Starting the day with a fresh, tasty cup of coffee is important to many people’s daily life. Whether you’re a barista serving hot coffee, a coffee merchant or a retailer offering whole bean, ground or instant, you want to ensure you have a quality product that will keep customers keep coming back.
Extending the shelf life of coffee roasts is a constant goal for suppliers, and nitrogen gas offers a practical, cost-effective solution. So today, we’re going to look at the invaluable uses of nitrogen gas in the coffee industry.
Extends The Shelf Life
Coffee production has an inherent issue that significantly shortens its shelf life. The roasting of coffee beans brings out the beans’ flavour, colour, and aroma to help create a quality product. But those same beans are now at risk of becoming flavourless and stale when exposed to air for long periods. Additionally, the oil from ground coffee beans will decay and leak a gas that negatively impacts the final flavour.
Whether roasting or grinding coffee, the clock is ticking on its shelf life. This is because carbon dioxide is released from coffee once roasted; this is called degassing. While whole bean coffee will release carbon dioxide slower than ground coffee, the degassing process will accelerate in both when exposed to the air.
Whole beans should be packaged as soon as possible after roasting to keep the coffee at the highest quality. The packaging stage is where nitrogen gas flushing comes in.
What Is Nitrogen Gas Flushing?
Food grade nitrogen gas is:
- Food safe and odourless
- Inert, non-reactive
Nitrogen gas is excellent for gas flushing because it’s an inert gas. In comparison, oxygen is a very reactive gas, making coffee and other foods go stale at an increased rate.
The flushing process is a vital part of the packaging process. The filled container is immersed in nitrogen as it’s sealed, displacing the oxygen and protecting the quality of the coffee inside.
As bottled gas suppliers, we know that nitrogen gas flushing is a clean, safe way of removing all the unwanted moisture from packaging filled with food, or in this case, coffee.
A certain oxygen level should remain even after this process, which makes this a delicate balance that yields fantastic results once achieved. However, oxygen levels over 5% will harm your coffee’s freshness and overall quality, but reducing that to 3% or less with nitrogen flushing will protect your product.
Benefits for Coffee Packaging
The nitrogen gas is used for flushing out the oxygen from the packaging filled with freshly roasted coffee. This removes the oxygen and any moisture residue that could cause bacterial growth.
Coffee packaged this way can stay fresh for up to six months after being packaged, but once purchased and opened, that will no longer be the case.
During the flush, the packaging is quickly sealed and made airtight; you can be confident that your product is the best it can be and ready for sale.
Longer Shelf Life For Coffee Pods And Bags
The lifespan of coffee pods can be extended using the same nitrogen gas flushing process. By acquiring a combination filler and sealer machine, nitrogen cylinders can be attached to adapt the same method of flushing into their integrated systems and keep your product fresh and tasty.
Bulk Silo Coffee Storage
Despite the advantages of packaging coffee quickly, sometimes it needs to be stored in bulk in a silo. In this case, it’s still possible to utilise nitrogen. Storage silos can be outfitted with nitrogen gas cylinders that constantly blanket the beans to keep the oxygen and moisture out.
With a system of blanketing and purging, the contents of your coffee silo storage can remain at 3% oxygen or lower, keeping your stock at peak freshness.
How Can You Benefit From Nitrogen gas?
Vacuum sealing is a valid option when packaging coffee, but nitrogen flushing substantially increases efficiency. To package your coffee with vacuum sealing, you would first need to wait for your coffee to off-gas.
Remember earlier when we talked about coffee giving off carbon dioxide? Before sealing your product, you need to wait for 24 – 48 hours with your coffee exposed to the harmful oxygen for this to pass. Nitrogen flushing allows you to skip this step and move straight to packaging your product.
Reputable Nitrogen Gas Supplier
As the leading company in various bottle gases, we at Adams Gas offer exceptional gas cylinder filling on a contractual basis that can cover everything from collecting, refilling and re-delivering customer-owned cylinders.
We pride ourselves on our reliability and punctuality when delivering our gas goods. If you have any questions about our nitrogen gas supply or how it can help with your coffee packaging, contact us today, and one of our experienced team members will be happy to assist you.
Spotlight On: Nitrogen In Coffee
Starting the day with a fresh, tasty cup of coffee is important to many people’s daily life. Whether you’re a barista serving hot coffee, a coffee merchant or a retailer offering whole bean, ground or instant, you want to ensure you have a quality product that will keep customers keep coming back.
Extending the shelf life of coffee roasts is a constant goal for suppliers, and nitrogen gas offers a practical, cost-effective solution. So today, we’re going to look at the invaluable uses of nitrogen gas in the coffee industry.
Extends The Shelf Life
Coffee production has an inherent issue that significantly shortens its shelf life. The roasting of coffee beans brings out the beans’ flavour, colour, and aroma to help create a quality product. But those same beans are now at risk of becoming flavourless and stale when exposed to air for long periods. Additionally, the oil from ground coffee beans will decay and leak a gas that negatively impacts the final flavour.
Whether roasting or grinding coffee, the clock is ticking on its shelf life. This is because carbon dioxide is released from coffee once roasted; this is called degassing. While whole bean coffee will release carbon dioxide slower than ground coffee, the degassing process will accelerate in both when exposed to the air.
Whole beans should be packaged as soon as possible after roasting to keep the coffee at the highest quality. The packaging stage is where nitrogen gas flushing comes in.
What Is Nitrogen Gas Flushing?
Food grade nitrogen gas is:
- Food safe and odourless
- Inert, non-reactive
Nitrogen gas is excellent for gas flushing because it’s an inert gas. In comparison, oxygen is a very reactive gas, making coffee and other foods go stale at an increased rate.
The flushing process is a vital part of the packaging process. The filled container is immersed in nitrogen as it’s sealed, displacing the oxygen and protecting the quality of the coffee inside.
As bottled gas suppliers, we know that nitrogen gas flushing is a clean, safe way of removing all the unwanted moisture from packaging filled with food, or in this case, coffee.
A certain oxygen level should remain even after this process, which makes this a delicate balance that yields fantastic results once achieved. However, oxygen levels over 5% will harm your coffee’s freshness and overall quality, but reducing that to 3% or less with nitrogen flushing will protect your product.
Benefits for Coffee Packaging
The nitrogen gas is used for flushing out the oxygen from the packaging filled with freshly roasted coffee. This removes the oxygen and any moisture residue that could cause bacterial growth.
Coffee packaged this way can stay fresh for up to six months after being packaged, but once purchased and opened, that will no longer be the case.
During the flush, the packaging is quickly sealed and made airtight; you can be confident that your product is the best it can be and ready for sale.
