Blog

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 CO_{2. 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.

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 CO_{2. 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.

Stockist Case Study: Pyramid Steel 

Our relationship with Pyramid Steel began with a phone call where we were able to offer the company exclusivity and a much better margin than they already had in place. The current arrangement allows the Aldershot-based firm flexibility in negotiating locally and providing a better offering to their bigger customers.

Adams Gas is one of the biggest distributors in the South East, and we supply our gas products to our reliable stockist network up and down the country.

In this case study, we’ll focus on the work of Pyramid Steel and discuss our relationship with the stockist, highlighting key success areas and marketing techniques. 

Our Relationship with Pyramid Steel

Luke at Pyramid Steel appreciates the relationship with Adams Gas, saying that “the response times are good and the offer fits well with the existing steel and welding business”. He also mentions that he has added customers from other sectors like aquatics, home brewing etc. The helium business is really important for him, and he has built some genuine B2B relationships in that area. In summary, Luke mentioned that Pyramid feels valued by Adams Gas.

Pyramid Steel Business Model 

The core business is steel, welding equipment and fabrication — supplying mainly into the building sector. Our gasses are a natural fit with Pyramid’s core customers, supplying mostly Argon/CO2 mix. However, as mentioned above, the diverse range of gases available enables Luke to reach many other sectors.

At present, Pyramid primarily communicates with its customers online, and orders are placed through telephone sales. They have a solid and well-positioned retail outlet selling steel, welding equipment and tools, which can be delivered with a nominal £6 delivery charge or collected for free.

Pyramid Steel Marketing and Sales Strategy 

Pyramid’s main marketing communications vehicle is its website, which has a dedicated section for gases, including a segment on Adams Gas. Orders are placed over the phone, and Luke has built up excellent customer retention based on his customer service, which we support. The company wins new customers either through referrals or via the Adams Gas leads.

At the beginning of our relationship, Luke mentioned that he was initially sceptical about Steve’s offer to drive marketing by finding customers and referring leads, but this works really well and has been one of the highlights of the relationship with Adams Gas and is distinctive from other suppliers. 

Luke is delighted to have extended his territory and aims to serve an area soon that encompasses Hertfordshire in the north, right down to Portsmouth and over to at least Basingstoke in the west. 

Distribution, Logistics and Business Development 

 Overall, the logistics are very effective with reasonable lead times, and this works well for Pyramid. His location is excellent from a transport and communications perspective, and Luke is taking on a pallet per week, which includes free collection, which suits Pyramid very well.

Luke is pleased with the growth to date from his gas business, but he believes he could do better and is ambitious to grow significantly in the future — taking further advantage of his territory’s exclusivity. 

Luke’s overall feeling is that this is a very positive business relationship, enabling him to grow year on year.  It fits very well with his core business and has helped him to market to other customers whom he would not have expected to reach. 

Adams Gas Continues to Build Relationships With a Wide Range of Industries 

We’re proud to have ongoing relationships with a whole host of leading suppliers. 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.

Stockist Case Study: Peter Gibbs

As one of Adams Gas’s earliest distributors for industrial gases, Peter has been a customer of ours for many years. 

Following a considerable period of growth, Peter gave up haulage and has ‘created a monster he can’t escape’, now supplying rectory gas propane and butane to British oxygen customers and more.

This case study will focus on Peter’s business model and marketing successes. We will also discuss his relationship with us as a stockist.

Our Relationship with Peter Gibbs

Our relationship with Peter is honest and open, built on years of trust and reliable supply. Currently, Peter trades rent-free gas as his sole business, selling both direct and via stocking points, including a garden centre and stockist in Halifax.  

While Peter admits the business is currently too small to employ a permanent partner profitably, he makes around 30% net on the gas business.

The sales potential for our stockists really is limitless. If you have a well-established set of customers who would be interested in purchasing gas for trade or domestic purposes, you can expect to reap financial rewards extremely quickly.

