ATC Solution for European Market

By Nate Todd, EIT

Belgium is leading the way in providing temperature corrected fuel to all its citizens. This has provided Kraus Global with a unique opportunity to partner with a Belgian company to create a comprehensive solution for gas station owners, enabling them to retrofit their existing or new dispensers in-the-field.

Kraus Global Inc. has a rich history with Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC). Throughout the 1990s, 90% of all gasoline dispensers in Canada were retrofitted with Kraus ATC technology. This experience has provided Kraus with the unique ability to offer ATC solutions with an unequaled expertise. Their current European ATC project, started in 2007, has reflected this expertise and has been met with success in two stages.

While the form, fit, and function of ATC technology is the same regardless of location, European dispenser electronics differ from those in North America. The first stage involved development of a base model supporting less than half of the dispensers found in Europe. The second stage was the creation of a module add-on to offer full compatibility with the majority of popular motor fuel dispensers across the continent.

We are pleased to announce that this enhanced product has passed all approval testing against OIML R117-1 and is now in its final approval stage with local authorities in Belgium. OIML R117-1 is a recognized standard across Europe and will allow Kraus to offer this product across Europe.

The first stage of Kraus ATC (which is the core compensation device) has been approved for use for some time now and several pilot sites were retrofitted with this product over a year ago. Station owners have reacted to the product very favorably, and the initial pilot program quickly expanded to include hundreds of dispensers located not only in Belgium, but also in Switzerland and Germany.