FUEL-FACS+

FUEL-FACS+ is a unique product that can totally automate fuel terminal operations by managing every aspect of product movement. With a simple keystroke it controls pumps and valves and monitors metering, pressure, and safety devices, using detailed real-time graphic screens. This eliminates a person having to turn knobs and handles to open and close valves. With the swipe of a card, it controls presets, customer ID and data entry terminals so the right product is dispensed with the correct additives at the assigned bay. That means the terminal needs fewer people to operate the plant even more efficiently saving thousands of dollars each year. FUEL-FACS+ also operates as the terminal's business system to produce accounting and transportation documentation including bills of lading. It controls and monitors leak and fire detection and emergency shut down systems.

FUEL-FACS+ is a single solution for total terminal automation, and because it is an open system using Windows NT it easily interfaces with existing hardware and equipment. That saves the terminal owner thousands of dollars in equipment costs and programming time.

"We have been getting excellent feedback from every oil company that's installed FUEL-FACS+," says Nelson Shirley, president of CSI. "In fact, British Petroleum Europe liked FUEL-FACS so much they had it installed in everyone of their European terminals. That's 11 different countries. The system is so versatile we even wrote the interface the truck drivers use in the Greek language for the terminals in Athens and Aspropyrgos, Greece." FUEL-FACS+ controls presets, data entry terminals and additive injection at the loading bays. That means fuel truck drivers don't need an attendant when loading. FUEL-FACS+ has built in safety systems that won't allow a driver to load any gasoline until everything is properly hooked up and grounded. This greatly reduces spills and contamination due to human error and saves more time and money.

The FUEL-FACS+ business system produces all transportation documentation, bills of lading and can even produce customer invoices after a product is loaded. This eliminates the need for large clerical staffing. FUEL-FACS+ is programmed to communicate with the terminal's existing management system, so there would not be any hardware or software changes.

"It's hard to say how much money a terminal can save by using FUEL-FACS+," says Jim Buri, Chief Operations Officer at CSI. "We installed four systems for PEMEX in Mexico and tied all four locations into one central office. FUEL-FACS+ not only dramatically improved the efficiencies of the operations, now they only need one person to handle the paperwork for all four sites. That's a huge savings in salary and benefits alone. Plus it freed up other staff to improve customer relations and make sales calls."

And while FUEL-FACS+ is managing the distribution process and billing, it also monitors tank inventory, leak and fire detection. If a fire breaks out or a leak is detected, FUEL-FACS+ will instantly shut down the system in that area and alert the safety personnel.

Not only will FUEL-FACS+ manage and control equipment, hardware, and office paperwork, FUEL-FACS+ will additionally operate and monitor the security system. FUEL-FACS+ card readers are placed at the truck entrance and exits for automatic gate control. The card reader also ID's the driver and the vehicle making the terminal easy to manage without multiple security guards. FUEL-FACS+ has been installed at fuel terminals and petrochemical facilities all over the world. Its operational efficiencies have revolutionized the fuel distribution industry. Its open and adaptive functionality to existing hardware and equipment makes FUEL-FACS+ a cost-effective choice for terminal automation.

FUEL-FACS+ has been installed in terminals used by every major oil company including Saudi Armco, the largest oil producing company in the world. Conoco is installing it now in it's Immingham, England facility and the Kenya Pipeline Company is installing it in three of its terminals this year. Irving Oil of Canada has already installed it in its largest refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick and five of its other terminals.

CSI has installed FUEL-FACS+ in almost every State in the U.S. and on every continent except Antarctica. Every one of the top 25 major oil companies in the world is using CSI products. The new Hong Kong airport uses FUEL-FACS+ to operate its jet fueling services and that helps keep the flights on schedule.

"Our customers are telling us that FUEL-FACS+ is so efficient that it frees up personnel to do other things," says Shirley. "The system we installed in Kuwait is so state-of-the-art the computer even calls the local gas stations to take their orders. That frees up a person who can be more productive making sales calls. Let's face it when you improve efficiency and you can realign your work force to do more productive things other than turn knobs and open valves, the company saves money and every body wins."

If you would like to know more about FUEL-FACS+ or see first hand how it works please call me, Mark Olinger, at 913.599.5010 Ext. 251 and I will be happy to take you for a test drive on our simulator.

Control Systems International, Inc. (CSI), is a control and information system supplier to industry since 1968. CSI is headquartered in the Kansas City suburb of Lenexa, Kansas, with additional engineering offices in Los Angeles, London, and Hong Kong and sales and service representatives around the world.

Control Systems International, 8040 Neiman Road, Lenexa, KS 66214. Tel: 913-599-5010; Fax: 913-599-5013.