Longer Shelf Life For Coffee Pods And Bags
The lifespan of coffee pods can be extended using the same nitrogen gas flushing process. By acquiring a combination filler and sealer machine, nitrogen cylinders can be attached to adapt the same method of flushing into their integrated systems and keep your product fresh and tasty.
Bulk Silo Coffee Storage
Despite the advantages of packaging coffee quickly, sometimes it needs to be stored in bulk in a silo. In this case, it’s still possible to utilise nitrogen. Storage silos can be outfitted with nitrogen gas cylinders that constantly blanket the beans to keep the oxygen and moisture out.
With a system of blanketing and purging, the contents of your coffee silo storage can remain at 3% oxygen or lower, keeping your stock at peak freshness.
How Can You Benefit From Nitrogen gas?
Vacuum sealing is a valid option when packaging coffee, but nitrogen flushing substantially increases efficiency. To package your coffee with vacuum sealing, you would first need to wait for your coffee to off-gas.
Remember earlier when we talked about coffee giving off carbon dioxide? Before sealing your product, you need to wait for 24 – 48 hours with your coffee exposed to the harmful oxygen for this to pass. Nitrogen flushing allows you to skip this step and move straight to packaging your product.
Reputable Nitrogen Gas Supplier
As the leading company in various bottle gases, we at Adams Gas offer exceptional gas cylinder filling on a contractual basis that can cover everything from collecting, refilling and re-delivering customer-owned cylinders.
We pride ourselves on our reliability and punctuality when delivering our gas goods. If you have any questions about our nitrogen gas supply or how it can help with your coffee packaging, contact us today, and one of our experienced team members will be happy to assist you.
How to Supply Your Customers with Cellar Gas
Becoming an Adams Gas stockist can open up lucrative revenue streams for your existing business and complement your current offering and services. We have a huge range of gases available for our stockist network to supply their customers across many different industries. Some stockists choose to offer our full range, whilst others specialise in providing gas for specific sectors and become experts in what they do. One area you may decide to focus on is cellar gas, which is used by thousands of businesses up and down the country every day. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at how to supply your customers with cellar gas.
Who Uses Cellar Gas?
The biggest consumer of cellar gas is the hospitality industry, which uses it predominantly for drinks dispensing. Many types of business fall under the umbrella of hospitality, including:
- Bars and nightclubs
- Pubs – both food and wet-led
- Restaurants
- Hotels with bars or restaurants
- Holiday or leisure parks that include eateries or bars
- Theatres
- Cafés
- Event catering companies (temporary festival bars, for example)
With the exception of temporary bars at outdoor or indoor events, which may be seasonal, all these businesses require a constant, regular supply of cellar gas from a bottled gas supplier to ensure they can dispense both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for their customers.
Other businesses that may use cellar gas include cinemas and leisure facilities with concession stands, brewery tap houses, sports clubs, sports stadiums and members clubs. Domestically, cellar gas is also used by people who have invested in home bars.
What Types of Cellar Gas Could You Supply?
When we talk about cellar gas, we aren’t just referring to one gas type. Businesses that rely on cellar gas often require more than one style, depending on the products they’re serving. If you were to supply cellar gas as a stockist, you should expect to see demand for the following gases:
Pure CO2
100% CO2 cylinders are perhaps the most common type of cellar gas, used predominately in dispensing highly carbonated drinks such as lagers, ciders and post-mix soft drinks (cola, lemonade, soda water, etc.)
30/70
A mix of 30% CO2 to 70% nitrogen is used for dispensing creamy stouts and bitters. The high nitrogen content gives these particular beers their characteristic, smooth mouthfeel.
60/40
Another mix of CO2 and nitrogen, 60/40 is perfect for IPA and pale ales – some venues may even run lagers on 60/40 because it is more stable at a higher ambient temperature than CO2. However, it will affect the taste of the product over time.
You don’t have to be an expert in every single beer or soft drink and which gas they all require to stock cellar gas. Venues will know which gas they require based on instructions from their suppliers – all you have to do is ensure you’re stocking the gas they need and supplying the correct volumes at a consistent rate that means their business demands.
How Much Cellar Gas Do Businesses Need?
It’s impossible to put a blanket number on how much cellar gas you could supply as every individual business will have its own requirements. How much cellar gas is needed will depend on several factors, including:
- The businesses capacity
- The businesses product offering
- Whether the business is wet or food-led
- Seasonal uplifts and dips in trade
For example, a pub with a big beer garden will likely consume far more cellar gas in the summer months when everyone is enjoying a beer in the sun and less in the colder months when rain and low temperatures deter people from gathering outside. Furthermore, a small, unlicensed café that only dispenses soft drinks won’t require anywhere near as much cellar gas as a high-volume nightclub. That said, a boutique craft beer bar may require a broader range of gases for their varied product offering when compared with said nightclub.
When it comes to understanding how much cellar gas you could be supplying regularly to local businesses, the best thing to do is talk to the business owners, make connections and understand each venue’s requirements.
Is Cellar Gas Demand Seasonal or Year-Round?
Supplying cellar gas is a year-round operation if you’re supplying to bars, restaurants and pubs. However, as discussed, you may see peaks and troughs in demand that correlate with seasonal trade. For example, venues with beer gardens often see an uplift in cellar gas consumption in the summer months. Conversely, many hospitality businesses without beer gardens will require more gas throughout the Christmas period when people are out celebrating the festivities. All in all, though, supplying cellar gas to the hospitality industry is a lucrative, year-round commitment.
If you choose to focus on home bar bottle gas supplies or cellar gas for mobile event bars, you may find demand more sporadic. This doesn’t mean it isn’t a revenue stream worth pursuing; in fact, supplying smaller cylinders for domestic use or to smaller vendors can be a great jumping-off point for stockists who don’t want to commit to providing larger venues with higher demands immediately.
Things To Bear In Mind When Supplying Cellar Gas
Gas safety is incredibly important for protecting yourself, your staff, and the staff at the businesses you’ll be supplying cellar gas to. So with safety in mind, here are some pointers on supplying cellar gas safely and efficiently:
- Never supply damaged or faulty cylinders to your customers
- Ensure you’re wearing the correct PPE when moving cylinders
- If you’re delivering to a business, make sure the path down to the cellar is clear of obstructions and free from hazards like wet floors
Have a read of our comprehensive guide on handling and storing CO2 gas for more safety information.
Become an Adams Gas Stockist
If you’ve read all of the above and spotted potential business opportunities for supplying cellar gas to businesses and individuals in your local area, get in touch with us today. We’re always on the lookout for viable companies to join our stockist network and work alongside us to deliver more of our high-quality gases to the UK.