Peter Gibbs Marketing and Sales Strategy

Peter’s marketing efforts include his website and attending an Auto Jumble once a month, attracting car restorers from Yorkshire and the North East. He is able to supply many of our gas products throughout a variety of industries by attending these events.

More recently, Peter has made progress in aquatics via connections through the garden centre. Peter’s feedback tells us that he has had no issues with other Adams distributors in the area.

We often supply Peter with leads and orders, and his full delivery service meets his customer expectations from the Adams website link. Our highly visited national website had over 183,000 unique visitors last year!

Distribution and Logistics 

Peter holds his stock in a secure and safe compound where goods are delivered and moved with a fork truck. Due to his established connections with the haulier, he is alerted when he needs to be present. 

Delivery and distribution are made easier with the use of Peter’s 3.5-tonne truck and 4×4 trailer. We not only supply our stockist with high-quality products, but we can also offer advice on training and technical support for selling and distributing our gas.

Business Development 

Peter has experienced continued business growth against increasingly fierce competition and will potentially seek new opportunities with an adjacent distributor in the future.

Adams Gas Continue to Build Relationships with our Stockist Network 

We’re one of the biggest distributors in the South East, and we supply our gas products to our loyal stockist network up and down the country.

We’re proud to have ongoing relationships with a whole host of leading stockists and gas suppliers. We look forward to continuing to provide gas products for our stockists and their customers.

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.

What is the Process of MIG Welding?

MIG welding is a popular arc welding technique that uses a constant solid wire electrode heated and fed from a welding gun into the weld pool. Although MIG welding requires quality gas, equipment and lots of practice, the ease and speed of this welding method means that it is easy to learn for hobby-welders working on DIY home projects and those who need to use it across various professional industries.

In this blog, we take a look at the process of MIG welding, including the safety precautions you should take and how to prepare your equipment. We’ll also explore the range of MIG welding gas we offer at Adams Gas, highlighting which is best for different applications.

MIG Welding Safety

Welding safety should be taken seriously, and you should always make sure that the correct measures and equipment are in place to protect yourself and/or employees from welding hazards. 

Before beginning any welding project, you need to make sure you have the correct MIG welding supplies and safety equipment. The area you are working in should be free from any potential fire hazards, such as sparks, heat and combustible materials. 

You must wear the appropriate safety gear, including cuff-less full-length pants, a flame-resistant long-sleeve jacket, welding helmet, leather gloves and shoes (or boots) and industry-standard safety glasses or goggles. This equipment will protect you and others from sparks and spatter while welding.

We have a complete collection of welding safety equipment in our shop, including clothing, helmets and gloves. By investing in high-quality safety gear, proper training and certified equipment, you can help minimise the risks of welding injuries. 

For more information on welding safety and equipment, take a look at our blog, How to Choose your Welding Accessories. 

Metal Preparation

Solid MIG wire does not combat rust, dirt, oil or other contaminants very well. You should use a grinder or metal brush to clean down to bare metal before striking the arc. It’s essential that your clamp connects to clean metal as electrical impedance affects the wire feeding performance. Beveling the joint will give you a stronger weld, allowing it to fully penetrate the base metal (especially for butt joints).

Equipment Preparation 

When preparing welding equipment for MIG, you should always check cable connections are fray-free and tight-fitting. MIG requires DC electrode positive or reverse polarity, so you must select electrode polarity — you can find connections on the inside of the machine.

Next, you will set the gas flow by turning on your shielding gas at a flow rate of 20 to 25 cubic feet per hour. Your gas hose should be tight-fitting with no leaks, so if you suspect a leak, you should dispose of the old hose immediately and install a new one for safety and performance reasons.

Tension is also an important factor in MIG welding. Applying too much or little can affect the wire spool hub and drive rolls, resulting in a poor quality weld. Refer to manufacturers instructions on the equipment you are using to ensure you have adjusted the tension correctly. 

