Truck & Bus News talked to Alex Chong, the owner of Siphonblock AFT Enterprise, to find out more on the company’s background and product range.
Siphonblock AFT – Anti-Theft Expert
Fuel theft is a common issue today and there are various anti fuel theft products available in the market; from locking fuel caps, siphon screens to anti-theft devices.
In this issue, Truck & Bus News talked to Alex Chong, the owner of Siphonblock AFT Enterprise, one of the experts in this area, to find out more on the company’s background and product range.
Q: How long has Siphonblock AFT been in operation?
We have been in operation since 2007 when we offered devices for Volvo, MB, MAN, Scania, Hino and Nissan only.
Q: What made you decide to develop anti siphon devices for trucks?
Plainly there are issues with fuel theft and we felt that the existing solution – the ‘Big Weld’ – addresses fuel theft, but takes no consideration of the ‘knock-on’ effects.
We felt that if there was a simple, strong and well-designed device it would deter petty theft and not affect the truck’s utilisation potential.
By the way, we also have devices that fit heavy buses such as Hino and construction equipment such as CAT and Komatsu. As we always say, fuel theft happens everywhere!
Q: What made you decide on using galvanised steel for the product?
We are aware that a number of European units were made from aluminium and saw that the base of the unit was knocked out, especially in recon trucks from the UK, and this allowed free access to the fuel. But, you could not do that with galvanised steel!
Q: What are those knock-on effects?
Slow filling times, spillages and potential tank ruptures. All have an impact on a haulier’s financial bottom line.
We could not imagine how drivers would feel about standing for 30-40 minutes while a tank is being filled! If the driver is in a time squeeze, he might end up putting in fuel too fast, following which a ‘blow-back’ spillage occurs. It becomes messy, smelly and a waste.
We have to consider that not every driver is taking fuel but every driver has to put up with long filling times. By fitting our device, it reduces wasted time dramatically. Plus it takes away any temptation for an opportunistic ‘play with the pipe’ routine. It would make life easier for the driver – and he could then undertake PDCs and get a little sleep.
Consider the situation in which a driver is not taking fuel; imagine how he would feel when asked: ‘Why is your fuel consumption high? Are you taking my fuel?’ That kind of conversation might upset him and before you know it, your driver leaves! We know there’s a shortage of good drivers and to lose a guy when you have not fully secured the truck – it’s quite a high price to pay. It’s hard work finding new drivers who are likely to make a few mistakes in their first few weeks with you! It’s better to protect your fuel and drivers.
Q: Is there still a need for this anti siphon device; after all almost every haulier has GPS?
Absolutely yes! I for one would not like to be told that the GPS has registered a 50-litre loss in fuel. Locking tank caps don’t always stop a guy desperate for his next ‘teh tarik’ or ‘roti canai’. Fifty litres currently cost you RM109. Maybe it happens just 4 times per year, so the cost of fuel loss is RM436.
The maximum price of a Siphonblock device is RM340 and would last the truck’s lifespan. A customer’s price is fixed by the number of trucks he runs – the larger the fleet the lower the price. So our devices are not expensive; especially if you consider the lifetime of a truck.
Let the GPS system focuses on the information you need to manage the truck/driver and the routes.
But let Siphonblock stop the petty fuel theft via the fuel tank neck. The GPS system represents the braces for your trousers but the Siphonblock device acts as the belt to stop fuel theft! Belt and braces working together give the best result!
Q: But fuel theft could take place from other parts of the truck?
Yes, we accept that. But they tend to be a little bit more troublesome!
However, research in Europe and the USA, where fuel theft is taken as a criminal offence, tells us that 90 per cent of fuel theft comes from unprotected tank necks. So our focus is on addressing that ‘opportunity’.
Q: What’s your range of products?
From our early days of a few different models, we now offer above 30 variants that fit more than 45 current and discontinued trucks.
Hino 300, 500 and 700 series, Fuso, Dongfeng, Sinotruck, Volvo , MAN, Nissan UD Quester and Croner, Scania, Freightliner, International, DAF, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan CK, Isuzu ELF and NPR, Nissan UD PKD, Howo, Mack and Kenworth.
The newest models include the Siphonblock 80T, which is for the Tata prime mover, and Siphonblock 110 B3 that is for a range of trucks that the Hong Seng Group distributes.
Q: Any potential for the users of B10 diesel?
We would shortly announce details for a gasket that seats our device on the tank neck that could be used with B10 diesel.
