‘Virgin gas’ ban demands user rethink

 HEJ editor Jonathan Baillie discussed, with senior personnel, the options for existing HCFC users, and discovered that the “virgin” gas ban could present cost-cutting opportunities for those able to purchase new, more energy-efficient plant compatible with the latest replacement hydrofluorocarbon, and other modern refrigerants.

Headquartered at Portbury on Bristol’s outskirts, A-Gas International was founded in 1993 by John Rutley, now group chairman, who formerly served at senior director level at Rhone Poulenc Chemicals based in Bristol. Its goal, from the start, was to offer expert blending, repackaging, distribution, and reclamation of speciality gases and chemicals used as refrigerants, blowing agents, aerosol propellants, and cleaning solvents, in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications The group has grown considerably since it was first established, and, in addition to its Portbury base, now has subsidiary companies/operations in countries including the US, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and China. Its overriding ethos is to “build strategic partnerships” with customers, and to provide a “total package solution”, including a comprehensive product portfolio, inventory management, cylinder fleet management, technical support, and ancillary services such as product recovery. The group’s Portbury site, close to the M4 and M5 motorways, and thus with excellent transport links to the rest of the UK, is ISO 9001/2000 registered, and is also apparently one of only three UK facilities licensed by the Environment Agency as a waste management site for the recovery and recycling of HCFC and HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants. Products to be “re-packaged” generally arrive in bulk from suppliers (most of whom are mainland European-based) as liquefied gas. This gas is then “decanted” and stored in one of nine bulk storage tanks that provide a total storage capacity of over 400 tonnes, before being repackaged and dispatched, generally to a refrigerant wholesaler. Refrigerant contractors in general will buy refrigerants from a wholesaler, and will then sell on the gas to a user such as a large retailer, manufacturer, or acute hospital, in containers ranging from large cylinders to one-tonne drums. AGas’s Portbury site is also equipped with a fleet of multi-compartment liquid and gas tankers that can serve customers wishing to buy in bulk.

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