Wire Selection

There are two main wire types for welding steel, AWS classification ER70S-3 for all-purpose and ER70S-6 wire for when deoxidisers are required for rusty steel. As leading welding gas suppliers, we recommend a .030 inch wire diameter for general applications in both DIY and trade.

Thinner materials will require a reduced heat output, so .023-inch would be suitable, or for thicker materials, .035 to 0.045 inches will be within the output range.

MIG Welding Gas Selection

Here at Adams Gas, we stock a range of MIG welding gas, including argon, helium, CO2 and oxygen mixes. You must choose the correct gas for the desired application since each has specific benefits, such as better arc stability or a reduction in spatter.

Shielding gases have a distinct purpose in MIG welding to protect the weld area from oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and water vapour. The weld area needs this protection to prevent holes in the weld.

If you’re looking for an all-purpose shielding gas for carbon steel, we would recommend an argon / CO2 mix — it will help reduce the amount of spatter and give you the best bead appearance with less burn-through on thin metals. Our CO2 welding gas will increase the amount of spatter but is beneficial for deeper penetration.

If you have any questions about the products we stock, including MIG gas, TIG welding gas or beer gas, please reach out to our friendly team, who will be more than happy to advise you further.

How to Supply your Customers with Bottled Nitrogen

Adams Gas is a trusted bottled gas supplier of nitrogen bottles. We’re proud to offer a range of rent-free cylinders from 2L-50L for many uses across a variety of industries. 

Nitrogen is a non-toxic, odourless, and colourless gas. It’s relatively inert and is not flammable. This blog will explore the various uses for our nitrogen cylinders and discuss how you can provide this gas to customers as an Adams Gas stockist.

If you’re seeking a new business opportunity to sell gas as one of our stockists, or perhaps you want to expand your range further, let us help boost your revenue stream with up to 50% profit on each sale.

Nitrogen for Air Conditioning 

Nitrogen helps to absorb moisture that builds up inside air conditioning units. The gas regulator is connected to one of the lines and flushes out the system. The gas is highly effective at removing contaminants allowing the system to operate safely and efficiently.

Due to nitrogen gas being easy to store, cylinders can be used for several jobs, making it a cost-effective solution for many businesses.

It’s essential to flush AC units regularly as they become contaminated due to oxidisation, and so there is a vast market for stockists to supply businesses with nitrogen. 

Nitrogen for Food and Drink Preservation

The versatility of nitrogen gas means it can be used for freezing, packaging and bottling various food and drink items. For many, this gas is a cost-effective solution that is widely available, making it a popular choice within the industry. 

When used in liquid form, nitrogen can be applied to food to freeze it in a matter of seconds. The extremely cold temperature of the liquid allows tiny ice crystals to form and lengthens the product’s life and quality. An example of liquid nitrogen being used is to make ice cream or premium cocktails.

Nitrogen gas is used by factories up and down the country for food packaging. Using the purging method where oxygen is removed from the product container, the food items are preserved for improved quality and a longer shelf-life. Crisp manufacturers use nitrogen gas to sustain the pressure levels required to prevent the crisps from crushing during transportation.

Throughout the drinks industry, nitrogen is widely used to introduce fine gas bubbles into beverages to draw out dissolved oxygen, which affects the product’s taste. This method is standard in wine production to ensure that the oxygen levels fall below 0.5%.

Find out more about how nitrogen is used in the food and beverage industry in our blog.  

Nitrogen in the Medical Industry 

With a boiling point of approximately −195.8 °C, liquid nitrogen is used widely across the medical industry to remove unwanted skin, warts and pre-cancerous cells. It’s also used to purge oxygen during the packaging of medical supplies, ensuring sterility and cleanliness.

Liquid nitrogen can also be used as a cryogen to preserve biological samples, such as sperm, eggs, and animal genetic samples. For medical use, laboratory personnel must be fully qualified and use with extreme caution when preserving samples.

