Customer case - Virsi | Swagelok Helsinki

Virši

Virši is one of the largest service station operators in Latvia with 29 years of industry experience and 75 sales points, among which 73 are service stations. Their service station network includes CNG/LPG and electric charging stations in addition to regular filling stations.

Our Cooperation

Our collaboration with Virši is relatively recent but highly active. Our shared objective is to achieve the highest possible quality, ensuring leak-proof and safe systems. Virši personnel have also participated in Swagelok Essentials assembly and technical trainings.

“The reason why we work closely with Swagelok Helsinki is the quality of the products, but also the technical support and versatile consulting we get on top of that," says Edgars Šulckis, Gas System Specialist at Virši.

CNG station evaluation project

Swagelok Helsinki conducted the first CNG station evaluation with Swagelok certified Field Engineers Janne Räty, Oskar Breilin, and Vytautas Navickas .

At the current stage, the inspected CNG station is new and in excellent condition, equipped with various fittings, tubing, valves, gauges, compressors, and a gas cylinder pattern. CNG station is provided for Virši by a supplier as a readymade application.

During the first evaluated CNG station, it was observed that the application included components from several suppliers, with connectors intermixed among different brands. Swagelok Helsinki shared insights on why connector intermixing is not recommended.

When designing or ordering an application, it is recommended and good practice to choose well known and reliable suppliers as partners, to ensure ease of installation and maintenance also in future needs. Intermixing is unsound practice and would void Swagelok Limited lifetime warranty.

Reasons why intermixing is not recommended for instrumentation systems

High risk of leakage due to product incompatibility and varying production quality. No industrial design standard exists for two ferrule tube fittings. Each company makes components to its own design and not to any recognized standards.

Interchanging and intermixing tube fitting components can result in unpredictable performance, environmental releases, increased costs, and can be dangerous in critical applications.

Unconfirmed pressure/temperature ratings when intermixing components.

Intermixed products are not covered by the supplier warranty.

Inability to assemble components according to the manufacturer's instructions after intermixing.

Simplified assembly and maintenance when components are from one or fewer suppliers, resulting in a safer end result.

What next?

Considering the maintenance of gas stations, we recommend that Virši optimizes the number of component suppliers in its solutions. This approach not only facilitates and harmonizes maintenance but also enables better safety for gas stations in the future.

“We have a plan with Virši that we will continue the inspections of the remaining 8 CNG stations as well," says Virši's Customer Manager Matiss Vaivods from Swagelok Helsinki.

Based on the findings and the report, customer asked a detailed offer for the parts that need repair and a proposal for their replacement.

Our approach in field services is to deliver the comprehensive report and suggestions for repairs and improvements to the customer, allowing them to carry out repairs and component purchases from their chosen supplier.

“The key success was learning that the customer intends to request their CNG station supplier to furnish all components using Swagelok for their upcoming CNG stations”, Matiss continues.