FuelActive embarks on ambitious growth plan

FuelActive Installation of clean diesel pick up system

The company, which produces a range of clean diesel pick-up systems for use in construction equipment, benefits from recent equity investment from the Development Bank of Wales, along with the private equity syndicate Adjuvo.

The business has also been awarded an Innovate UK Smart Grant, as it looks to broaden its digital capabilities.

The company has invested in its leadership team, as CEO Nick Massey looks to drive growth and appoint distribution partners in key markets around the world.

New additions include former JCB directors Max Lytle and Matthew Hyde, along with former JCB engine programme director Alan Tolley, who will play an advisory role. Additional sector experts are being recruited to drive sales.

“We’ve boosted the team with respected, world-class, contributors to power growth,” said FuelActive CEO Nick Massey.

“We will continue to engage OEMs and operators directly and are now expanding the business through distribution networks, initially targeting the Middle East, India and the US. We are actively looking for local distribution partners for those territories.”

What is the ActiveFuel pick-up system?

The patented FuelActive unit replaces a standard fuel pick-up pipe, to ensure that only the cleanest fuel in the tank is used by the engine’s fuel injection system.

The floating pick-up pipe is draws fuel from the upper level of the fuel tank, leaving any water, sediment and other contaminants in the bottom. 

Burning only the cleanest fuel available, ensures the engine operates closest to the manufacturer’s design specification and is more reliable, with improved fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

Developed by company founder and chief engineer Mike James, FuelActive has been proven to work in -20°C in the Andes mountains and at +50°C in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.

Fuel tank pick-up options and maintenance

Manufactured from high-quality stainless steel and plastic components, that are resistant to hydrocarbon fuels, the unit is offered in various sizes to suit all machine types.

It can also be engineered to meet bespoke requirements.

Independently tested by a TS16949 filter company, the FuelActive pick-up can handle up to 4,000 litres of diesel per hour.

There is no maintenance required after installation, with accumulated contamination in the tank drained during planned service intervals in the normal way.

FuelActive also offers a five-year warranty on the product, though has yet to see a customer make a claim.

Clean diesel pick-up: Fuel tank applications

Primarily designed for diesel tanks, to protect expensive high-pressure fuel injection systems, the FuelActive unit can also be used for petrol and kerosene, or for AdBlue and diesel exhaust fluids.

The system has proven invaluable in mining and construction sectors, where fuel supplies can easily become contaminated. It has also been successful in marine, transportation, agriculture and power generation markets.

Indeed, FuelActive is now a factory-fit option on equipment supplied by welfare unit manufacturer Genquip Groundhog and by global submersible pump specialist Hydrainer Pumps.

Massey said, “We can provide a solution for any machine, from the smallest generator to the largest marine power unit.

“Pumping, military operations and power generation can be mission-critical environments, where a breakdown can cause major problems.

“FuelActive ensures our customers’ equipment performs in the presence of contaminated fuel, which is a key product differentiator in the market.”

Fuel pick-up pipe installation

FuelActive is looking to work with OEM manufacturers in a wide range of industry sectors, with equipment distributors and with individual customers.

The system can be installed at the factory, or retro-fit to existing machinery in the field. The unit can normally be installed without removing the tank from the machine, usually taking less than 60 minutes.

The company is working on next generation digital technologies, to provide customers with increased connectivity, further ensuring maximum uptime for the end user.

“FuelActive is perhaps one of the industry’s best-kept secrets,” said Massey. “Now we want to scale up the operation and grow the volume base. With the confidence and increased financial backing of our partners, I think that we now have hired the world-class team to make it happen.”