers throughout North America.
Tank owners and system designers of underground fuel systems need tanks that provide secure storage of fuel over time. Xerxes has double-wall tanks that are an excellent solution because they are corrosion-resistant, both inside and out. The underground tanks have a proven record of compatibility with traditional petroleum fuel as well as with new biofuels, which are increasing in use.
These Xerxes tanks are popular among retail gasoline marketers and convenience-store owners. The ability to store two or three types of fuel in a single tank is appealing when an available property is limited and the amount of onsite space needed for multiple tanks is difficult to obtain.
Why Choose A Xerxes Tank?
Fuel compatibility– Tanks are UL-listed for all ethanol-blended fuels, including E10 and E85, and are fully compatible with new diesel blends, including ultra-low sulfur diesel and biodiesel blends.
Maintenance-Free– The tanks do not require frequent inspection for and removal of tank water bottoms, which is a time-consuming and expensive maintenance step that is strongly recommended by the steel tank industry for its products.
30-Year warranty– While the warranty duration for many other storage tanks has been dramatically reduced in recent years, Xerxes continues to provide a 30-year limited warranty, backed by the financial strength of North America’s leading storage tank manufacturer.
Parabeam– Xerxes’s proprietary 3D glass fabric, Parabeam, also enhances the overall structural integrity of the tanks by creating a bond between the tank walls while providing a free-flowing interstitial space for monitoring capabilities.
Next Steps
At Northwest Pump, we highly encourage anyone who needs a tank to plan ahead so there is no disappointment when it is time to install your tank. If you’re upgrading your tanks or purchasing new ones, we can help determine what you need. We offer a complete line of fuel storage tanks in underground and above-ground models.
Plan ahead, and order your tanks now! Contact us at sales@nwpump.com or call 1-800-452-PUMP.
