Following nearly 25 years of dependable service, Ryan Poultry Services are choosing to renew their current Merridale systems and relocate them to a new part of the yard, rather than purchasing entirely new kit.
The East-Anglian-based company specialises in the cleaning of poultry sheds and agricultural buildings and has built a first-class reputation for delivering high-quality cleaning services in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire since they first established in 1980.
As there is nothing wrong with the existing Merridale systems that Ryan Poultry Services have in place, rather a problem with its existing location, there is no need to replace the units even after considering their age. In this instance, we can utilise the equipment already in place and relocate it to its new preferred position on-site, with a minimal amount of upgrading and amending required.
They first invested in their Merridale system back in 1998, when they installed two Auditor FX fuel management systems alongside third-party fuel pumps in their depots in Norfolk. Along the way, these third-party pumps were replaced with Merridale Commercial pumps. These same systems have remained ever since, with the help of regular inspections and services, but have also been upgraded to include Merridale’s vLink system and to work alongside the latest FuelWorks software.
Since its introduction to the market in 2013, Merridale’s vLink system has become more and more popular with fleet operators. Developed in conjunction with the University of Wolverhampton as part of a Government-sponsored Knowledge Transfer Programme, the vLink is a rugged snap-on and quick release communications cable which enables the fuelling point to automatically authenticate the vehicle being refuelled.
Designed to speed up depot fuelling, the vLink system consists of a reader unit on an umbilical communication cable that reads the vehicle ID from a contact plate attached to the vehicle. When used as an alternative to data tags, it offers a more robust option for use with dedicated fleet vehicles in harsher working conditions. Where a fleet vehicle can’t be fitted with a contact plate, the system can be used in conjunction with a handheld data tag.
“As there is nothing wrong with the existing Merridale systems that Ryan Poultry Services have in place, rather a problem with its existing location, there is no need to replace the units even after considering their age. In this instance, we can utilise the equipment already in place and relocate it to its new preferred position on-site, with a minimal amount of upgrading and amending required,” said Merridale sales engineer Will Rushforth.
Fleet operators who also wish to upgrade existing Merridale equipment to use FuelWorks need not worry about replacing hardware to do so. Merridale can upgrade most existing systems to make them compatible with FuelWorks, no matter how old the system is.
Since 1994, Merridale has been producing built-to-order products using only the best, tried and tested components. With all Merridale products designed in-house to achieve a minimum life of 10 years and meet strict ATEX standards, there is no compromise on build quality. The housing units on Merridale’s products are designed to ensure that internal components are easily accessible for maintenance and repair, as well as being easy to update rather than having to replace the whole system.
To find out more about vLink or other data transfer options and how a Merridale fuel management system could benefit your company, contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.