Types of Welding Gas and What They’re Used For
Gas welding is a versatile process used in various sectors, including metalworking, shipbuilding, automotive, etc. Replacing the older stick welders, gas welding has become the best choice for industrial or domestic welding.
There are many welding gases to choose from, and it’s important to use the right gas for your application. Today we will discuss the different welding processes and which gas best suits each process.
Different Types Of Gas Welding
To start with the basics, gas welding uses the heat from burning fuel gases like CO2 for welding. When these gasses burn, they can reach temperatures around 3200°C (or 57,00°F). While this is cooler than using an arc welding machine, gas welding has many advantages.
The intense heat generated from these burning gases is used to bond two metal workpieces together. Gas welding is incredibly popular thanks to the ease of use, making it accessible to hobbyists, versatility and relatively low cost.
The three main types of gas welding are TIG, MAG and MIG.
TIG Welding
Tungsten Inert Gas (or TIG) uses inert TIG welding shielding gas similar to MIG welding mentioned later. But unlike MIG welding, TIG has a non-consumable tungsten electrode which saves you from replacing it continuously. As a result, TIG welding leaves a high quality and clean finish and creates very little smoke and fumes.
At Adams Gas, we pride ourselves in our supply of 2L to 50L cylinders of inert argon welding gas as the premium choice as a shielding gas for TIG welders.
MAG welding
Metal Active Gas (MAG) uses active gas mixtures to create a shielding gas that works well with welding steel. Usually, these gasses are a mixture of argon, CO2 and oxygen.
MIG welding
Metal inert gas (or MIG) uses only inert MIG welding gas mixtures such as argon and helium for its shielding gas. This type of welding is used on aluminium and other non-ferrous metals. At Adams Gas, we specialise in MIG welding gas that includes a 5% to 20% mix of Argon/ CO2.
As you can see, each shielding gas has its purpose. The shielding gas essentially keeps the oxygen in the air from getting to the welding point. The make-up of the shielding mask has a significant effect on the welding process. The gas can affect arc stability, metal transfer, and spark spatter. It can even affect the mechanical properties of the joint where it was welded.
Inert and Reactive Gas
Two classifications come with welding gasses, Inert and Reactive. An inert gas will not form reactions with other chemical substances. This means it cannot create any chemical compounds that would create hazards for welding. Helium, argon and neon are all inert gases.
On the other hand, reactive gas can chemically combine with the material elements in the weld pool and change them both. Some reactive gases are nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and CO2.
Argon Gas
Argon is one of the most cost-effective and commonly used welding gases and is suitable for many different welding processes.
Argon gas has no colour or scent and is not toxic or flammable. Argon could cause asphyxiation if exposed to a vast amount of it in an enclosed space, but it has no ill effects in a ventilated area.
Argon gas is delivered around the welder’s tip to surround the arc. This protects the weld from any contamination that would make it uneven, spore it or bridle and ruin the weld.
CO2 Gas
CO2 gas bottles are also an easily attainable and cost-effective shielding gas. In addition, pure CO2 gives deep penetration when welding, making it excellent for thick materials.
Pure CO2 does create a less stable weld, though, so many companies will choose a CO2 argon mix to increase their weld quality. A 5% CO2, 95% argon mix will usually produce an effective, high-quality weld.
Oxyacetylene Welding Gas
Oxygen is a colourless and odourless gas that is not flammable but is used to support combustion. This isn’t simply the air we breathe; 100% pure oxygen gas bottles are considered a vital material in welding.
It can be blended with Acetylene gas for Oxyacetylene welding. It can give you a more controlled weld and a better finish when mixed correctly.
Before choosing, we recommend exploring our myriad of options online, including one of our favourite acetylene gas alternatives – Propylene.
International Bottle Gas Supplier
As a leading company in welding gas supply in the UK, we stand proudly behind our range of gas supply services. We are confident that we can be your next gas cylinder supplier with our catalogue of both MIG and TIG welding gases at very affordable prices.
To find out more about our range of welding gas and the other gas services we can provide, please get in touch with us online or call us on 0800 195 4445. Our expert and dedicated team are eager to discuss all your needs and find the perfect solution you need.
Cellar Maintenance – Avoiding Common Cellar Gas Issues
If you own or manage a pub, bar, or restaurant, you will already know how integral your cellar is to day to day operations. The cellar is not only a storage space for stock but home to all your dispensing equipment and keeps your kegs at the correct temperature. Problems in the cellar will eventually translate into problems in the front of house. Even though it’s an area of your business that customers can’t see, good cellar maintenance is key to a successful pub. Today, we’re going to outline some of the most common gas-related cellar issues that you may come up against and how you can prevent them from happening in your venue.
Leaking Valves, Pipework and Connections
Gas leaks are, without a doubt, the most common cellar issue faced by pub and bar managers. Within a beer dispensing system, there are multiple places from which gas can escape if the connection between the two parts of the system isn’t sound.
In a typical cellar dispensing set-up, the gas cylinder is connected to a hose that runs to the primary valve, then the secondary valve, and finally into the side of the keg coupler. Beer or lager runs from the coupler, which is connected to the beer keg, to the cellar buoy, then through the cooler and from the cooler to the beer tap.
If there is a weak or broken connection at any point in the set-up, the system cannot effectively draw beer through the lines and up to the beer tap. The most common places for gas leaks to occur are at valves that have been poorly maintained and worn away over time. The issues presented by gas leaks in dispensing equipment are multiple:
- Wasted gas, which can be costly for the business
- Unable to dispense drinks correctly, resulting in unhappy customers and wasted stock
- CO2 leaks can build up in pools if unnoticed and lead to a risk of asphyxiation if unaddressed.
Regular inspection of gas cylinder valves and points of connection in your dispensing equipment will help safeguard your cellar against gas leaks. Leaking valves are most commonly caused by moisture mixing with CO2, which causes corrosion and weak spots. You should always ensure you’re using a reputable cellar gas supplier who can assure you that they regularly and consistently check their cylinders are in good working condition before supplying to customers.
Staff Training in Cellar Gas Safety
When it comes to cellar safety, you’re only as strong as your weakest member. That’s why it is crucial to train any staff who are using the cellar in correct cellar maintenance. Teaching your team how to change, store and move gas bottles correctly will not only save your time, money and effort but contribute significantly to a safe working environment for everyone. In fact, most of the issues we’re going to discuss now can be avoided with thorough and regular staff training.
