Industrial gas distributors, responsible for filling and supplying compressed gas cylinders for sale or rental, are crucial to diverse sectors. They deliver essential gases like nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, helium, methane, and propane to a variety of industries such as electronics, government, medical, welding, food and beverage, fire protection, and aviation, as a small sample of industries.
Nevertheless, they are in business to turn a profit and must leverage the most economically efficient methods to maximize revenue and minimize operational costs. This is equally important when it is time to acquire new or refurbished gas cylinders or recertify or repair existing ones.
Consequently, to increase efficiency and profitability industrial gas distributors are increasingly streamlining the acquisition, recertification and repair of gas cylinders by outsourcing these tasks to qualified suppliers.
Today, new cylinders are available from only a handful of US based manufacturers. However, US-based third parties can source cylinders from reputable overseas sources that conform to U.S. specifications (including those related to coatings, markings, and legal requirements). As an example, Quest Cylinder effectively navigates this challenge by sourcing the primed shell offshore. The company specializes in new and refurbished compressed gas cylinders as well as performing cryogenic repairs, service and sales. The shell arrives with all the legal markings and a valve, if specified. Quest Cylinder then takes the shell and performs all necessary steps to prepare the cylinder for the distributor, including adding the valve if needed, which must meet stringent safety standards and be tailored to the specific gas type to prevent leaks, overpressure, or cross-contamination between gases.
Distributors might also consider purchasing refurbished cylinders. While large distributors are gradually moving towards refurbished cylinders as a cost-saving measure, it is typically the small- to mid-sized distributors who recognize refurbished cylinders as a perfectly viable alternative to new ones. Of course, refurbished cylinders must meet the same specifications as new cylinders. In the industry, the refurbished cylinders of some outside suppliers like Quest Cylinder’s, which can be cryogenic or non-cryogenic, are shot-blasted, hydrostatic tested, painted/embossed/stenciled, stamped per DOT specifications when required, and then outfitted with new valves. They can bring a distributor’s entire fleet of cylinders up to code by refurbishing them, or the distributor can purchase the cylinders “as is” and take the required steps themselves to meet compliance.
Distributors can realize value in more areas than just cylinder acquisition. Generally, non-cryogenic cylinders must be recertified every 5 to 10 years, depending on the cylinder type, the material it is made of, and the regulatory standards it falls under. Regardless of how often recertification is required, the investment in the equipment required for in-house testing is cost-prohibitive for most independent distributors. In these cases, outsourcing testing and recertification are beneficial because it reduces any potential liability and can speed turnaround.
To achieve cryogenic temperatures, many companies, such as those in the healthcare, aerospace, and energy industries, require gas in cryogenic cylinders and often purchase cryogenic tanks and equipment for long-term use. Smaller companies or those with intermittent needs for cryogenic gases (e.g., research institutions, small manufacturers) often only rent cylinders. Regardless, like all cylinders, cryogenic cylinders are prone to wear and tear and must eventually be repaired, ensuring their safety and structural integrity. Repair procedures vary, but they are often long and involved. To save time and money, it is worth outsourcing this process to an outside supplier who can quickly and efficiently perform this work in their own facility and then ship the repaired cylinder back to the distributor.
For more information, visit www.questcylinder.com; email [email protected] or call 1- 740-852-1232.