Nitrogen for Motorsports

Nitrogen gas can be used for tyre inflation within the motorsport industry. The gas is perfect for this application due to its consistent rate of expansion. Most race cars will use nitrogen to accurately predict tire pressure fluctuation and keep tyres at the correct pressure for longer, offering an improved tyre life.

Other uses for nitrogen in similar industries are to power portable air tools and within aircraft maintenance, where the gas displaces the oxygen in the fuel tank.

We’re always on the lookout for businesses to join our growing gas stockists network and supply customers with our products. Our nitrogen bottles are available in a range of sizes to suit your client’s needs and can be refilled. If you would like to learn more, contact us today.

For over 20 years, we’ve been one of the leading suppliers of bottled gas in Kent and Southeast of England, with a well-established client base across the whole of the country. 

If you’re seeking a new business opportunity, visit our blog and see 7 reasons why you should join our stockist network and how to supply gas to a variety of industries.

What Gas Bottle Do I Need for a Patio Heater?

There’s nothing better than a day spent relaxing in the sun or a meal shared outside in your garden with friends and family. As the evening draws in and the sun disappears, you might find that the air turns a little too cool for comfort. You don’t want to let your enjoyable evening get cut short just because there’s a nip in the air, so it’s time to fire up the patio heater and get everyone gathered around for a warm and cosy night. With any luck, the Great British weather will hold up, and you’ll have many evenings spent around your patio heater without the threat of rain. You’ll likely be using a lot of gas to keep you and your guests warm all night. Before you start reaching out to bottled gas suppliers to keep your patio heater burning all year round, you first need to know what to look for in patio gas bottles.

 

 

How do Patio Heaters Work?

Patio heaters may look space age and futuristic, but the actual functionality is straightforward. All patio heaters in the UK run on portable LPG cylinders of either propane or butane. Gas from a connected cylinder is pumped up through a hose that runs up the length of the heater; once it reaches the burner, it is ignited and produces a warming flame.

To help dispense the gas safely and efficiently, a gas regulator connects the hose to the cylinder. The gas regulator controls the pressure at which gas is released from the cylinder. There are many different types available, and you must pick the correct gas cylinder for your patio heater’s regulator. Propane and butane need to be released under different pressure levels, meaning their gas regulators are not interchangeable without swapping the regulator.

 

Propane, Butane or Patio Gas?

Propane and butane are the two most well-known fuels when it comes to domestic LPG usage. Propane typically comes in a red cylinder; whist butane comes in blue. The main difference between the two gases is their boiling points. Butane becomes a liquid when it reaches -1⁰C, whilst propane requires cooling all the way down to -42⁰c before it will liquify. As a result, propane needs to be stored at much higher pressures than butane to keep it liquefied whilst at room temperature.

There is no notable difference between propane and butane in terms of heat output efficiency when it comes to patio heater gas. However, propane is usually the preferred choice because of its lower boiling point. Propane fuelled patio heaters can function without trouble down to -42⁰c, whereas butane will begin to struggle to vaporise if the temperature drops close to 0⁰c. The higher boiling point of butane won’t be an issue during the summer months, but if you’re a fan of getting cosy next to your patio heater on a frosty winter afternoon, you might find that your butane heater isn’t too keen to get going.

You may come across a third option when shopping for gas – patio gas. This is a brand of gas rather than a type of gas. Patio gas can be propane or butane and is sold with outdoor use such as barbeques and patio heaters in mind. Keep in mind that patio gas may have a different valve and connector to a propane cylinder, so the two are not necessarily interchangeable. The best thing to do is consult your patio heater’s instruction manual to figure out whether you need a propane, butane or patio gas LPG cylinder.

 

 

Which Gas is Safer?

Whilst propane has the benefit of being suitable for outdoor use all year round, its lower boiling point means it is more volatile than butane. The ability to use propane in icy conditions may be appealing to mountaineers or experienced campers, but it’s not always a necessity for patio heaters.