Using the Right Gas for Each Product
Staff who attempt to change gas cylinders without proper knowledge may connect the incorrect gas to the dispensing system. For example, it’s not uncommon for pubs and bars to stock both CO2 and CO2/nitrogen mixes. Whilst pure CO2 is suitable for dispensing lager, you will immediately run into issues if you try to connect a CO2 cylinder to a stout or bitter line. This is because stouts and bitters require a CO2/nitrogen mix to give the beer its creamy, smooth texture. Forcing CO2 through a stout keg will result in over-carbonation and a poor quality pint.
It is, therefore, essential to educate your team on the different types of gas your business stocks, which products use each gas and how to identify the cylinders. Many bars and restaurants will even stock gas outside of drinks dispensing – like helium cylinders for balloons. Connecting a helium bottle to your drinks dispensing system is unlikely to go well since helium is not soluble in water or beer. Ensure your staff understand the importance of checking the gas bottles before connecting to the dispensing system.
Correct Gas Cylinder Storage
Incorrect gas bottle storage can be hazardous. For example, if a pressurised cylinder were to fall over onto the concrete floor of a cellar, the valve fittings could break, causing CO2 to escape and propel the heavy cylinder across the floor.
Full cylinders should be stored upright and securely fasted to the wall using a chain to prevent them from toppling over. Empty cylinders can be laid on the ground somewhere out of the way where your bottled gas suppliers can access them easily to swap them for full bottles. Any empty cylinders that are laid on the ground should be chocked to prevent them from rolling around – alternatively, empty bottles can be stored upright with your full bottles. Still, they must be chained to the wall and cannot be freestanding as even empty cylinders can be a hazard.
Never Tamper With a Gas Cylinder
We’ve discussed the importance of regularly inspecting your cellar equipment for gas leaks, signs of corrosion, and weak points – but it is important to note that staff should not tamper with cylinders if they find a leak in the system. For example, suppose you experience issues with the valves on your gas cylinders. In that case, the best course of action is to close the valve, disconnect the gas bottle from your dispensing system and alert your supplier that you have a faulty cylinder. A reputable supplier will remove the cylinder from your site and take it away for testing to determine whether it can be repaired or scrapped.
It is also worth noting that you should never attempt to refill your gas cylinders yourselves. Instead, your gas supplier should carry out gas cylinder filling, as they have the correct tools and understands the best and safest procedure.
Using a trusted gas supplier is vital to avoiding common cellar issues that, if left unaddressed, will likely catch you out in the middle of a busy service. Here at Adams Gas, we supply cellar gas to pubs, bars and restaurants both directly and through our stockist network. If you would like more information on our beer gas, please contact us today.
Things to Consider When Welding Dissimilar Metals
Many welding projects will require you to join two dissimilar metals together. In order to achieve strong, high-quality welds when working with dissimilar materials, several factors must be considered, including the type of materials you’re welding, the style of welding process you’re working with, and the temperature of the workpieces. With the correct tools and knowledge, it’s possible to weld many dissimilar metals together successfully. Today, we will discuss how welders create strong, long-lasting joins between different metals.
What Are Dissimilar Metals?
Dissimilar metals have different properties, with the nobility being the property that determines how corrosion resistant a particular metal is. How easily a metal gives up its electrons correlates with its corrosion resistance. Noble metals are better at holding onto their electrons than base metals, making them more corrosion resistant.
When two dissimilar metals meet under the right conditions, the nobler metal will naturally take electrons from the less noble metal. For example, stainless steel is more noble than aluminium and will take electrons from it whenever it can, which over time will corrode the aluminium if there is an electrolyte present (such as water). The more noble a metal is than another, the higher the chance of corrosion occurring. Understanding where metals rank on the scale of nobility aids welders in understanding which metals are likely to co-operate with each other. Here is a list of the most common metals and their nobility:
Most Noble
Gold
Silver
Titanium
Stainless Steel
Copper
Brass
Tin
Lead
Carbon steel
Aluminium
Zinc
Least Noble
Why Weld Dissimilar Metals?
Attempting to fuse different metals can lead to corrosion and weak joins. Still, it’s common practice to weld dissimilar metals as it can often be beneficial to a project. Having more than one type of metal in the same workpiece can utilise the properties of both; allowing for the strength, ductility and weight of different workpieces to be altered at different joins.
Sometimes the benefit is cost-effectiveness. For example, you may need to use aluminium for a specific part of your weld for its lightweight properties; however, aluminium tends to be more expensive than metals like steel, so using aluminium sparingly and welding it to cheaper steel can save you money on materials.
Things to Consider When Welding Dissimilar Metals
While welding dissimilar metals can be advantageous, you must approach the process with care and consideration. You may end up damaging or destroying your workpieces if they are welded incorrectly.
Fusion Welds
The correct welding process is required to join dissimilar metals together successfully. Fusion welding, such as metal inert gas welding, which relies on MIG welding gas, and tungsten inert gas, which uses TIG welding gas are the techniques of choice for most dissimilar metals. Compared to other joining methods, fusion welding adds more filler. Welders should choose a filler that matches the strength of the weaker metal to reduce the risk of cracking—using a filler with greater tensile strength than the weaker metal can put unnecessary strain on the joint and result in weld failure.
It’s also worth noting that you may be trying to weld together two types of metal suited to different welding styles. Aluminium, for example, is typically welded using TIG, whilst steel is often welded using MIG. When fusing the two, a decision will have to be made over which style best suits the project. Please read our article on the difference between TIG and MIG welding to learn more about the two processes.
Metal Melting Points
It is crucial to be aware of the melting points of your workpieces, as different metals melt at drastically different temperatures. For example, steel generally won’t melt until it is heated to around 1370oC, but aluminium will start to melt when it reaches 660oC. Therefore, welders will need to modify their technique by ensuring a temperature is reached that is high enough to melt both metals, allowing them to fuse.
Thermal Expansion
Different metals contract and expand at different rates when heated or cooled. Residual stress can be increased at the weld point if you attempt to join two metals with thermal expansion rates that are too varied. This stress is most prevalent in the intermetallic zone – the point where the two metals blend together. To weld metals with drastically different thermal expansion rates, welders use methods that join metals whilst creating a minimal intermetallic zone.
The Products End Environment
The environment in which the finished workpiece will be used will affect its long-term durability and should be considered when selecting which metals to the for the project. For example, if left unprotected, carbon steel will likely corrode in salt-heavy air if steps are not taken to galvanise the material or add a protective coating. The intended environment and use are key considerations for any welding project but are particularly important when welding dissimilar metals. You will have to consider the suitability of two different materials.
