Pricewatch Group general manager Tom Buckley knew it was time for new pumps at the company’s Bexhill Gulf/Morrisons Daily site when the breakdowns were becoming more frequent. And it wasn’t just the breakdowns which were causing the business issues.
“Parts were harder to source so downtime was increased. Maintenance contract costs were, as a result, exponentially increasing year on year. The pumps looked tatty and old and, most annoyingly for me, they were slow. There is a lot of competition in and around Bexhill so having old, unreliable pumps doesn’t instil confidence in the end user.”
Buckley says according to the date stamp on the pumps themselves they were installed or manufactured in 1997.
Pricewatch recently sold five of its 10 sites and Bexhill is one of the five sites it kept hold of. Buckley says it is the fourth forecourt that the group has repumped with Mepsan.
He says: “I really like the product and the people behind it, having recently been on a trip to Turkey with Eurotank to visit the Mepsan factory. You really see what a big and detailed operation they run; everything is in house from R&I to the final build. They make almost everything related to the PFS industry, although not all of it is available in the UK yet.
“Obviously, like most things, choosing pumps comes down to price and Mepsan are very competitive, however, they also look great, dispensing is fast and they have, on the whole, been very reliable.” Another major factor in Buckley’s choice was the pumps five-year warranty which means the overall cost of ownership/maintenance is reduced.
Buckley adds that the group also has a good relationship with Eurotank which maintains all its forecourts. The company has done both big and small projects for Pricewatch Group and, most recently, installed jet washes, so the “all in one house” element of the Eurotank group of companies played a part too.
Eurotank installed three Mepsan Smartline LX242 four-hose dispensers plus a Mepsan Cosmic two-hose HGV pump at the Bexhill site.
The company closed the Bexhill site in two halves so it always had fuel flowing: “There was a slight reduction in volume as you would expect (around 30%), but no major issues. There were a few bumps along the way with electrics and epos integration but nothing that Eurotank couldn’t resolve.”
The pumps have not had the Gulf branding applied yet but Buckley says even without this there is no way that customers can mistake them for the old pumps. “Customers have welcomed them. They are much cleaner, more modern and much faster than the previous ones. We get a lot of workmen coming in to fill up their vans and the increased speed of the diesel pumps is really appreciated by them.”
Buckley’s advice for anyone thinking about a repump is to look at the overall cost and especially any additional warranty as that can represent a big saving.
Aftersales and support
Edward Wheeler, group managing director of Eurotank Service Group, says: “When retailers are making an investment decision, the major factor is after-sales and support. Does the customer trust that the supplier will support their business?
“Mepsan has a product range that is price-competitive, and their parts cost significantly less than the other OEMs.
“The aftersales market is a big challenge for the industry. Lead times are also a big challenge. With Mepsan we have a direct connection to the factory and spares are priced as they should be without crazy mark ups.
“Mepsan is very committed to the UK and are giving us really competitive prices where we can offer our customers the lowest total costs around, combined with installation and aftersales service. Customers who have purchased Mepsan pumps have come back for more so sales will grow steadily and Mepsan will eventually become one of the established brands in the UK.”
Exceptional reliability
DFS says its Tokheim and Wayne fuel dispensers are its best-selling fuel dispensers in the UK.
David McHale, DFS regional sales manager, says Tokheim is popular because the dispenser range is engineered with field-proven global components and corrosion resistant materials to offer retailers “exceptional reliability, enhanced modularity, advanced hydraulics and minimal meter drift”. Meanwhile, Wayne is popular as the dispenser range is packed with leading technology to provide “unparalleled performance”, while keeping the forecourt connected.
“These dispenser ranges come with an extended range of options to meet specific requirements, in fact, there are more than 10,000 possible configurations, which means fuel retailers can create a dispenser that fits their specific wants, needs and forecourt layout.
“Engineered with an intelligent modular design and packed with industry leading component technology, the Tokheim and Wayne dispenser ranges have superior nozzle availability and embody future-proof engineering with retrofit modularity, enabling retailers to build a perfect model for their forecourt, now and in the future.
“The entire range is also completely customisable in terms of branding, with the same trusted corrosion protection on each part, through our in-house paint and print technology.”
