The CLH Group has invested over 22 million euros in RDI projects over the last three years

• The company has registered a patent for a new road tanker loading system and has promoted projects to reinforce its service quality

The CLH Group invested over 22 million euros in Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) projects between 2014 and 2016 with the aim of reinforcing the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of its activities and boosting service quality.

Among other initiatives developed over the last year, the company has patented a new system for loading oil products in road tankers in a safer and more environmentally-friendly manner.

CLH has installed this system in 12 facilities, and plans to expand its installation to the remaining plants over a period of approximately two years. Overall, the project envisages the adaptation of 200 loading racks.

This new piece of equipment, designed by CLH professional employees together with the Montrel engineering group, automatically verifies that the tanks of the truck are completely empty before filling, that the fuel is loaded into the correct compartment and that the quantity does not exceed its capacity. In the event of an error, the system would not allow loading operations to take place until the incident is resolved.

Furthermore, the company is currently working on the complete implementation of a new Facility Monitoring Centre. For this purpose, the communication and monitoring systems at 24 plants have been reinforced through the installation of new devices, equipment and security cameras. The remaining sites will be updated gradually.

Thanks to this technology update, facilities can be monitored and managed from the Facility Monitoring Centre, with the possibility of replicating their operation, thus strengthening operational safety and favouring a prompt and immediate response when required.

In parallel to this project, the company is finalising the design of a new version of the SCADA system, an IT application enabling satellite management of its pipeline network, to improve operational data control and collection processes. CLH is also currently arranging the registration of a patent for a new system for leak detection which will be integrated into the new SCADA and will help to strengthen operational safety in pipeline transportation.

As for service quality, CLH has made improvements in its information systems so that customers may carry out their operations in a safer and more autonomous manner, while having access to more detailed information in the documents issued by the company.

CLH Aviación has also made improvements in its systems to facilitate information exchange with several airline companies, optimising the into-plane loading process.

As for supplier relations, the company has implemented a new electronic negotiation tool which facilitates simultaneous communication with all suppliers and guarantees transparency and equal opportunities in any invitation to tender or award.

Regarding quality control, the company has adopted the EI 1530 standard for aviation fuel quality, for which purpose it has made different improvements at its airport facilities adapting them to the requirements of the standard. Although compliance with this standard is not a legal requirement, the company has incorporated it into its commitment to product and service quality.

In order to improve process operation, the CLH Group is implementing the Lean methodology. As part of the initial stage, the company completed a pilot project at the Central Laboratory with the participation of working groups composed of employees from different areas and profiles, enabling the design of a proprietary methodology adapted to its business model, in addition to identifying improvements and optimising tasks effectively.

After completion of this stage, CLH is developing another 12 projects to continue the implementation of this methodology throughout the year.

In addition to all the above initiatives, the company has collaborated in innovation projects funded by prestigious national and international organisations. Thus, CLH is an active member in several groups to assess the implementation of new fuels from alternative sources, such as the 3R2020 project for obtaining fuel from waste.

The CLH Group is also a member of national and international working groups relating to fuel quality and technologies, regarding both the development of new fuels and the maintenance and improvement of quality specifications. Some of these groups are the CTN 51/SC3 Committee in AENOR (“fuels”), CEN WG 21 (“Specification for unleaded petrol”) and WG 24 (“Specification for diesel fuel”). It also has a significant presence in the main international organisations in the aviation industry, such as the Energy Institute, IATA or JIG (Joint Inspection Group).