Bulk Tank System Restores Efficiency at Keyes Recycling

Keyes Recycling, a materials recovery facility located in Vicksburg, MS, salvages scrap metals and repurposes them into usable materials. Focused on sustainability since its origination 25 years ago, Keyes is a highly trusted service among the central Mississippi and northern Louisiana regions. With a strong relationship developed over the past two years, nexAir has steadily supplied hardgoods – cutting torches, regulators, and other consumables – to the company, leading to an opportunity to become its primary gas supplier.

Before switching to nexAir’s gas services, Keyes collaborated with a third-party supplier for the oxygen skids that its team depends on for demo work at customer locations. But the company wasn’t receiving the cylinders it ordered in a timely manner, nor was its entire order accounted for. This failure of fulfillment both escalated costs for the company and affected its ability to satisfy end user commitments. In search of a provider with better communication and reliability, Keyes Recycling contacted nexAir.

Once hearing about Keyes’ experience, the nexAir Territory Manager suggested installing a 1500-gallon bulk tank with a vaporizer and fill station. This equipment would allow the company to fill its dewars onsite, creating a more efficient and reliable gas system. The Territory Manager set up the arrangement in just six weeks – a process that typically takes gas suppliers 8 to 12. “At nexAir our commitment to customer service is what made this possible in such a timely manner,” the Territory Manager expressed while reflecting on the situation.

Due to the bulk setup, Keyes Recycling has seen a significant increase in its productivity. With the ability to manage its gas more effectively, the company is now saving approximately $30,000 annually. The new machinery continues to give the company a dependable, consistent system that meets its daily needs without interruption. The Keyes Recycling team shared, “While nexAir’s bulk system has only been in place for a few weeks, we can already see that it is going to be beneficial to the company. Our downtime has substantially decreased as employees no longer have to wait on deliveries. The new system automatically notifies nexAir when our oxygen meets a certain threshold, and they schedule a new shipment, removing the guess work out delivery planning. We simply don’t have to worry about that anymore.”