GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Sometimes, even a major global corporation needs a little help from its friends. That was the case for Motiva Enterprises LLC, an affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell group of companies, last fall, when the winds and flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina left dozens of Motiva's Shell-branded retail sites in the New Orleans area damaged and unable to operate.
The friend that came to Motiva's rescue was Rittiner Equipment Co., the Gilbarco Veeder-Root distributor for South Louisiana. As the distributor and service provider for hundreds [image-nocss] of Gilbarco Veeder-Root dispensers, point-of-sale systems, pump controllers and other equipment used by Shell sites in the New Orleans area, Rittiner got Motiva's call for help immediately after Katrina passed through.
For the next several months, employees of Rittiner's Petroleum Equipment Department, many of them displaced from their own homes by Katrina, worked to get Shell retail sites up and running again. Rittiner service crews assessed damages, overcame New Orleans' devastated transportation and infrastructure systems to acquire replacement parts and equipment and made repairs. Last month, Motiva paid special tribute to Rittiner Equipment Company and its employees for their hard work and dedication that helped bring Shell's business back during a time of uncertainty and fear.
Gilbarco Veeder-Root is very proud of the retail fuel site technology we create for Shell companies and their consumers, said Bobby Hemphill, district sales manager for Greensboro, N.C.-based Gilbarco Veeder-Root. And at the same time, we are extremely pleased to have distribution partners like Rittiner Equipment Co., who have the people and expertise to help keep the technology up and running, even in extraordinary circumstances.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.