Incompatible Metals
An experienced welder with a good knowledge of the metals they’re working with will know which welding technique to use and which filler is best suited to the application to bridge together unlikely materials. That said, some metal combinations do not respond well to fusion welding, including:
- Titanium and steel
- Aluminium and copper
- Aluminium and stainless steel
This is not to say that you cannot weld these metals together, but a different method will be required. This may include laser welding, diffusion bonding, friction welding or solid-state welding.
As a reputable gas cylinder suppler, Adams Gas understand that there are many approaches to welding and that each process requires a specific type of gas. If you would like any more information about our welding gas and how we can help, please contact us today.
Which Industries Could You Supply as a Stockist?
We’re always on the lookout for well-established businesses across the UK to join the Adams Gas stockist network. By adding our gas products to your existing business offering, you’ll be tapping into a lucrative revenue stream. We have a wide range of gases available; the ones you decide to stock are up to you, and the decision will be guided by the industries you want to supply. If you’re still wondering how our gases could sit alongside other products in your business, keep reading to better understand the different sectors you could supply as an Adams Gas stockist.
The Hospitality Industry – Pubs, Bars and Restaurants
There are approximately 38,500 food-led licensed premises in the UK and a further 57,000 wet-led licensed premises. Most of these businesses utilise bottled gas in their day-to-day operations. Any venue serving draught beer will rely on gas to keep the beer flowing, and pubs, bars and restaurants must have a reliable, consistent supply of gas to keep things running smoothly. Stocking pub gas is an excellent choice for those prepared to deliver gas to local licensed premises weekly and who have a solid reputation in their area for being reliable, punctual and flexible. Running out of gas can be incredibly detrimental to wet-led businesses, and suppliers who can offer out-of-hours gas delivery or emergency orders will thrive in this sector.
What Kind of Gas Could You Supply to Hospitality?
- CO2 – for draught lager, cider and post-mix dispensing
- CO2/Nitrogen Mixes – for stouts, smooths, bitters and craft beer
- Helium – less frequently, but often used for balloons and celebrations
Seasonal or Year-Round?
Supplying gas to your local hospitality sector is a year-round opportunity. However, you may see upticks in demand across the summer months for venues with beer gardens and in December when venues are busier, thanks to Christmas celebrations.
Want to know more about what it’s like to be a cellar gas stockist? Please have a read of our Consumable Solutions Case Study.
Professional and Hobbyist Welders
Becoming an Adams Gas stockist is an obvious choice for any business that deals in welding supplies and consumables. With our comprehensive range of MIG and TIG welding gases in a variety of sizes, we’ve made it easy to access both the hobbyist and professional welding markets. Depending on your business, you can choose to supply both hobby gas and trade gas, or focus your efforts on one or the other. Many industries rely on welding, including agriculture, construction and automotive, so choosing to supply trade gas can open up serval revenue streams.
What Kind of Gas Could You Supply to Welders?
- Argon – for TIG welding
- Argon/CO2 Mixes – for MIG welding
- Propylene – for fusion welding, cutting and heating metals
Seasonal or Year-Round?
Supplying welding gas, particularly for trade, is a year-round opportunity. However, if you choose to go down the hobbyist route, you may find demand dipping in the coldest months, as cold welding can impact the technique and finish; non-professionals may be put off by this.
If you would like to learn more about how lucrative supplying welding gas could be, have a read of our Basic Welding Services Case Study.
Domestic Heating and Patio Gas
If you’re looking for business opportunities that allow you to capture the domestic market, offering propane gas and butane gas to your customers can be an excellent supplement. There are around 4 million off-mains homes in the UK that aren’t connected to the national gas network. Many of these rely on LPG gas bottles for heat, and even those on the gas network often consume LPG by using BBQs and patio heaters. Supplying propane and butane can also be a fitting addition for businesses geared towards camping, outdooring and motorhomes. Hikers regularly rely on Campingaz cylinders to cook food outdoors, and motorhomes require gas to power their cookers.
What Kind of Gas Could You Supply For Domestic and Recreational Use?
- Large Volume Propane – for off-mains home heating
- Smaller Volume Propane and Butane – for BBQs, patio heaters and motorhomes
- Campingaz – portable canisters for outdoor living
Seasonal or Year-Round?
LPG bottles for BBQs and patio heaters will predominantly be seasonal, with demand rising in the summer months. However, supplying LPG for off-mains heating will be year-round if the LPG is also used to power kitchen equipment like hobs and overs, with natural surges in the winter when the heating systems are on.
If you’re interested in supplying domestic propane and butane and would like to know more, have a read of our Andy’s Gas Case Study.
Food and Drinks Industry
We’ve discussed how businesses can benefit from supplying the hospitality sector with gas. Still, there are more opportunities to be had for those looking to provide gas to other industries centred around food and drink. For example, suppose your business is adjacent to food production, processing or packaging, or you have connections in those sectors. In that case, there is room for the supply of food grade CO2 and nitrogen, which are frequently used in food growth and preservation.
What Kind of Gas Could You Supply to the Food and Drinks Industry?
- Nitrogen – for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), food and drinks preservation, and glass frosting.
- Food Grade CO2 – for hydroponics
Seasonal or Year-Round?
Stocking nitrogen and food-grade CO2 is a year-round opportunity, as there is always demand for food production and preservation.
Find out more about how to supply customers with bottled nitrogen.
Adams Gas is a versatile gas supplier. We understand that demand for our products spans multiple industries, and you could help satisfy demand by joining our stockist network. Contact us today to learn more about working with us as a stockist.
Cold Weather Welding
A good weld takes skill, patience, access to quality equipment and ideally, good weather. There’s some flexibility for hobby welders, such as when and where you weld, but for professionals, you often get little choice. Your customers are relying on you to produce high-quality work even in winter. Professional welding projects are rarely halted by cold weather, and this is achieved by welders who know how to protect themselves, their equipment and materials from the elements. Today, we will discuss the issues and solutions associated with welding in cold weather.
Keeping Yourself Warm & Comfortable
The first thing to consider when welding in cold weather is your clothing. You must maintain feeling in your fingers to weld safely, and you can’t afford to let the cold distract you. If you’re uncomfortable, the quality of your weld will suffer, so wrap up warm and ensure you’re wearing sensible clothing that doesn’t restrict your movement. Welding is a manual, physical process that requires concentration, which can diminish if you’re uncomfortably cold.
Of course, it’s not just about maintaining quality welds; you also need to consider your own safety. If you’re welding in an elevated position, you’ll need to ensure you’re using fall protection equipment and quality work boots with good grip to reduce the risks of slipping on icy scaffolding platforms. Whatever you wear to protect yourself from the cold, ensure your outer layer is flame retardant, you’re wearing quality, heavy leather gloves with a spare pair on hand in case yours get wet, and you’re not wearing any polyester. As welding gas suppliers, we also stock a range of welding safety equipment suitable for cold weather welding.
