DFS’ state-of-the-art production facility in Dundee, Scotland – one of four DFS manufacturing facilities around the world where fuel dispenser technology is being revolutionised. Nick Needs from erpecnewslive.com visited the site, to have a closer look at the finished product.
The above headline may be considered by some to appear slightly bold, however from my visit to DFS Dundee last month, and having seen the upgraded facility in full swing, I would say that DFS is doing great things. The re-configured and enlarged factory is designed to streamline production, bringing both DFS’ leading dispenser brands, Tokheim and Wayne together, to be produced side by side on one production line.
When we started the factory tour, I immediately came face to face with both a Wayne Helix and Tokheim Quantium fuel dispenser, fresh off the production line. Cosmetically, the differences in the two pumps are still clearly visible, although most of these differences are in relation to the display, cladding and shape of each dispenser. Internally, both pumps share core technology, albeit they do have different pump computers.
I discovered from Denise McHugh, Director of Operations, that no two dispensers are exactly the same, as the modular assembly of each product has over 10,000 different configurations. She said, “Technology has changed everything”.
Denise explained how the factory shapes up in terms of the production process. She told me “There are two production lines in Dundee, one large line for the Quantium ML, Helix 6000 II and Helix 5000 II fuel dispensers and one smaller line for the Quantium FS and Century 3 fuel pumps.
The factory has adopted a ‘Just in time’ (JIT) production platform, which is a management strategy that aligns raw-material orders from suppliers directly with production schedules. This method requires producers to forecast demand accurately and receive goods only as they need them for the production process, which reduces inventory footprint”.
In simple terms she added, “This means that nothing is stored and each production point on the line only receives materials for the immediate job in hand”. The JIT system is also known as the Toyota Production System (TPS) because the car manufacturer Toyota adopted the system in the 1970s.
The loyalty and goodwill legacies following each dispenser brand quite rightly point to why two hasn’t become one in this consolidatory scenario.
When I first entered the industry 35 years ago, I was aware of at least 15 fuel pump brands, but today, apart from those currently in the market, i.e. DFS (Tokheim, Wayne), Tatsuno, Petrotec, Mepsam and Gilbarco, most of these have long since gone. I for one, hope that there will be two dispenser brands coming out of this particular Scottish factory for many years to come.
Investing in the business
Continued investment was a topic Soren Powell-Holse – Director of Product Marketing for DFS, continually talked about as we walked through the factory. He told me “I think the DFS worldwide investment programme, in the recent past and moving forward, sets us apart from many of the technical equipment providers in the international fuel retailing supply sector. Innovation is key to being the best in any market and we have an array of new products and plenty that are still in the pipeline”.
Soren stopped us halfway down the production line as he wanted to show me a good example of exactly what he was explaining. Pulling a nozzle out of its holster on a Helix pump, he pointed to a storage and delivery solution for additives, which does not require a separate underground tank. Soren said “We have introduced a mini tank in the dispenser itself, which is a very tidy remedy for operators wishing to offer fuel additives like engine cleaning or octane boosting performance additives often offered by oil companies”.
He went on to talk about other exciting new initiatives being orchestrated by DFS all over the world, including advanced remote management solutions, the company’s involvement in the strong growth markets of India, Africa and Southeast Asia and the other DFS manufacturing plants operated in Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro, which are all now operating at full steam.
Bridging the gap
It’s fair to say that currently, many fuel retailers are caught in the middle when considering forecourt technology investments, typically along the lines of - does it make sense to spend money now on products that will possibly be phased out soon? Can I afford to buy new conventional refueling technology now when everyone will be driving EV’s in a few years’ time? Will any investment I make in new equipment now be worthwhile in the future?
Recent research by Global Data, predicts that worldwide, EVs will still only account for about 16% of the market by 2035 and only one in six cars and vans built globally in 2035, will be zero-carbon. This leaves much of the market still highly dependent on petrol and diesel, with fuel retailers having to commit themselves, for the foreseeable future, to keeping their sites in tip top condition with up-to-date and fully functioning equipment.
A recent DFS awareness campaign is suggesting the industry should ‘bridge the gap’ as markets move towards a greener future, asking fuel retailers the question “Will your dispenser last for another 12 years?”.
Joining us on part of the journey around this huge facility, was Jean Guyomard, Director of Quality. He told me “The life expectancy levels DFS places on dispensers are between eight and twelve years, or twelve million litres. Even with our products being of premium quality and built to last anywhere in the world, they still have an expected life span like anything else.
We are continuing to invest in new initiatives for the delivery of traditional fuels notwithstanding new legislation aimed at phasing out ICE vehicles. The reality is for many retailers, whilst embracing the exciting new future of fuels, it will be business as usual for many years to come”.
Filling in on some of the other key details surrounding this factory’s vital parts, was my guide for the day Joanna Rice, Customer Service Manager, who pointed out that the work on this new facility, although finished early in 2023, is constantly evolving. It is 10,000 square metres in size, with the capacity of 100,000 nozzles per year and is staffed by approx. 500 employees.
Joanna concluded the tour by saying that visits and tours to the factory are becoming extremely popular and that in the last eight weeks there have been groups from Italy, Portugal, Holland, Romania, Norway, Austria, Ireland, and France. And from England, I happily pointed out!
For more details concerning DFS, or for possibly booking a tour of the factory, please visit www.doverfuelingsolutions.com
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