It is a story that is becoming increasingly common around Australia as power companies struggle to keep up with the pace of development.
Integrated Fuel Services (IFS), Perth-based suppliers to the petroleum handling and mining industries, have hired extra large generators from Kennards Hire for more than six months while waiting for Western Power to upgrade their supply.
While Kennards Hire have traditionally hired generators up to 20KVA in size, they can now supply much bigger units in some areas, particularly Western Australia.
Integrated Fuel Services specialise in tanker repairs and maintenance, Liquip sales and service, meter calibrations, aviation repairs and maintenance, fuel management systems, fuel bowser repairs and maintenance and the sale and hire of self-bunded storage tanks.
In January 2008, Integrated Fuel Services moved from Forrestfield to a modern, new complex at Bibra Lake. Nic Marshall, IFS’s Sales and Technical Support Officer, said that while mains power was available, it was not sufficient.
“It is not a full industrial grid, and we are under-powered, particularly for running our workshop,” he said.
“They have to put a sub station at the front of the workshop, but we are still unsure when that will happen. We have been hiring 50 KVA and 37 KVA generators from Kennards over this period.
“The 37 KVA unit is powering the workshop, and it is excellent. We are running six service bays, so we have up to six welders running at any one time, plus lathes, drills, presses, cutoff saw and bench grinders.
“The generator is running at full capacity 10 hours a hours, and is very reliable. If it trips out, it resets itself. The fuel economy is also very good.
“We have had great service from Kennards – you ask for something and you get it straight away.”