Keeping Your Equipment Safe
In winter, consideration also needs to be given to your welding equipment, particularly when it is being stored. If you’re following the gas cylinder storage rules, ensuring your gas is stored in a well-ventilated area, away from heat sources and combustible materials, cold weather should not affect your MIG welding gas or TIG welding gas.
Your welding machine and rods should be treated with caution in cold weather. Ideally, welding machines should be kept in a dry, tepid environment. However, manufacturers understand that isn’t always feasible, and most good welding machines are built to be heavy-duty and withstand fluctuations in temperature. It’s actually the dust and moisture that come with cold weather that you should be wary of. Excess moisture that finds its way into your welding equipment can damage the machine and cause corrosion. Therefore, it’s advisable to keep your welder covered in winter when not in use to protect from dust and moisture.
Industrial welding supplies like welding rods should be kept warm, dry and treated with care. If a welding rod becomes wet when in use, the heat from the arc can cause the shielding layer of the rod to crack and crumble from the rod during a weld. Water vapour created by a wet rod can contaminate the weld and offer little shielding of the weld puddle.
How Are Welding Materials Affected by Cold Weather?
Most metals will become brittle at low temperatures, in fact, they will have a narrow but tangible temperature range at which they transition from ductile to brittle. For many types of steel, this will occur at 0oC, making it difficult to weld in cold weather. However, stainless steel’s ductile-to-brittle transition temperature is much lower (around -200 oC), allowing for safe welding in winter without the risk of shattering. Before welding at low temperatures, you should check the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature specific to your chosen welding material.
Weld Strength in Cold Temperatures
The strength of a weld can be affected by cold temperatures through cracking and poor penetration, which occur when the weld cools too rapidly. Since the rate of heat lost is directly proportional to the temperature, we know that cold condition welds will cool faster. There are other factors are at play here, including the chemistry of the steel, the hydrogen levels in the weld and humidity levels of the work environment, but cold weather can heavily impact weld strength and quality.
Preheating Metal Workpieces
A weld will fail if the base metals are not penetrated correctly due to cold weather, which can be incredibly dangerous, particularly for large, heavy-duty projects. When cold, base metals can immediately suck the heat from a fresh weld. This is what leads to cracking and poor penetration. Preheating the workpieces is the advisable solution. It is typical to use an acetylene gas torch, and although it can take some time to get the metal up to temperature, it is well worth it to ensure a high-quality weld, even in winter.
Cold weather impacting your welds is only logical since welding is a thermal process. As long as you stay aware of all the issues we’ve discussed today, use high-quality workpieces and get your welding gas from reputable bottled gas suppliers, you should be able to weld successfully in cold temperatures. Here at Adams Gas, we supply a wide range of gases suitable for different types of welding. Please contact us if you would like more information about our products.
Our Guide to Beer and Cellar Gas Efficiency for Pubs
Good cellar gas maintenance is crucial to pubs, bars and restaurants that want to maintain efficiency, even when under pressure during a busy service. However, as an area of the business that the customer seldom sees, it can be all too easy to let standards slip in the cellar. This can have knock-on effects that not only influence the quality of your beer but impact the safety of your venue and waste money. Therefore, pub owners and managers must have a thorough understanding of the gas in their cellar, how to store it and how it works if they want to operate efficiently. Today, we will explain everything you need to know about beer and cellar gas and why it is so important to the hospitality industry.
What Gas is Used in Pubs?
The type of beer gas a pub uses will depend on the draught products being served, and it is common for venues to keep more than one type of gas. Gases are chosen based on their characteristics and their effects on the beverages.
100% CO2
Sometimes referred to as pure cellar gas, CO2 is generally used for carbonated lagers and ciders, as well as bag-in-box post-mix soft drinks.
70/30 Mixed Gas
70/30 is a blend of 70% nitrogen and 30% CO2 used primarily for low carbonated beers such as stout and bitter. The high concentration of nitrogen is what gives stouts and bitters their familiar smooth and creamy character.
60/40 Mixed Gas
This blend of 60% CO2 and 40% nitrogen is typically used for dispensing craft lagers and pale ales. It is possible to run lager on 60/40 mixed gas; however, it will affect the taste over time.
In all cases, you should be running each beer on the correct gas as per the brewer’s recommendation. If you’re ever in doubt over which is the correct gas for your beer, speak to your supplier, as running beer on the wrong gas can affect the quality of the beer and cause dispensing issues that will lead to wasted stock and gas.
The Importance of Beer Gas
Beer is the bread and butter of pubs everywhere, and the gas used in the dispensing process should be considered as necessary as any other ingredient. Gas influences the taste and texture of beer and is the difference between serving a perfect pint that holds its head and tastes great and serving a flat pint that will almost certainly warrant a complaint from the customer. A good beer gas will:
- Help the beer stay fresh for longer by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms.
- Influence the taste by changing the pH value
- Aid in creating and maintaining a long-lasting head. There is nothing worse than pouring a pint of lager only to have the head dissipate immediately. Whilst many factors contribute to a good head, including the quality and upkeep of the glassware, a high-quality beer gas will contribute to the longevity of the head.
- Retain flavour and prolong the taste of the beer, which is crucial for lager and pilsner.
- Make dispensing fast, waste-free and straightforward.
How Much Beer Do You Get For Your Gas?
The exact number of pints you’ll get from a cylinder of cellar gas will be dependent on many factors, including:
- The type of gas you’re using to dispense
- The product you’re dispensing
- The length of the line from the keg to the dispense point on the bar
- The temperature of your cellar
- The quality and condition of your dispensing set-up and cellar equipment
Let’s assume you’re dispensing from an 11-gallon beer keg – which is the keg size of choice for most leading breweries and on-trade suppliers – and using a 6.35kg of CO2. I if everything is operating efficiently, you should expect to yield around 1200 pints, equivalent to over 13 11G kegs. If you want to break it down even further, that equates to 5.26 grams of gas per pint.
The easiest way to determine how much gas you should keep in stock to ensure you never run out is to hold 1.5 the volume of gas your pub goes through in a week – or if you really want to be safe, hold double what you think you’ll go through. So, for example, if you usually use two cylinders of CO2 and one cylinder of 70/30 mixed gas, keep four CO2 and two 30/70 on-site, and you shouldn’t find yourself running short. Running out of gas can be a severe blow to pubs, as most beers won’t dispense without it.
If you find yourself going through an unusually high volume of cellar gas or regularly running out, you may have a leak somewhere in your dispensing system, or your gas pressure may be incorrect. These things can impact efficiency, wasting beer, gas and money, so it’s best to speak to a qualified cellar technician who can locate and rectify the issue.
