Robust and Growing Operation Saves Time and Money with TankScan

Pinnacle Resources, Inc.

Since 1983, Pinnacle Resources has offered high-quality lubricants for light-duty machinery, heavy-duty machinery, and everything in between. To guarantee that their customers have the best products delivered on time, they keep a thorough watch of product logistics.

Applications: 35 ft. Tall Tanks

Market: Lubricants

Challenge
Pinnacle Resources was challenged with reducing the costs of their robust and growing operation while maintaining a safe and environmentally sound operation. In the past, Pinnacle Resources monitored tank levels by having an operator make daily trips to the tanks to get tank level readings from the sight gauges. The major concerns were reducing unnecessary tasks, improving the reliability of the operation, and knowing what is happening with the inventory at all times.
It takes effort to physically conduct and record level measurements, and the information is quickly deemed out of date. With varying weather conditions, vacation schedules, or just busy seasons, there is a risk of missing level readings, inaccurate measurements, and unexpected run-outs.

“It was always a hassle to keep track of the tank levels, especially when the business is growing rapidly. There are so many tanks, and our clients never want to run out of lubricants”, said Marilyn Cook, Office Manager.

Solution
In 2022, Pinnacle Resources installed the TankScan TSM1000 tank monitoring system at their Pine Bluff, Arkansas, location to monitor their 50,000-gallon lubricant tanks. The monitoring system leverages local wireless technology from the monitor to the gateway, existing wired internet infrastructure, and a cloud software application for the complete solution. The system design eliminates large startup and setup costs associated with typical level monitoring systems. The installation requires screwing the wireless monitor into a 2” port on the top of the tank and plugging in the battery. The cloud application is set up remotely and offers unlimited users, historical trending, and email/text notifications. The tank levels are viewed from a PC at an office, or from any PC, laptop, or smartphone connected to the internet. The system is designed for tank farm application, using local wireless to an Ethernet-connected gateway. The radar sensing technology of the TSM1000 offers high accuracy and is cost-effective due to its use of existing infrastructure of internet connectivity, internet browser, email, text message, and cloud computing. The user is provided with accurate readings to devices he already owns, understands, and supports.

Results
Pinnacle Resources has seen numerous benefits from remote level monitoring, including:
• Reduced labor associated with trips to the field locations
• Improved reliability of their operations with remote tank level visibility
• Improved confidence and reduced environmental risk with automated notifications
• Improved safety by reducing travel in hazardous weather conditions

“The wireless tank farm level monitors give us the confidence we need to keep our business growing with reliable and consistent supplies of lubricants. It has saved us a lot of time, and in that regard, money”, said Marilyn.

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