MechTronic News
Below you will find the latest news from MechTronic regarding our latest achievements and developments on our products and services for the road tanker market.
OptiMate does.
HMRC maintains a zero tolerance to contaminated fuel in the road fuel supply chain. If a detection occurs, HMRC state that this could be attributed to a line change that was actioned either at the delivery or immediately before. HMRC has documented its line change recommendations and suggests that drivers are educated to minimise line changes or routed in such a way as to reduce or avoid line change procedures whilst on the road.
In reality this isn't always possible, and drivers will need to complete a line change. OptiMate utilises an automatic process for performing Readmore
MechTronic's remote control is an industry first, providing the driver with the ultimate controlled fuel delivery process at the point of supply. The remote features six different levels of functionality which, can be tailored to suit your individual requirements:
- Monitor fuel delivery via litre counter repeater
- Slow fill option
- Blowdown
- Hose reel rewind
- Engine stop
For the ultimate controlled delivery process
Whether your driver is in the rural countryside or in the city, sometimes it can be difficult to manoeuvre the road tanker to a customer's storage unit. In these circumstances, the driver often has to walk back and forth to the tanker to make a Readmore
In the second of our series of articles that focuses on OptiMate, we highlight how this simple and cost-effective metering system delivers efficiency for your business whilst safeguarding your valuable fuel loads against costly contamination.
Delivers efficiency
OptiMate's unique electronic metering system provides improved efficiency and productivity on road tankers. The high-powered pump delivers repeatability with up to 1,100 litres per minute through the turbine meter.
This cost-effective solution enables drivers to perform a follow-on line change from the point of delivery. OptiMate will automatically empty the manifold before enacting a pre-determined line change quantity and thus the driver Readmore
In the first of our series of articles that focuses on OptiMate, we highlight why OptiMate is a must have for the fuel delivery supplier.
Simple, efficient and prevents contamination
- Its simple user interface is controlled by just three robust buttons.
- Valuable fuel loads are protected against contamination as when required, OptiMate will automatically empty the manifold and perform a pre-determined line change at the end of a delivery - delivering a cleaner and shorter line change procedure and without the need to return to the vehicle.
- Features a class-leading turbine meter that delivers on accuracy and repeatability to assist stock reconciliation.
Line changes Readmore
We highlight how MechTronic are delivering systems that can reduce the risk of contamination.
The fight against cross-contamination
Fuel contamination can occur from a variety of reasons, including the miscalculation of a manual line change, or through driver error because of a momentary lack of concentration or fatigue.
At MechTronic we understand that any contamination can be costly to your business. Our systems are designed to increase efficiency, save you money and reduce the threat of cross-contamination.
We are clear in how we prevent the risk of contamination; the table below provides an overview as to how contamination is avoided within our systems.
| Friday 21st December | 8.30-16.45 (open as normal) |
| Monday 24th December - Tuesday 1st January | Closed |
| Wednesday 2nd January | 8.30-16.45 (open as normal) |
Technical support over Christmas
Over Christmas we will be operating a limited technical support service.
Our engineers will be available for technical support over the phone on the 27th and 28th December only. Should a vehicle be off the road, our engineers will do their utmost Readmore
In May 2017, HMRC updated their guidelines regarding wet line changes as they seek to eliminate the £5million¹ that is lost each year in revenue through wet line contamination.
The industry code of practice was developed to provide guidance to fuel distributors on minimising the risk of cross-contamination when delivering mixed fuel loads.
HMRC state: "If procedures were properly adopted there would still be a possible co-mingling of oils due to manifold content, pump and meter turbulence. Industry estimate this could be between 5-25 litres if the product is changed, dependent on the metering system installed... To minimise the effect Readmore
Throughout the summer months, MechTronic's team of cyclists have notched up over 300 miles of competitive cycle rides. A highlight was the 114-mile White Rose Classic ride on the 25th June however, they are now about to tackle Revolve24, which is on another level!
MechTronic, along with fellow Flomax group company members IFC Inflow, Anglo Nordic and Hytek, will enter three mixed teams in the Revolve24 endurance race at Brands Hatch. The race will be held on the 16th-17th September and our colleagues are cycling to raise money for St Clare Hospice, a charity which specialises in end Readmore
An industry first, OptiMate features a new self-draining manifold which further enhances a cleaner line change and protects fuel oil distributors against contamination. When performing a line change, OptiMate automatically empties the manifold before introducing the next product. Our self-draining manifold ensures that the manifold is fully cleared every time, leaving the driver free to continue with their next delivery without the threat of a possible contamination.