Storing Cellar Gas Safely
If handled or stored incorrectly, cellar gas cylinders can be a health and safety hazard, so pub staff must be trained in cellar safety and never attempt to change the gas cylinder without proper training on best practices. When it comes to storing cellar gas, the following should be adhered to:
- Used and in-use gas cylinders should be stored upright against a wall and secured with a chain to prevent them from toppling over. Emptied can be laid on the floor and choked to prevent movement.
- Carry out risk assessments on your cellar regularly, ensuring you’ve highlighted steps taken to mitigate against gas leaks. This could include installing a CO2 monitor and increasing cellar ventilation.
- Never throw, drop or leave cylinders anywhere where they could fall over. Dispensing gases are compressed and stored under high pressure. Impact on the cylinder risks damaging the valves and causing a leak.
Gas is an integral part of any pub or bar, and if you want your business to be efficient as possible, you should ensure you’re working with a reputable gas cylinder supplier. At Adams Gas, we supply cellar and beer gas to the on-trade, both direct and through our extensive stockist network. If you would like more information about ordering gas for your pub from Adams Gas, contact us today.
Stockist Case Study: Andy’s Gas
Andy’s Gas is a long-established home heating gas business serving the Bristol area, predominantly offering butane and propane for home use. Identifying a gap in the local market for other products, Andy’s Gas joined the Adams Gas stockist network in 2016 as a way to offer other industrial gases to his customers.
Adams Gas is a major gas supplier in the South East, supplying gas products to our reliable stockist network up and down the country.
This case study will focus on how the partnership has allowed Andy’s Gas to expand and complement the existing gas offering of an established business.
Our Relationship with Andy’s Gas
Andy’s Gas’s supply their customers with their own butane and propane, with the remaining industrial gas offering made up of Adams Gas products. They stock the full Adam’s Gas range, although not typically in the largest sizes. The range includes but is not limited to helium, CO2 Argon mixes for welding, pure argon, oxygen, propylene and nitrogen.
The strengths of our relationship with Andy’s Gas include:
- The ability for Andy’s Gas to expand their existing bottled gas offering as part of our stockist network, without having to source these gases themselves.
- Customers can order through Adam’s Gas website and receive deliveries from Andy’s Gas, providing they fall within the catchment area.
- Respect for the boundaries of distributorships.
- Happy with the terms and margins.
- Year round business – not seasonal.
The Andy’s Gas Business Model
Operating from a well-organised site, Andy’s Gas sells directly to customers with no interest in wholesale but a keen focus on developing the Bristol market. The business has an excellent customer service proposition, which has resulted in great customer retention. The results are achieved by employing a loyal and effective team of sales staff, yard labourers, and drivers.
Andy’s Gas Marketing and Sales Strategy
All marketing is done through the businesses’ website, where information about their own gases and Adams Gas products is available. Outside of this, they rely heavily on word of mouth and actively follow up leads from Adams Gas.
The company has plans to explore personal selling in the future – for example, to the licensed trade, including tied houses.
Distribution and Logistics
Andy’s Gas runs its own delivery fleet, comprised of branded flatbed vans and two four by four trailer vehicles. Delivery and collections with Adams Gas work well. They also employ the services of a good, local courier.
The company offers true distribution, providing same and next day delivery within a 20-mile radius of the site as far as Weston-Super-Mare under the following price structure:
- 5-mile radius scheduled for £10, emergency £20
- 10-mile radius scheduled for £20, emergency £40
- 20-mile radius scheduled for £30, emergency £60
Alongside distribution, they also welcome customer collections as far west as South Wales and as far east as Swindon.
Business Development
Andy’s Gas is happy to grow organically – which nicely suits their marketing approach and reliance on word of mouth. They have been receptive to contact with Adams Gas and enjoy keeping an open dialogue, even sharing ideas and recommendations for streamlining the ordering process we have with our stockists.
We’re pleased to report that the overall feedback on our relationship with Andy’s Gas is positive and that they are interested in exploring a sub-distribution model in the future.
Adams Gas Continues to Build and Maintain Relationships with Stockists Across the Country
We are always looking for new ways to offer business opportunities for both our new and longstanding stockists. If you would like to learn more about how we can help your business become a stockist for Adams Gas, please fill out our enquiry form.
What Opportunities are Available as a Stockist?
Over the last 25 years, we’ve built our reputation on being the South-East’s biggest gas supplier of bottled gas products. While we already have a well-established client base across the UK, we’re always looking for reliable stockists to join our network.
Our gas products are an ideal additional revenue stream for your business on top of your current products and services. We have a wide range of stockists on our books, including welding suppliers, party shops, motor mechanics, tool hire depots, hobby welders and much more. Browse our case studies for more information on our stockist’s business models and key distribution successes.
In this blog, we’ll talk you through the type of returns you can expect when you become a stockist of Adams Gas, as well as the benefits of working alongside a trusted and experienced supplier.
What Kind of Return Can I Expect to See?
There is a potential for our stockists to see up to a 50% clear profit margin on every sale — potentially more if you provide gas cylinder filling regularly. Once you have established your client base and the gas bottles they need (for both trade and domestic purposes), you can expect to see financial rewards very quickly.
The industries you can work with really are limitless. From farming to engineering, entertainment, maintenance and welding supplies, we can help you scale up your business, adding a profitable sales arm to your growing company.
You can choose to stock a wide range of bottle gas products, and you’ll be happy to know that we take care of the heavy lifting when we supply. Your primary focus will be on delivering gas to customers in your local area for a healthy profit each month.
What You Can Expect From Adams Gas
We always want to see our stockists succeed, which is why we will inform you of regular lead opportunities from our highly visited national website. You can then coordinate this information with your local clientele and store sales — if you do this effectively, there is the capacity for large profit margins.
We understand that gas is a very competitive market, so we will provide you with a dedicated sales area. We will not set up any further stockists within this area — this gives you the scope to grow your network.
As a valued Adams Gas stockist, you will not only benefit from receiving high-quality products, but we can also offer training and technical support for selling and distributing our gases.
What Adams Gas Expect From Our Stockists
As a stockist, you should have the correct equipment in place and be comfortable running a collection and/or delivery service in your area. You will also be expected to handle your own sales enquiries, and you will benefit significantly from promoting your gas products in your local area to supplement the leads from our website.
If you are interested, there is also the option to set up a smaller stockist network within your assigned area. Please contact us if you would like to find out more.
What Gas Products Can Adams Gas Supply?
