Touchscreen fuel management from Balvin
Equipment provider Balvin has described some of the features and advantages of its fuel management technology.
“A fuel management system (FMS), as known now, is the means of issuing fuel to company-owned vehicles with a view to keeping an audit record of fuel dispensed including mpg computation for each vehicle,” said the company.
It highlighted potential issues that could arise using a pump island system linked to a company’s office computer by cable or RF, which could either be standalone or on a network.
“If on the network, the database of the computer linked to the pump island can be accessed by any computer on the same network running specific application software,” said Balvin.
“This method does not sit well with the IT section regardless of whether the computer is standalone or on the local network, as it could be prone to external threats.”
In an alternative configuration, the complete pump island system could transfer data to the web for subsequent access to its database from the internet using a unique customer ID and password.
However, said Balvin: “It can be argued as the internet data connection is not always reliable, especially in remote areas, that authorised fuelling will be inhibited.
“This is not a drawback with the Balvin FMS, as the fuelling operations could proceed regardless of the connection to the internet. Data transfer takes places every 55 minutes and hence does not rely on the internet connection for authorisation.
“Moreover… with introduction of a touchscreen system the data can be transferred to a USB stick for subsequent viewing on the user’s computer in the event of long internet disconnection.”
The company contends that data input systems involving keypads or switches, while inexpensive, can fail due to sunlight, rain and finite lifespan of mechanical switches.
“In view of keypad failures, Balvin several years ago pioneered the outdoor touchscreen terminal,” said the firm.
“The early units which were capacitive versions suffered from finger marks and eventually losing its touch accuracy. This was superseded by surface wave acoustic touchscreens, infinitely better but expensive.
“The latest models now use projected capacitive touch screens where the touch-sensitive area is protected by an overlay glass thus increasing its accuracy and reliability. Many such screens have been performing well for over ten years without any sign of deterioration in the touch sensitivity and accuracy.”
In addition to the inherent reliability of the touchscreen, says Balvin, with a large screen entered information is easily visible and transactions are displayed in complete form.
“Simply put, the transaction, volume, fuel type, ID and other is displayed clearly on the screen,” said the company.
“The other important advantage of the touchscreen system offered by Balvin [is that] cameras can be linked to the system to show and record the picture of the vehicle and the fuelling operation.
“This provides additional security to the company as to the person fuelling and the vehicle being fuelled.”