现在就停止燃油盗窃— 专访张惠权
燃油盗窃是今天最常见的问题，目前市场上有许多各种各样的防燃油盗窃产品如带锁的燃料帽（locking fuel cap）、计油管（siphon screens）及防燃油窃盗装置等。
这一期，《卡客车新闻》访问了Siphonblock AFT 企业东主张惠权，请作为燃油盗窃专家之一的他，谈谈该公司的背景和产品系列。
Siphonblock AFT开业多久了？
我们自2007年营业至今，一开始只是提供适用于富豪、马赛地、曼（MAN）、斯堪尼亚、日野及日产的防燃油盗窃装置而已。
您为何决定开发卡车反虹吸装置（siphon devices）？
完全是为了解决燃油盗窃问题。我们发现现有的解决方案—“Big Weld”无法顾及其他的连锁反应。
如果有一个简单、强大及设计良好的装置，既能阻止小量燃油偷窃，又不影响卡车的使用潜能，是我们开发这个产品的主要原因。
此外，我们也有适合如日野重型巴士，CAT和Komatsu建筑设备的装置。就如我们一直在说的：燃油偷窃可以发生在任何地方！
为什么你决定采用镀锌钢来制造该产品？
我们察觉有些采用铝合金的欧洲产品底部受到撞击，特别是英国品牌的翻新卡车，这使燃油偷窃更为方便。但是，采用镀锌钢就不一样。
您指的连锁反应是哪些？
添油时间缓慢、漏油和油缸破裂的可能性。这些都会影响运输业者的利润。
我们无法想象司机站30至40分钟来填满油缸的感觉。如果司机赶时间，他可能会加快添油的速度，导致“倒流”溢漏，造成脏乱、油臭味及浪费。
我们必须考虑到并非每一名司机都会偷取燃油，但每一名司机却必须花极长的时间来添油。只要安装上我们的装置，就能大大节省时间。再加上，它可消除司机在日常添油时产生偷油的念头。这使司机的生活更为轻松，他们可以取得“放行许可”和小睡一下。
当你问一个没有偷取燃油的司机，为什么他的燃油消费如此高，他有没有在盗取燃时，他自然会非常不开心。你的司机可能因此而离开公司！目前市场上正面对着司机短缺的问题，如果因为没有监督好油箱而失去一个好司机，简直是得不偿失！更何况要找到一个在上任后的最初几个星期不会犯错的新司机，不是一件简单的事。因此，保护你燃油和司机更为重要。
如今几乎每一辆运输卡车都配备全球定位系统（GPS） ，那还需要反虹吸装置吗？
当然需要！我便是其中一个不喜欢被通知说，卡车上的GPS记录显示你的油箱少了50升的燃油。带锁的油箱帽无法禁止司机对下一个‘拉茶’或印度煎饼的渴望。目前50 升燃油的价格为109令吉。如果每年发生4次，那么你就会损失436令吉。
Siphonblock装置的最高售价为340令吉，但它的使用寿命与卡车寿命一样长。一名客户的价格取决于他公司里运行中的卡车数量– 其车队的规模越大，价格也就越低。因此，我们的装置一点都不贵，特别是它的使用寿命如卡车一样长。
就让GPS专注于你需要用以管理卡车/司机及路线的数据，让Siphonblock来停止透过油箱颈的小量燃油盗窃行为。GPS系统就如同裤子的吊带，而Siphonblock装置就如裤带，停止燃油盗窃。裤带和吊带一起运作，方能带来最佳的效果！
问题是燃油盗窃也能从其他的卡车部位进行？
是的，但要从其他卡车部位偷燃油比较不方便。
然而，从燃油盗窃视为刑事案的欧美研究发现，90%的燃油偷窃发生在没有受到保护的油箱颈。我们聚焦于解决这个“机会”。
你的产品系列有哪些？
我们从最初的几个不同款型，发展到现在超过30种不同的款型，适合用于现有及已停产的超过45种卡车。
日野300、500及700系列、扶桑、东风、Sinotruk、富豪、曼（MAN）、日产UD Quester及Croner、斯堪尼亚、Freightliner、International、DAF、马赛地、日产CK、五十铃ELF及NPR、日产UD PKD、中国重汽豪沃（Howo）、Mack及肯沃驰（Kenworth）。
最新的款型包括Siphonblock B0T， 适用于塔塔牵引车，而Siphonblock 110 B3 则适用于丰成集团经销的卡车系列。
对B10 生物柴油的用户有何计划？
我们很快会宣布将我们的装置安置在采用B10生物柴油油箱颈上的垫圈的详细资料。