You can open up your business to many new opportunities and industries when it comes to gas bottles. At Adams Gas, we have something for every application, including Beer Gas, CO2 gas, Nitrogen, Helium, and TIG & MIG Welding Gas. Below, we will take a brief look at how each gas can be used within various industries.
TIG & MIG Welding Gas
You can sell our MIG welding gas and TIG welding gas to the public in a variety of sizes that are easy to carry and store. The small portable bottles are ideal for small site workers, like car restorers or hobby welders.
Helium Balloon Gas
Our helium gas can be sold to wedding planners, party shops, or those who organise more formal occasions. The disposable tanks are great for small one-off events, and the refillable option is sustainable for business use, like in the motor industry or by market traders.
Nitrogen Gas
Our nitrogen cylinders serve a wide range of applications, from food and wine preservation to air conditioning and purging, fire suppression, and motorsports.
CO2 Gas
Choose from a variety of CO2 gas bottle sizes, from 1.5kg up to 34kg. CO2 is regularly used in aquatics, at paintballing venues, and for glass frosting in hospitality, as well as hydroponics and plant growth.
Beer Gas
Our cellar and beer gas is one of the most cost-effective on the market. Not only are our cylinders affordable, but the quality of the gas means that you can improve the taste and extend the life of your customer’s stock.
We hope you’ll agree that this is a great business opportunity for you to add a reliable, additional revenue stream while working with a top UK supplier. We’d love to be a part of your business growth by supplying our quality line of gas products.
If you’d like to find out more about our business opportunities and work alongside Adams Gas as a stockist, please get in touch, and we can answer any questions you may have.
Stockist Case Study: Ty-Canol Restorations
Ty-Canol Restorations are an original distributor. Walter began the restoration business and was initially supplied by another gas supplier but didn’t like the rental system and was looking to source an alternative.
From the start of our relationship with Ty-Canol, Walter negotiated a distributorship for the whole of Wales, providing a dedicated range of quality industrial, welding, cellar and helium balloon bottled gas supplies.
At Adams Gas, we’re a leading gas supplier in the South East, and we distribute our gas products to our reliable stockist network up and down the country.
In this case study, we’ll focus on the work of Ty-Canol and discuss our relationship with the stockist, highlighting their business model and key distribution successes.
Ty-Canol Business Model and Sales Strategy
Ty-Canol is a gas-only distributor, though they sometimes consult on restoration projects. In the past, the business has run major UK distribution networks (and one African network), consulting on various interesting distribution projects.
Currently, Walter has a distributor network of 26 clients, including GMF (Glamorgan Motor Factors), across Wales — he is also a listed supplier to Parts Alliance UK wide. Walter works hard to recruit, train and manage his network and often fulfils orders via Parts Alliance (Cheltenham and Gloucester) outside of his area, which isn’t always convenient.
While Ty-Canol mainly distributes welding gases, they also stock beer and cellar gas and helium (as one-offs when other suppliers have let someone down). The majority of customers are Motor Factors, and because GMF is growing, his network is also growing. Because Walter handles technical support, he turns many end-user enquiries into orders for GMF branches that the business would otherwise not have won — he does this by asking for PO’s, then shipping the products with the central order, usually weekly (on Mondays).
Distribution and Logistics
Walter runs a highly efficient business with the help of two 4×4 vehicles and custom-built trailers. Because of this, he can bulk-buy from Adams Gas and times his returns effectively to make them free of charge. Walter’s sub-distributors need to be capable of handling ten bottle orders to qualify for his free distribution and returns policy.
Adams Gas Continue to Build Relationships with our Stockist Network
We’re proud to have ongoing relationships with a whole host of leading stockists and gas suppliers. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help your business by becoming a stockist for Adams Gas, please get in touch or visit our business opportunities page.
Stockist Case Study: Consumable Solutions
Our relationship with Consumable Solutions began in 2010 when Sam developed his workshop consumables business. Sam approached Adams Gas, realising there was a simple additional profit opportunity he could capture.
Adams Gas is one of the biggest distributors in the South East, supplying gas products to our reliable stockist network up and down the country.
In this case study, we’ll focus on the work of Consumable Solutions and discuss our relationship with the stockist, highlighting key success areas, business development, distribution and logistics.
Our Relationship with Consumable Solutions
Consumable Solutions is essentially an on-vehicle shop for workshop consumables, equipment, and, importantly, gas. Sam sees this relationship as key to his business, and at one point, he commented that he has been tempted to concentrate solely on the gas business.
The strengths of our relationship with Consumable Solutions include:
- An easy sell
- No real price objection
- No major price competition
- The rent-free proposition is much more palatable than a BOC approach
Additional benefits for Sam include the attractive ‘mark-up’ and that Adams Gas have good experience in technical, sales and support areas.
Consumable Solutions Business Model
Sam has a unique on-vehicle business model. The proposition is that his customers deal with him and can purchase from van stock or place orders during the sales call. As the sole employee, with the exception of hiring a driver to handle higher volume gas deliveries, Sam is often praised for his consistently high level of customer service.
Compared with other consumable products, the margin is favourable, and he averages around £4,000 in sales revenues every month.
Consumable Solutions Marketing and Sales Strategy
Sam’s marketing efforts are entirely focused on personal selling. He spends time targeting areas he wants to address, then visits sites to introduce himself and his on-vehicle range (his mobile retail shop). At the moment, he has no website and doesn’t use direct marketing or telesales.
The primary customer sector for Consumable Solutions is welding, but Sam also markets the full range of Adams Gas products to his customers and has ventured into supplying events, cellar gas and licensed trade, aquatics, agriculture and touring cars.
Distribution and Logistics
Sam usually collects stock twice weekly from the Adams Gas base in Margate, keeping his on-vehicle stock as low as possible. He keeps two vehicles on the road, for times when the numbers of gas orders would overload his main transportation van.
He has recently bought a secure container and is renting space from one of his customers (a farmer), which will enable him to consider deliveries from Adams to his new storage site. Sam is also actively looking to improve his terms in return and thinking about volume discounts — as he prefers to operate with little or no debt.
Business Development
At present, Sam is almost at full capacity. A key part of Sam’s proposition is himself and his informal account management approach, including regular physical calling — the mobile shop stimulates impulse purchases and ensures he has repeat business and excellent customer retention.
Consumable Solutions is mainly a cash business for both gas and workshop consumables. Some of his larger customers pay on invoices and have a credit account with him to manage cash flow effectively.
Adams Gas Continues to Build Relationships With a Wide Range of Industries
As a reputable gas supplier, we’re proud to have ongoing relationships with various businesses across the UK. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of our business opportunities and services for our stockists.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help your business by becoming a stockist for Adams Gas, please get in touch.