OPW Fueling Components EMEA has signed a new global licensing agreement with Petroman in which OPW will produce and market all components of the Total Vapour Solution (TVS) vapour-recovery system under the OPW brand.

The TVS recovers lost petroleum vapours for conversion back into sellable fuel to increase fuels margins and helps forecourt operators to achieve a financial return from Stage I and Stage II vapour recovery.

OPW and UK-based Petroman began collaboration in July 2008 and jointly developed the TVS. Carman Kobza, OPW managing director of EMEA, said: “Based on market feedback, this new licensing agreement creates opportunities for us to design different packages for the TVS based on market requirements and customers requests.

“Each TVS component can be combined independently into a unique TVS solution that best suits the individual needs of each customer, in terms of both forecourt profitability and environmental safety. It also gives us the ability to cover a much broader market, including those that require different price points and options.”

The TVS was introduced to fueling markets in early 2009. Among its awards are a Green Directory listing at Automechanika in 2010, where more than 25,000 products were on display, as well as an Innovation Prize the same year at the Federation Francaise des Combustiles, Carburants & Chauffage exhibition in Paris.

The initial success of the TVS has subsequently opened up the market to include smaller and mid-sized fueling sites around the globe, including markets that do not require Stage I or II vapour-recovery systems.

The TVS consists of four main components: OPW Vaporsaver Membrane Processing Unit, which converts vapour back into liquid and saleable product, allowing clean air to be released to the atmosphere; Accumulus Valve that reduces tank pressure during delivery by introducing the vapour back into the liquid flow; Softfill System that calms delivery to reduce turbulence-caused vapour generation in the tank, which occurs when the fuel is passed down the drop tube into the tank; and Vapour Management Panel to prevent vapour from travelling back into the tanker so it can be processed back into saleable fluid.

Fuel marketers can incorporate any of the four components, in any combination, into their fuelling operation depending on its needs. Whether using just one or all four components, the licensing agreement allows the retailer to say that it is using an OPW TVS vapour-recovery system.

Rodney Carter, managing director of Petroman, said: “We are pleased that this new agreement allows OPW to go to the next step and offer the market a tailormade, customisable vapour recovery solution for all sizes of retail stations. By customising this product, retailers will be able to increase profits while protecting the environment, no matter the size of the site.”

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