Protecting fuel loads against contamination
OptiMate incorporates a class-leading turbine meter that delivers on accuracy and repeatability. With an innovative design, OptiMate uses soft logic to automatically empty the manifold, purge lines Readmore
On Monday 1st May, Ben, Brad and Chris embarked upon their first cycle challenge for 2017 - the 100km Maserati Tour de Yorkshire.
The ride covers 1,974 metres of climbing and includes several testing ascents and descents through stunning landscapes. Riders take on a tough uphill section, leading to the Emley Moor transmitting station (whose tower is the tallest freestanding structure in the UK), pass by the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and make a triumphant descent to the finish at Fox Valley.
The team enjoyed some lovely sunshine and finished the ride in just under 4 hours - all their training over the Readmore
Downstream editor Chris Parker spoke with MechTronic's Managing Director, Martyn Wilkie, about how fuel contamination is affecting the industry and what can be done to combat the issue.
The article featured in the May 2017 spring edition and below is an extract from the article.
How is MechTronic helping in the fight against contamination?
As a market leader, MechTronic has engineered innovative products that help fuel oil distributors to not only increase productivity, but avoid contaminating their fuel loads.
Over the past ten years, the introduction of MaxFlow, and more recently, OptiMate has revolutionised the industry in the fight against contamination. Readmore
MechTronic are delighted to be attending the FPS show, held at the Exhibition Centre, Liverpool on the 10th-11th May.
We will be bringing new and innovative products to the show and after the success of OptiMate at last year's show and now with over 70 systems sold, MechTronic will demonstrate how this advanced metering system is revolutionising the industry. OptiMate's automatic line change function increases productivity and safeguards against any costly contamination. Featuring a class-leading turbine meter, OptiMate is simple to use and controlled by just three buttons.
MechTronic's new pro-control remote and manifold design will also be demonstrated Readmore
Hall Bros (Fuels) Limited is a family run fuel oil and lubricants distributor based in Bridlington, East Yorkshire with a second depot near York. They have been in operation since 1973 and supply fuel oils and lubricants to domestic, agricultural and commercial customers across the East Riding and North Yorkshire.
In March 2017, Hall Bros invested in both MechTronic's OptiMate and VisiLevel to support their business in the fight against contamination. By combining an electronic metering system with a gauging system, Hall Bros can safeguard their fuel loads against contamination, track their onboard product throughout their delivery schedules and ensure Readmore
...Wilton Transport - Congratulations!
Gary Branch, General Manager at Wilton Transport said: "This is a truly versatile and flexible vehicle and I'm really happy that it's a winner.
"Based on my design, a lot of work went into this Mini-Tankers vehicle, with considerable input from Tasca Tankers and MechTronic."
The tanker has been specifically tailored to suit the demands of their commercial and industrial customers. It can be used together or separately, with the ability to leave the trailer to act as a fuel pod at a customer's site.
This prime mover carries some 19,000 litres whilst the trailer has a capacity of 16,000 Readmore
We are delighted that OptiMate and Oil4Wales feature in this month's FPS Downstream. For convenience, we have repeated the article here for you and the Oil4Wales case study that appeared alongside the article can be viewed here.
Simple, efficient and contamination free - OptiMate delivers every time!
MechTronic was established by industry experts in 2004, its key focus is to increase operational efficiencies for fuel oil distributors through simple, easy to use tanker based fuel delivery and control systems.
In April 2016, at the FPS Show, MechTronic launched OptiMate, a highly innovative and efficient fuel metering system. This engineering Readmore
An independent fuel supplier, Oil4Wales is widely known as the national oil brand for Wales and provides a much-needed range of services throughout the region.
Oil4Wales and MechTronic have formed a strong relationship since the installation of MaxFlow (an electronic metering system) in 2011, Colin Owens, Owner of Oil4Wales states: "As time goes on, technology changes and we have now purchased four new systems to update out fleet. We were introduced to OptiMate and we are all excited about what it can offer.
Colin continued: "The automatic processes that OptiMate offers is delivering cost savings across our Readmore
This year instead of sending Christmas cards, MechTronic have donated £150 to Candlelighters, a Leeds based charity that supports families facing children's cancer in Yorkshire.
Candlelighters is an excellent charity that brings families together and makes sure that each person gets the support they need, whether that's a funded holiday, or a cup of tea and a chat. Candlelighters also helps fund cancer research.
We would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and best wishes for Readmore
Euro Fuels is an independent, family-owned business that is centrally based in Essex, providing home heating oil and commercial fuel to their customers across Essex and Hertfordshire.
