RegO, Presto-Tap combine to create innovative valve product line

A partnership between RegO Products and Presto-Tap has resulted in a new line of “Ready To Go” valves equipped with RegO’s MultiBonnet and Presto-Tap technologies.

“It’s starting to become the standard across the industry. It’s making a big impact,” says Mark C. Hall, RegO’s OEM sales manager.

“These innovative products are designed to streamline your company’s service, risk management and loss control obligations while saving you time and money.”

Historically, the more time-consuming test block method has been one of the most commonly used leak-test procedures in the field. A serviceman disconnects the pigtail and pulls it away from the service valve, installs a test block into the service valve, re-installs the pigtail into the test block and performs the required three-minute system leak test required by NFPA 54 code. After completing the system leak test, the pigtail from the test block is again disconnected, the test block is removed from the service valve, and the pigtail is re-installed into the service valve. A bubble test ensures that the connection is leak free.

The Presto-Tap technology allows a serviceman to remove the cap from the test fitting, install the gauge onto the fitting and perform the same NFPA 54 leak test without ever disturbing the system. The gauge is then removed and the cap reinstalled ­– saving about 10 minutes on each system pressure test.

“There’s no need for costly testing apparatus because the person performing the leak test does not need any tools except for the gauge that attaches to the Ready To Go valve,” Hall says. “You never need to break into the system, and the Presto-Tap patented leak testing method can reduce fugitive emissions by up to 90 percent. Each of these exclusive features definitely pay for themselves in parts and labor savings with just one use.”

RegO says its equipment allows for a quicker, easier change-out of the valve bonnet assembly.

Jimmie Shaw, a Mississippi state inspector for the fire marshal and 40-year propane industry veteran, designed the Presto-Tap leak detection system. It includes a specially designed pigtail and other tank pressure products intended for permanent installation.

In 2009 RegO and Presto-Tap agreed to create a partnership and combine the patented technologies.

“This agreement provided Presto-Tap an expanded, UL-listed product line to better serve its customers with more installation options utilizing permanently installed leak detection products,” Hall explains. “It enabled the company to offer the LP gas industry a larger, more affordable product line through the strength of RegO’s manufacturing and distributor network.”

Hall says the new product offering is being embraced as standard equipment by tank refurbishers and new-tank manufacturers alike. Many of the tank companies that offer these products as standard equipment are selling at no additional cost to the customer.

Hall would not provide RegO sales numbers, citing proprietary data.

“We have had numerous small and large customers request the Presto-Tap be fitted in their refurbished propane tanks,” reports Tony Bando, owner and vice president at Pennsylvania-based Tank Solutions Inc., which uses the equipment on all of the company’s reconditioned propane tanks.

“RegO equipment complements our high standard in quality, and the Ready To Go valve is the icing on the cake. In a time when emissions are a real concern and labor dollars are only going higher, the Ready To Go valve is a neat little feature to reduce both.”

Lynn Hardin, national sales manager at Mississippi-based Quality Steel Corp., concurs. “The ability to offer the Ready To Go valve that is made right here in the USA as a standard feature on Quality Steel tanks is a definite advantage for our customers. The ease of performing system pressure tests along with the reduction of fugitive emissions caused by a break in the system are value-added benefits. By having the Ready To Go valve on all of our tanks, it saves time as well as money for the marketer. We believe that it’s one more way to help protect our customers’ liquid assets now as well as in the future.”

John Evanski, owner of California tank refurbisher Western Manufacturing Corp., began offering Ready To Go valves in his propane tanks last spring.

“Right away our customers loved using them,” he says. “It has saved them time and money, allowing them to perform system leak tests in a fraction of the time along with reducing fugitive emissions with the State of California. Our refurbishing business has increased since we began offering the Ready To Go valves, and we now offer it as standard on all of our customer tanks.”

The new product has also become standard equipment for Maurice Ryman, owner of Pennsylvania-based LP Cylinder Service Inc. “In refurbishing our customers’ cylinders and vessels, we use only quality products and install the Ready To Go valves as standard equipment. These products have provided a significant time and money savings to our customers, which we always try to do for them.”

Aero Energy is a tank and cylinder refurbisher as well as a propane supplier in Pennsylvania. On the refurbishing side of the business, customers called asking if the new products would be available on their refurbished tanks and cylinders, recalls Jim O’Brien, director of operations and manager of the company’s LPG tank refurbishing facility.

“Realizing the benefits these products would provide our customers, the decision was made without hesitation to go across the board to install the Ready To Go valves as standard equipment in every tank and cylinder,” O’Brien says.

“On the supplier side of our business, Aero Energy captures a cost savings on every system leak test that the installer performs because the RegO ‘Ready To Go’ valve makes it easier and quicker for the installer to get the job done without breaking the system. These products also reduce emissions, which creates a safer work environment for our employees and customers as well.”

Visit www.regoproducts.com and www.presto-tap.com.