Listening to Customers

GA-ESI's Terminal Automation Products (TAP) group has been the most innovative force serving bulk product terminals over the past 38 years because we learned that our customers have the best ideas. Success has come from listening and then combining new technology with old-fashioned personal service to help our customers compete most effectively.

A perfect example is the new browser-based TMS3000® terminal management system that enables real-time company-wide access using just an Internet browser. The system was co-developed with customers who needed real-time access across various departments, including operations, sales, credit, inventory, finance, regulatory, IT, and top management.

GA-ESI’s automation systems manage the distribution of bulk products, primarily petroleum and chemicals, at storage terminals worldwide, most of which operate 24 hours a day. Systems include electronic devices and PC-based software that control and report every drop of product that is moved into and out of the terminals, whether it’s by truck, railcar, marine vessel, or pipeline.

The standard TMS3000® software system provides entry gate security, inventory management, credit and allocation control, order management, product security, flow control and product blending, environmental and safety controls, activity logs, data backup, BOL printing, flexible reports, and data distribution. It communicates with a wide range of third-party field devices, ERP systems and back-office accounting systems.

The PowerLoad load rack controller is the only preset in the world with a touch screen PC and off-the-shelf expandable I/O in an explosion-proof enclosure. A single PowerLoad typically replaces 8 Acculoads or DanLoads at a much lower cost in hardware and wiring. Any modern automation system is able to communicate with PowerLoads using OPC.

Even more than our technological advances, customers appreciate GA-ESI’s excellent system support by experienced field engineers – 24/7 every day of the year. GA-ESI’s top priority is moving products safely and accurately 24 hours a day.

Open Systems
GA-ESI’s goal of having the most open systems on the market is achieved by using the same industry-leading software as our customers: Microsoft’s Windows operating system, Microsoft’s SQL Server database, IBM’s DB/2 database, Seagate’s Crystal Reports, and Entivity’s process control / MMI software. Nonproprietary hardware is used in all of our products.

Experience
Projects range from large, special systems for customers who own more than 100 terminals to small projects for low volume terminals that simply need manual data entry without automating the load racks. GA-ESI customers include large integrated oil companies, pipeline and public storage companies, multinational chemical companies, refineries, and independent terminal operators. GA-ESI is unique among terminal automation suppliers in providing turnkey installation services that include all of the mechanical and electrical work required to bring a new system online without a hitch.