Increased reliability with MaxFlow
MaxFlow is an electronic fuel metering control system that has been the benchmark in optimising space on the modern chassis. An industry first, MaxFlow consolidates all controls into one single cabinet and is both compact and reliable.
Euro Fuels first purchased a MaxFlow system in 2011, Nick MacDermott, Owner at Euro Fuels said: "Over the past five years, we have found that the system is easy to operate and Readmore
At MechTronic we hosted our own coffee morning in aid of Macmillan on Wednesday 28th September.
The bunting was out as our colleagues (and their partners) accepted the challenge to bake some tasty buns! We have to admit, a few of us did cheat as we brought in our shop made cakes to avoid the inevitable soggy bottom!
Those that did bake were entered into The Great MechTronic Bake Off. The baking was judged on overall presentation and taste; it was a close contest but the banana and sultana cake by Ryan (or rather as Ryan freely admitted, his wife Emma) Readmore
Unfortunately, ten months of the year!
The volume of liquid fuel expands and contracts with changes in temperature. The process of fuel temperature compensation allows for a measured volume of fuel to be adjusted to the volume it would occupy if it were measured at 15°C. Selling temperature compensated fuel eliminates disparities caused by changes in volume due to temperature variations.
MechTronic's fuel temperature compensation equipment can be fitted to your existing system and will help reduce your stock losses. This is a simple retrofit and a very cost effective solution in reducing your stock overhead and could deliver an average Readmore
On the 14th August, our colleagues tackled the York 100, a cycling route which pushed them to the limit - we are so pleased for them as they completed this phenomenal challenge in just 5 hours, 34 minutes and 52 seconds!
The 100-mile route covered some beautiful countryside including the Vale of York and the Yorkshire Wolds, plus the magnificent Castle Howard and the Howardian Hills (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
Left to right: Phil, Brad, Chris and Ben
Putting in the miles
Throughout the year, the team have been building up to this challenge. As part of their training, the Readmore
In the second of our series of articles that focus on our service engineers: We meet Jason, who supports our customers in the Midlands.
Jason joined MechTronic in August 2012 and enjoys the satisfaction of a job well done, he said: "I love a challenge, every day is different and you never know what to expect. Some days, the hours are long due to the demands of breakdowns but I always aim to make repairs in good time and enjoy the satisfaction of getting it right first time plus it's always great to receive good feedback from the customer!"
What does Jason Readmore
In the third of our series of articles that focus on our service engineers: We meet Martin, who supports our customers in the South West Martin Adam joined MechTronic in October 2013 after leaving the RAF as an Armourer working on the Tornado aircraft's. Martin said: "A typical day for me starts between 5:30am and 6:30am, it depends on how far I am travelling. I really enjoy seeing the UK's beautiful countryside and that every day is different too, some days I will have multiple customer visits and other days I will spend a full day with a customer to resolve Readmore
The Red Bull Romaniacs, is the world's toughest Hard Enduro Rally and MechTronic's service engineer Gareth Leonard and his team, Two Wheel Engineering decided to take on this extreme challenge. Created in 2004, The Red Bull Romaniacs takes place every year and attracts riders from approximately 40 countries. The race is spread over five gruelling days (12-16th July) and leads competitors on some of the world's most beautiful Enduro trails in the region around Sibu, Romania (Southern Carpathian Mountains). Gareth is well-versed in off-road enduro races and upon his return to the UK, Gareth said: "The breath-taking wilderness, the Romanian hospitality and Readmore
We are delighted to announce that Ben Wilkie, Lee Craven and Tony Hoodless from our manufacturing team have recently passed their NVQ diplomas! MechTronic worked with Learning Innovation, who offer a range of work-based courses that develop key skills, knowledge and confidence. Ros Windsor was the team course administrator and provided a supportive and flexible approach to learning. Investing in the futures of our colleagues Each team member chose which diploma they wanted to undertake in order to suit both their own personal and business development needs. Ben studied Level 2, Team Leading and said: "The programme was designed to help develop my skills Readmore
MechTronic are recruiting a Service Engineer to support our customers in the north of England. Reporting to the Service Manager you will be providing a professional and prompt service to MechTronic's customers. Working in a complex engineering environment the Service Engineer will be responsible for: The position will involve travel across the north of England and salary is negotiable dependent upon experience. In order to be considered for this position, a proven background is essential however, full training will be provided. Benefits include a competitive Readmore
We have a team of regionally deployed service engineers who carry out infield service and repair work on your road tanker equipment. They are a dedicated bunch and we thought it was time to find out a little bit more about them and to see what is involved in a typical day. In the first of our series of articles: We meet Gareth, who provides support across Wales Gareth Leonard has been with MechTronic for over three years now, a keen rugby fan who for 15 years played semi-professional rugby at Bridgend RAF Combined Services and for Bedwas in the Welsh Premiership. As Readmore