Butane, by comparison, is safer for the casual user. It won’t light as quickly and has less thermal energy output, meaning it can be transported and stored easily with significantly less risk of accidental combustion. If the manufacturer’s safety advice is being followed, there is little chance of butane catching fire.

Providing the gas cylinders are stored correctly and care is taken during use, you can use both propane and butane safely with a patio heater providing your heater has the correct gas regulator.

 

How Can I tell When My Gas Bottle is Empty?

It can be tricky to know when your LPG bottle is empty or running out, and there’s nothing worse than trying to turn your patio heater on only to find that you’re out of gas. There is a quick and straightforward way to find out, though.

Fill a bucket with hot – but not boiling – tap water and pour it slowly down the side of your LPG bottle; the more water you use, the easier it will be to measure the amount of gas left. Wait for a few seconds before running your hands down the side of the bottle in the place you poured the water. You’re feeling for a change in temperature, the cold part of the bottle indicates how much gas is left. If you can’t feel any variance in temperature, then it is likely that your gas bottle is empty and needs replacing.

 

Always check the instructions on your patio heater to confirm what kind of gas you need. If you’ve not purchased your patio heater yet, you can use the information provided today to help inform your decision when deciding what kind of patio heater you should buy.

We have a huge range of bottled gases available for both industry and home use at Adams Gas, including patio gas bottles. If you would like to find out more, contact us today.

 

Our Guide to Helium Gas

Helium is the second most abundant element in the entire universe and has a wide range of uses. You’ll find it in medical equipment, airships and it even helps get rockets off the ground – but most of us are familiar with helium as the gas used to inflate balloons for parties and other celebrations. With helium-filled balloons, you can create show-stopping balloon displays that will wow your guests. Today we’re going to look closer look at how helium is used and how it is available for both home and trade use.

What Are Helium Balloons?

Helium is an odourless, colourless, non-flammable gas. When used to fill a balloon, the balloon will float because helium is lighter than air. It can be purchased for both at home and trade use through a trusted gas supplier and, depending on your requirements, is available in disposable and returnable gas cylinders.

There are different types of balloons suitable for inflation with helium:

Latex Balloons

These are the balloons you’ll find in every card or party shop and are readily available online. Latex balloons are elastic and designed to expand to up to 5x their original size. Regular latex balloons can tolerate helium but will deflate slowly after 8-10 hours and burst if overinflated. They’re great for small, at-home gatherings, birthday parties and one-off events where you’re likely to be blowing up your balloons on the same day that they will be used – a cheap and cheerful option.

Latex Helium Balloons

Latex helium balloons are the premium choice for balloons requiring helium inflation over using an air pump. Latex helium balloons are designed explicitly with helium inflation in mind. Latex helium balloons can stay inflated for up to four days – making them an excellent option for party planners who want to prepare their balloons ahead of an event and not worry about them deflating overnight.

Foil Balloons

Foil balloons will retain their helium longer than latex balloons and can often last for over a week before losing buoyancy. The foil is tough and less prone to popping than latex. However, they are more vulnerable to heat damage and don’t enjoy being exposed to hot temperatures.

The sturdy nature of foil balloons means they’re a great choice if you need a balloon that has been pre-formed into a specific shape, often featuring colourful designs or cartoon characters printed onto the foil. Foil balloons make great gifts for children or if you need balloons moulded into something other than the typical balloon shape – like numbers and letters.

Helium Canisters for Trade and Home Use

Once you’ve decided which kind of balloon you want to use, you’re going to need some helium to inflate them. What kind of canister you require will depend on how much and how regularly you plan on using your helium. There are options available for everyone:

Disposable Helium Canister for Home Use or Single-Use

If you only need enough helium for one party or event, then you should opt for a small, disposable canister of helium like the Fill’N’Away Disposable Helium Cylinder. The lightweight, portable canister comes with everything you need to fill enough balloons for an at-home party or one-off event. Its portability means that you can fill your balloons on location rather than having to cram them into your car.

