Leading Australian Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distributor, Kleenheat, is set to celebrate its 50th year in 2006. Established in 1956 by the Westralian Farmers Co-Operative, now Wesfarmers Limited, today Kleenheat Gas distributes LPG to markets and customers across Australia.
Having firmly established a reputation for the safe and efficient delivery of LPG nationally, the company is set to further enhance this with its decision to fit all new trailers with low-riding, high stability air suspension and state-of-the-art EBS.
Kleenheat recently took delivery of two new B-Double tankers, built by CEM International and fitted with York Transport Tec Air II air suspension and Wabco EBS with RSS.
Wayne Clarke, York Transport’s Key Account Manager, explained that Kleenheat wanted to go with a highly stable and safe-braking trailer.
"The B-Doubles are fitted with our 2950 series axles, 19.5 inch wheels and Wabco EBS, with Roll Stability Support. The basic idea was to go with the air suspension and smaller wheels to give the trailers a lower centre of gravity and the best braking system available for extra stability on the road," Wayne said.
Kleenheat’s Fleet Manager, David Edmeades, added that public safety and the safe transportation of LPG are Kleenheat’s top priorities. So when Wayne suggested EBS, they agreed it was consistent with company objectives. Through its extensive network of depots, company-operated branches, dealers and franchisees, Kleenheat services in excess of 20,000 bulk and 200,000 domestic customer installations nationwide.
Although it is early days for both units, they are already clocking up the kilometres. One of the B-doubles is based in Melbourne and regularly runs to Adelaide, Griffith and Dubbo; whilst the second unit is based in Tamworth and loads out of Brisbane or Sydney, making deliveries into northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. David says Kleenheat Gas sees a number of benefits in the air suspension and road stability support technology for its B-doubles.
"The systems are designed to increase vehicle stability for all journeys, both
long or short, decreasing the likelihood of any tanker incidents. We are serious about our commitment to safety and are considering a proposal to fit future trailers with EBS."
With safety a top priority, CEM worked closely with both Kleenheat and York to ensure that the B-Doubles met all requirements.
Kleenheat approached CEM International to take an existing outdated road tanker, modified it to suit a B-Double application and build a second new road tanker to complete the combination unit. "This concept gave Kleenheat major project cost savings in addition to the huge increase in payloads that the new B-Doubles offered," says CEM International Manager of Fabrication Division, Kelvin Kalms.
"The engineering and manufacturing challenges on projects like this are quite unique and difficult. You have to be spot on when you modify a tanker, especially when it forms part of a B-Double that is being used to cart a liquefied product," added Kelvin.
Established in 1972, CEM is a privately owned company that specialises in the manufacture of LPG underground and above ground storage vessels, large capacity gas cylinders and LPG and LNG road tankers.
The design philosophy behind CEM’s tankers is simple. "Pay attention to detail in both manufacturing and engineering and you won’t have a problem later on."
It is this philosophy that keeps customers that value safety coming back to CEM International.
|