Troubleshooting
Reliability is paramount when it comes to pumps on a busy forecourt and DFS’s McHale says remote diagnostics and management (RDM) is a solution that monitors and enables troubleshooting of pumps remotely, using internet connectivity and specialist software.
“RDM provides fuel retailers with the ability to drive operational efficiencies by enabling real-time monitoring of equipment and reducing costs through its maintenance features.
“This solution also allows retailers the chance to enhance customer service and satisfaction on the forecourt, as RDM facilitates a rapid response to specific needs or issues related to forecourt equipment.
“The RDM solution by DFS is an optional additional dispenser module allowing retailers to collect data and perform remote monitoring, management, diagnostics and troubleshooting through DX Monitor, across an entire forecourt.”
Cutting edge tech
Tokheim and Wayne pump supplier and installer TSG says the latest pumps represent cutting edge technological advancements, providing fuel retailers with dependable performance and minimal total cost of ownership.
“Total cost of ownership (TCO) refers to the comprehensive cost of an asset over its entire lifespan.
Chery Ashton, marketing co-ordinator at TSG, explains: “TCO is a critical metric for making informed purchasing decisions because it provides a complete picture of the long-term financial implications. By considering TCO, buyers can evaluate the true cost-effectiveness of premium options, which may have higher upfront costs but lower operational and maintenance expenses compared to seemingly cheaper alternatives that might incur higher costs over time,” says Ashton.
All TSG dispensers come with the DFS piston meter, which has been crafted to ensure precision and durability, delivering consistent and accurate performance across various fuel types, even under the most demanding conditions. This feature is included as standard, helping to prevent over-dispensing.
Tokheim’s Quantium ML dispenser can handle up to five fuel grades per side and offers a variety of options to meet specific operational requirements. With three hose management systems, including the extended hose retraction (EHR) option, it is said to provide optimal traffic flow on busy forecourts.
TSG continues to strengthen its partnership with Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS) as the sole distributor of Wayne Fueling Systems products in the UK. TSG says the Helix 6000 II and Century 3 models have been instrumental in boosting sales and customer satisfaction.
Derived from the popular Helix 6000, the Helix 6000 II features advanced technology and cutting-edge components. This model is said to revolutionise connectivity by seamlessly linking to the cloud and the DFS DX-connected solutions platform for advanced monitoring and remote management. Configurable to dispense up to five fuel grades per side, Ashton says it offers exceptional meter accuracy and stability, reducing maintenance needs and ensuring a low TCO.
Ashton continues: “Retailers must make informed purchasing decisions to maximise revenue potential while maintaining a healthy cashflow. Selecting the right partner and equipment is crucial for operational success. Beyond the initial purchase price, retailers should consider factors such as meter accuracy, reliability, efficiency and the ability to meet customer demands. High quality equipment can lead to fewer breakdowns, reduced downtime and improved customer satisfaction.”
Adding AdBlue
More and more forecourts are having AdBlue pumps fitted and Eurotank says AdBlue pump and tank installations can be carried out relatively quickly and have a fast return on investment – on average around 12 months. However, it has seen customers get a return within four months on high diesel volume sites.
A kerbed island for your AdBlue tank and pump isn’t essential but it’s what Eurotank does to give the installation a more professional look. Jack Aplin, group sales director, says: “Not all companies put in an island, but we do because it looks better and gives that added protection by raising the pump and tank off the forecourt and preventing damage from car tyres.”
A quote from Eurotank will include a GreenChem tank, Mepsan dispenser with one or two hoses, civil works including concrete island, electrical connection, commissioning and DOMS connection.
Amar Tanna, who runs Stretton Service Station in Rugby, has sold AdBlue on the pump for both car and HGV customers for more than four years, and insists that all retailers should consider it.
“When retailers talk to me about repumps I rave about AdBlue and tell them to put it everywhere they can because for what it costs to install, the payback is fantastic.
“It’s such an easy thing to manage, too. We work with Greenchem and they monitor the tank remotely, come to fill it up when it’s low and issue an automatic invoice; I don’t do anything at all while it just generates income.”