Helium for Trade and Regular

If you’re a business that regularly uses helium – like a restaurant, party shop or a wedding planner, a small disposable canister probably won’t be able to handle the number of balloons you need to inflate. In this case, you should opt for a refillable helium cylinder. These larger cylinders come in a range of sizes and contain much more helium than their disposable counterparts. The gas supplier owns the bottle, which is swapped out for a full one when you run out of helium. Since you only pay for the helium inside the cylinder, this option is ecologically and economically beneficial for those in trade.

Helium Gas & Balloon Kits

If you’re looking for an all-in-one helium and balloon kit without the bother of having to source your balloons and gas separately, or you own a business that wants to offer helium gas and balloon kits to your customers – Adams gas has the solution for you.

We offer Helium Gas & Balloon Kits for home use so you can get inflating straight away. These kits not only come with a disposable helium canister but a variety of coloured balloons and a roll of ribbon to tie your balloons up with and stop them from floating away.

If you’re looking to sell helium balloon kits to your customers, we also offer our wholesale disposable helium gas cylinders, which can be branded with your company logo.

Can I Get Helium Balloons Delivered to the UK?

You can get helium canisters delivered to your door from Adams Gas by simply placing your order online, speaking to one of our stockists or Adams Gas directly. We deliver to Kent, East Sussex, and some selected South London postcodes. If your address falls outside our usual delivery area, we’ll pass on your contact details to your nearest stockist – they’ll then contact you to arrange delivery and payment. If you don’t have a local Adams Gas stockist, we offer a courier delivery service on all cylinder sizes – contact us today to find out more

Stockist Case Study: Basic Welding Services

At Adams Gas, we’re one of the biggest distributors in the South East, and we supply our gas products to our loyal stockist network up and down the country.

In this case study, we’ll focus on Basic Welding Services based in Newton Heath, Manchester. We’ll discuss our relationship with the stockist, as well as their business model and development.

Our Relationship with Basic Welding Services

Basic Welding Services (BWS) are primarily welding equipment and disposables suppliers. The addition of industrial and hobby gas is an obvious choice for the company, adding an additional revenue stream.

Many British oxygen customers in the Greater Manchester area were unhappy with the rental and handling charges on their accounts. So with the help of Adams Gas, BWS can now supply them on a ‘deposit only’ approach.

We believe that our trading relationship with BWS is both fair and open, being built on a reliable trade counter supply.

 

Basic Welding Services Business Model

BWS sell quality welding equipment worldwide, including the Middle East — a primary brand is German Fronius. They also sell riveters, body shop equipment and disposables. Due to their strong position in the welding industry, BWS can easily add on gas as a trade counter supply.

Feedback from BWS tells us that the margins are perfectly okay for an easy sell service product, and they choose to sell only to end-users.

Basic Welding Services Marketing and Sales Strategy

BWS markets gas solely via the trade counter and staff in the showroom. They offer a comprehensive range of gases, including helium which is very popular in their area for celebrations.

BWS has delivery vehicles and will transport gas to large car service centres. For smaller orders the customer will collect empty bottle returns or collect full bottles.

Many BWS customers work all over the UK. However, they see little overlap with other distributors and the price competition is not felt. The company have the benefit of a large secure yard, so it has the space to grow the gas side of the business in the future.

Business Development

Basic Welding Services expects continued growth in the gas business due to helpful British Oxygen tactics. Although they primarily sell welding equipment, the company would consider growth on the back of additional trade counter customers or call-ins from disaffected British Oxygen customers.

Adams Gas Continue to Build Relationships Within the Welding Industry

We’re proud to have ongoing relationships with a whole host of leading welding suppliers. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of welding gas services and solutions 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 or visit our business opportunities page.