THE JOURNAL RECORD - Precision Fitting and Gauge
THE JOURNAL RECORD www.journalrecord.com
Monday, Oct. 15, 2012
Vol. 117, No. 202 • Two Sections
Not cutting any corners CNG parts supplier receives CSA International certification BY SARAH TERRY-COBO THE JOURNAL RECORD
TULSA – Like many businesses associated with the rapidly growing compressed natural gas industry, Tom Spanier is working to keep up with demand. Lots of competition and shortages in every aspect of the supply change have pushed Spanier to change the way he does business. He is the president of the alternative fuels division at Precision Fitting & Gauge Co., which manufactures the high-pressure hoses used in vehicles converted to compressed natural gas, or CNG. His company also supplies hoses used at CNG filling stations. Spanier is offering hoses manufactured and pressure-tested in Oklahoma City, and his company recently received a certification that is one of the highest standards in the industry. Since the company received the CSA International certification two weeks ago, it has added five more customers. “Planning for adequate supply, just keeping up with the volume is a challenge,” Spanier said. “Demand is bigger than we thought.” Spanier’s company, which is based in Tulsa, has sold Parker brand hoses and fittings used in the oil and gas industry for decades. He previously distributed Parker-manufactured hoses, but the lead time on parts was four to six weeks. His customers are used to working with other auto parts suppliers that can deliver same day. Now he buys components from Parker and manufactures the hoses onsite. He had to retrain employees who used to work in other parts of the business to assemble and pressure test the hoses just to keep up with the demand, he said. Spanier and Justin Adkins, who used to work in the warehouse, cut hoses, crimp fittings, place unique bar codes and metal identification tags and test at nearly three times higher the pressure. The new certification requires he keep diligent records of every step of the manufacturing process.
Tom Spanier, left, and Justin Adkins of Precision Fitting and Gauge Co. demonstrate pressure testing for hoses in Oklahoma City. The company manufactures hoses used in compressed natural gas vehicles and compressed natural gas filling stations, and has a certification for the highest testing standards in the nation. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
Spanier has a record of each individual hose, the date it was made, the parts that were used, the person who made it and the results of the pressure test. The electronic records are stored on a remote third-party server, and the customer gets a printout of the pressure test with each order. Though the tests are not required by any current state or federal standards, Spanier said the documentation can provide another layer of safety and transparency for his customers, in case anything goes wrong. He said he hopes to get ahead of regulations he expects in the future. As more state and federal incentives become available for CNG vehicles and CNG conversions, Spanier said he believes that testing standards are inevitable. He chose to go with the
highest testing standard, known as NGV 4.2. “I’m not a regulations guy, I hate regulations,” Spanier said. “But I believe this future (of CNG vehicles) is real, and I want to play in the game. The best thing is to play the right way, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize CNG or to cut corners.” Justin Steckman, owner and director of sales and marketing of Total Fleet Solutions in Norman, said he switched to Precision Fitting & Gauge for some of their flex hoses after seeing how they are manufactured. Steckman’s business converts vehicles to run on CNG, and has been open since January. “We did a tour of their manufacturing, saw the testing in-house and it really assured us,” Steckman said. Though the hoses are more expen-
sive, Steckman said that the money is worth it, because the certification goes above and beyond what is required. The detailed testing procedures and records give Steckman peace of mind that the products are safe and traceable if anything were to happen. Spanier said if the growth continues, he’ll have to hire a couple more people in the next two months. In the meantime, he and his employees have had to work longer and harder to keep up with the demand. Though the certification process was lengthy (18 months) and complicated, Spanier said it was the right decision. “In the long run, it’s the best strategy,” he said. “I believe if you’re not doing this way in the future, not going to be acceptable.”
Monday, Oct. 15, 2012
Vol. 117, No. 202 • Two Sections
Not cutting any corners CNG parts supplier receives CSA International certification BY SARAH TERRY-COBO THE JOURNAL RECORD
TULSA – Like many businesses associated with the rapidly growing compressed natural gas industry, Tom Spanier is working to keep up with demand. Lots of competition and shortages in every aspect of the supply change have pushed Spanier to change the way he does business. He is the president of the alternative fuels division at Precision Fitting & Gauge Co., which manufactures the high-pressure hoses used in vehicles converted to compressed natural gas, or CNG. His company also supplies hoses used at CNG filling stations. Spanier is offering hoses manufactured and pressure-tested in Oklahoma City, and his company recently received a certification that is one of the highest standards in the industry. Since the company received the CSA International certification two weeks ago, it has added five more customers. “Planning for adequate supply, just keeping up with the volume is a challenge,” Spanier said. “Demand is bigger than we thought.” Spanier’s company, which is based in Tulsa, has sold Parker brand hoses and fittings used in the oil and gas industry for decades. He previously distributed Parker-manufactured hoses, but the lead time on parts was four to six weeks. His customers are used to working with other auto parts suppliers that can deliver same day. Now he buys components from Parker and manufactures the hoses onsite. He had to retrain employees who used to work in other parts of the business to assemble and pressure test the hoses just to keep up with the demand, he said. Spanier and Justin Adkins, who used to work in the warehouse, cut hoses, crimp fittings, place unique bar codes and metal identification tags and test at nearly three times higher the pressure. The new certification requires he keep diligent records of every step of the manufacturing process.
Tom Spanier, left, and Justin Adkins of Precision Fitting and Gauge Co. demonstrate pressure testing for hoses in Oklahoma City. The company manufactures hoses used in compressed natural gas vehicles and compressed natural gas filling stations, and has a certification for the highest testing standards in the nation. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
Spanier has a record of each individual hose, the date it was made, the parts that were used, the person who made it and the results of the pressure test. The electronic records are stored on a remote third-party server, and the customer gets a printout of the pressure test with each order. Though the tests are not required by any current state or federal standards, Spanier said the documentation can provide another layer of safety and transparency for his customers, in case anything goes wrong. He said he hopes to get ahead of regulations he expects in the future. As more state and federal incentives become available for CNG vehicles and CNG conversions, Spanier said he believes that testing standards are inevitable. He chose to go with the
highest testing standard, known as NGV 4.2. “I’m not a regulations guy, I hate regulations,” Spanier said. “But I believe this future (of CNG vehicles) is real, and I want to play in the game. The best thing is to play the right way, and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize CNG or to cut corners.” Justin Steckman, owner and director of sales and marketing of Total Fleet Solutions in Norman, said he switched to Precision Fitting & Gauge for some of their flex hoses after seeing how they are manufactured. Steckman’s business converts vehicles to run on CNG, and has been open since January. “We did a tour of their manufacturing, saw the testing in-house and it really assured us,” Steckman said. Though the hoses are more expen-
sive, Steckman said that the money is worth it, because the certification goes above and beyond what is required. The detailed testing procedures and records give Steckman peace of mind that the products are safe and traceable if anything were to happen. Spanier said if the growth continues, he’ll have to hire a couple more people in the next two months. In the meantime, he and his employees have had to work longer and harder to keep up with the demand. Though the certification process was lengthy (18 months) and complicated, Spanier said it was the right decision. “In the long run, it’s the best strategy,” he said. “I believe if you’re not doing this way in the future, not going to be acceptable.”
