GripHero, the developer of a new fuel nozzle-mounted hand-protection dispenser that enables drivers to refill their vehicles without coming into contact with contaminants, has succeeded in developing the world’s first anti-static, recyclable hand-protection for forecourt use, which will be available on forecourts from August 2018.

The dispenser, which has already secured interest from over 6,000 forecourts across Europe, succeeded in complying with the ATEX equipment directive 2014/34/EU in June, covering equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. In passing the extensive ATEX tests, GripHero becomes the only hand-protection dispenser that has been approved for use in the forecourt refuelling zone.

Interest in GripHero has been growing following research which revealed that almost three quarters of drivers would make larger grocery purchases at the forecourt, if they knew they could keep their hands clean after filling up.

Oli Yeo who designed GripHero, says given that the average fuel pump nozzle is 11,000 times dirtier than the typical toilet seat, and four out of five people struggle to find disposable hand-protection on the forecourt, GripHero provides a simple solution to this issue, which makes sound business sense for forecourt owners, by keeping customers’ hands clean every time they use the pump.

“GripHero has been created to put the health and wellbeing of the customer at the heart of the forecourt, both in the prevention of biological and chemical contamination from the nozzle, and the prevention of potential ignition caused by static from standard gloves in the refueling zone.

“Our research shows that 76% of drivers would be more likely to use a forecourt with hand-protection on every nozzle handle than a nearby forecourt without this service. We can only guess what this figure might be if the public realised that their forecourt of choice had hand-protection that eliminated the potential for ignition at the fuel pump caused by static discharge.”

GripHero will be rolling-out their nozzle mounted dispensers on forecourts across the UK from August. Yeo says GripHero dispenses only one item of recyclable hand-protection at a time, avoiding unnecessary waste.

Forecourts interested in GripHero can find out more by visiting www.griphero.com or calling 01837 811035.

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