http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk//launch.aspx?eid=d08d2d26-2520-413e-a116-e87b9671d5eb - check it out! Go to page 39 and see what was said

1. TB Tanks: Fuel tanks and fuel security
Recently FACTS Magazine had the chance to chat with Jacquie Holt of TB Tanks about the business of fitting and installing
commercial fuel tanks. Although we haven’t heard much recently about the upwardly spiralling cost of fuel, and the UK
government has wisely decided not to keep on raising taxes, to allow the hard-pressed road transport industry to regain its
strength and protect its profitability, fuel is still by far the largest operational cost for most transport companies, large and small.
Controlling, managing and securing the fuel supply is a vital part of almost every operator’s management strategy, and TB
Tanks is a key player in this area.
FACTS: How long have TB Tanks been delivering commercial fuel tanks, and who are some of your larger customers?
JH: TB Tanks have been fabricating and supplying tanks since 1962, Our customers include Turners of Soham; Veolia
Environmental; Sainsburys; Jaguar/Landrover; Triumph Motorcycles; Balfour Beattie; National Express and many hundreds of
independent haulage and bus companies all up and down the country.
FACTS. Every medium to large transport company could benefit from having its own fuel tank, to take advantage of better fuel
pricing and for their own fuel security. How long does a metal above ground tank last on average and what kind of size are
they?
JH: With regular maintenance tanks will last between 30-40 years. Maintenance is key. Like anything, if a tank, which might be
anything from 500 to 150,000 litres, is left to rot, than that is exactly what it will do. It will take time of course, but eventually it
will become corroded, potentially impacting both fuel quality and security and potentially becoming a hazard. That’s why we
offer an annual service contract for all our installations, which includes the tank, pumps and other equipment. Breakdowns are
infrequent but are an absolute priority for us, as we are aware of the cost and inconvenience caused. We aim to attend within
24 hours; and where repairs are required, to get the system operational within three days. As part of this cover, we will always
check and advise on the tank itself and do anything that needs to be done to protect its integrity
FACTS: How much preparation work is required before an install?
JH: Most systems are ready to simply drop and go; all the ancillaries are housed in a secure cabinet and all that is required is a
level concrete base and an electrician to wire-in the system. We will also deliver and support all the ancillaries such as fuel
management and fuel security systems, and if these require a third party specialist then we supply that as part of our contract
and will have included it in our original quote for the job. With TB Tanks there are no hidden costs. One of the great things is
that recent technology advances means that most of these systems are now web based and so we, and the operator, can log
into sites remotely, and identify what’s happening if there is a problem. In fact, it’s not unusual for us to be replacing old
installations, installing new tanks with these new capabilities. TB Tanks have our own field engineers UK-wide and can
decommission both ASTs & USTs as well as oversee the install of the new units and all the ancillary systems.
FACTS: What are some of your more recent projects, and have there been any interesting or unusually challenging
installations?
JH: Every installation is bespoke and has its own challenges, but many of our jobs are footprint conscious and therefore require
a design that will minimise the utilisation of site space, which is always at a premium.. However, we recently supplied a system
to a customer which included three very large tanks with linking pipe-work. This was fabricated here in Haverhill and then was
dismantled and reassembled on the client’s site. A few years ago we delivered a tank to Portland in support of the 2012
Olympics; and we once installed a tank on a small island in a pond in a customer’s back garden. For us no job is too big or too
small, quite literally.
FACTS: Are there many customers with multiple TB Tanks installations and what makes TB Tanks a special company for them
to do business with?
JH: Many customers come to us every time for their tanks. For instance, over the last 12 years Veolia Environmental have
purchased tanks for all their sites. This includes tanks for Derv, gas oil, waste oil, engine oil, lube oil and hydraulic oil. We have
successfully won the contract year on year. We know every site and what their requirements are, what user problems they
encounter. In a nutshell, our customers stay with us because ‘we care’. Everyone here takes pride in what they do and we work
together to ensure both the products we supply and the service we provide exceed customers’ expectations. We are one of the
only companies in this sector which employs field engineers directly, and we do that so that we are not reliant on
subcontracting our works or responsibilities to third parties. People buy from people and we are committed as a team to getting
it right first time, with regard to design, delivery, functionality and service.