Autogas dispensing station up for bid at Propane Expo

Quality Steel Corp. and Industrial Propane Service Inc. (IPS) are partnering to raise proceeds for the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) scholarship fund, as well as awareness of propane autogas, through a special event at the Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo.

The companies donated a 1,450-gallon vertical propane autogas dispensing station, which holds a retail value of about $40,000, for an industry auction April 9 at the Propane Expo in Nashville, Tenn. The station, featuring IPS’ 9899KX commercial single Gasboy autogas dispenser on a heavy-duty skid with a Blackmer Ebsray pump, comes with the needed components. The winning bidder will only need to undertake station installation and provide power, NPGA says.

“We’re excited to do this with Quality Steel,” says Jeff Vandemark, president of IPS. “We’ve been working hard as a group to promote propane autogas, and it’s growing more legs all the time. This is a great way to get more people interested and, at the same time, generate funds for the scholarship.”

Attendees will have a chance to bid on the unit at a silent auction during show hours (10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) in Quality Steel’s booth (725). NPGA will continue the bidding with a live auction at 4:30 p.m. Proceeds will go to the association’s scholarship fund, which benefits children of member company employees.

“Secondary to the importance of the scholarship fund, whatever unit we put together for the donation, we wanted to make sure we help bring awareness to something else in the industry, and autogas was at the forefront,” says Lynn Hardin, vice president of sales and marketing for Quality Steel.

Kristen White, director of conventions and meetings for NPGA, and Ann Weidie, who works closely with the scholarship fund, have helped to organize the event, Hardin adds.