BSL delivers panel for tanker testing in 10 days

In just ten days BSL designed, built and delivered a control panel to General Trailers in Norwich for the testing of road tanker containers

The pneumatics industry has long had a reputation for fiercely competitive deliveries on pneumatic cylinders and valves. Now BSL has set the standard in the industry for control panels. In just ten days BSL designed, built and delivered a control panel to General Trailers in Norwich for the testing of road tanker containers.

This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 7 June 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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General Trailers is one of the largest manufacturers of trailer bodies in Europe.

Based in Dereham, Suffolk, the company produces all types of commercial vehicle bodies including trailers, tankers, flat tops and vans.

Recently, General Trailers commissioned an X ray tester for the tanker bodies which it manufactures.

The tanks are welded, and in view of the volatile liquids and chemicals which are carried in them, have to be tested rigorously to determine that there are no leaks.

The tank test rig is portable and incorporates 'jockey' rollers which revolve the tank slowly to enable the X ray testing to be carried out: a procedure which can take up to 2 hours.
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The rollers are driven by an air motor which itself is controlled from a pneumatic control panel.

At the design stage of the test rig General Trailers produced a specification for the panel, obtained a quote and, subsequently, placed an order.

Unfortunately, due to manufacturing difficulties, the panel was not built in the time scale quoted and suddenly, General Trailers was faced with a problem which could have affected its production.

At this juncture BSL's Fluid Power Division in Birmingham stepped in and took over the panel job from the manufacturer.

Time was short: General Trailers required delivery of the panel within two weeks, which was a tall order, but BSL undertook to meet their deadline.

Gary Dawson, BSL's System Design Specialist, based at the Fluid Power Centre in Birmingham, designed the panel using the FPC's in-house CAD package.

He produced manufacturing drawings, oversaw the building of the panel and personally tested the system before it was delivered to site, a process which, in total, took just ten days! The panel was installed and worked first time without problems, enabling General Trailers to meet its deadline for the commencement of testing with its new equipment.

Complementing BSL on their service, Alan Egginton, the engineer in charge of the project for General Trailers, said that: 'BSL did just what they promised: they were very good and very helpful throughout the project.' 'It was stiff test for what was our first panel system, but we passed it and are obviously delighted,' said Chris Davies, BSL's Business Manager for Fluid Power.

'Distributors are not normally known for providing this level of service, but since BSL first got into pneumatics we have been determined to re-write the rule book on what customers can expect, and we're succeeding.'