We can bring you live demonstrations of OptiMate, VisiLevel and StockSmart, right on your doorstep! As you would expect from the UK's market leader, our product range is fully integrated and we are delighted to be able to demonstrate our offering in such a unique and hands-on manner. The integration of OptiMate, VisiLevel and StockSmart prevents cross-contamination, ensures high speed delivery, driver safety and delivers product security. OptiMate is revolutionary in this sector, with a simple interface that utilises just three robust buttons, fuel delivery suppliers can instantly see how this would benefit their Readmore
Oil flow meters are delicate instruments and HMRC state that: "equipment must be properly maintained and calibrated in order to meet at all times the specified minimum accuracy requirements for the type of measurement to which it is applied." It is a requirement that records should be kept of maintenance and calibration work and it is generally recommended (although not law) that all metering systems are calibrated on a yearly basis to ensure that accuracy continues to be delivered. Annual calibrations can avoid heavy stock losses for operators and with fluctuating oil prices, as little as a 1% loss of Readmore
On Saturday 18th June, our colleagues took on their second cycle challenge this year, the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride. This 70-mile charity bike ride is in aid of a number of charities including Epilepsy UK, Yorkshire Cancer Research and Heart Research UK amongst other local charities. The team set off from Wetherby as they cycled through some of Yorkshire's best countryside including the Howardian Hills and the Yorkshire Wolds, before heading to the coast and crossing the finishing line in Filey. Luckily the rain held off but a strong north-easterly headwind made some aspects of the ride quite challenging. Speaking to Brad Readmore
On Sunday 1st May, our colleagues were up bright and early for the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride. This 119km charity bike ride in aid of the RNLI, saw the team set off from Cleveland Way, Scarborough before finishing along the picturesque Scarborough seafront of the Royal Albert Drive. Along the way, the team endured heavy rain and windy conditions but the sun did make an appearance as they cycled through the picturesque countryside. A particular highlight was the iconic Côte de Harwood Dale climb. Situated 13.4km into the ride, the Côte de Harwood Dale was a tough 1.3km climb, with Readmore
At this year's show we will display our ongoing dedication to providing cost-effective, high quality fuel oil discharge solutions. We visit this year’s show with our VisiLevel ATEX approved gauging system that incorporates a Smart Product Grade Identification (SPGI) feature and measures liquid levels in each compartment of the road tanker. MaxFlow - Our metering control system that is compact and reliable system. It consolidates all the driver controls into a single cabinet and has become a benchmark in optimising the space available on a modern chassis. StockSmart – Our bespoke vehicle tracking and data transfer system that can be tailored to each fuel oil Readmore
At MechTronic, we have a team of regionally deployed service engineers who carry out infield service and repair work on your road tanker equipment. We set our engineers a 24-hour targeted response time and continually log customer feedback in the aim to maintain the high quality of service we provide. For Richard Griffiths, one of our service engineers who has been with MechTronic for seven years, a typical day will start at around 5 am. If we look at one particularly cold and wet day in December, Richard began with a trip to Stoddard’s fuel to enact a repair on one of their Readmore
We are delighted to announce that we have passed our ISO 9001:2008 audit without a single non-conformance this year, a fantastic and rewarding achievement for all at MechTronic. Working towards this standard ensures we provide the highest quality products and services for our customers all year round. It also means we can hold our status as an approved verifier allowing our service team to self-verify MechTronic metering systems. As we come to the end of our ten-year anniversary, we look back at the most innovative products and ideas that have helped us to achieve our position as market leader within the UK, in our first decade of business. 2004 – SPGI, Smart Product Grade Indication: A revolutionary and still unique design to avoid contamination. 2005 – MaxFlow mechanical metering makes its debut heralding the arrival of a new metering supplier to the industry. 2006 – MaxFlow electronic metering was launched as a simplified one cabinet approach Readmore
Here you will find our comprehensive product range for the road tanker market. From complete metering systems such as OptiMate, MaxFlow and VisiLevel, to our ancillary systems which include our vehicle tracking device StockSmart and AddFlow, our fuel additive injection system. We have also listed our top selling components and spare parts for the road tanker market including; manhole covers, API caps, valves, seals, dip tubes, meters and many, many more! If you wish to enquire about any of our products or about our 24-hour guaranteed support service, please contact us via email Readmore
MechTronic launch the VisiFlow manifold with multiple site glasses for product and poppet position identification.
