Landing in the Sunshine State of Florida, USA, Tank Storage Magazine’s Editor Anamika Talwaria was greeted with a somewhat overcast sky. But the grey cloud didn’t dampen her spirits as she was more excited for the bright ideas that would be waiting at the Gatlin Ballroom at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. The 25th annual NISTM Trade Show and Conference was about to begin.
After build up (and a full day on the golf course) the Tank Storage Magazine team was able to meet up with a whole host of our US-based clients and partners at the Welcome Reception sponsored by ATEC Steel and APEX Domes. It’s truly a treasure to see how close-knit the tank storage community is.
That first evening wasn’t for shop-talk, though; it was a get-to-know-you and catch-up with many valued clients. The real work was set to begin the next day, as the trade show opened and the conference kicked off.
CONFERENCE TRACKS
After an introduction from NISTM’s Marshall Mott-Smith, the first morning kicked off with sessions dedicated to regulatory updates and advice on compliance. In particular, the focus was on the EPA’s latest updates.
The rest of the conference was split into different tracks, looking at aboveground storage tank operations, integrity, environmental factors, safety and AAMP Track. Many of the presentations looked at technological advancements and innovations in different products, such as floating roofs, seals, hoses and more.
The hot topics, though, were fire safety and digitalisation. In particular, Eric LaVergne from JCI Fire Protection Services looked into how terminals will manage the change to fluorine-free foams. Hybird’s Ahmed Hadid spoke about the company’s augmented reality terminal management system, and Karthik Govindarajan from Oak Tree Consulting gave a talk on how virtual reality can immerse workers in health and safety training.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
As well as the golf day out the NISTM team kept the conference and trade show organised with plenty of networking breaks. From morning breakfasts to after-show drinks, there was never a dull moment alone.
Plus, the all-important raffle draw at the end of the trade show was another opportunity to network with exhibitors and the end users that were in attendance.
Congratulations to the 1st Place Raffle Winner, Jane Barnes from Kinder Morgan, who won the Grand Prize of $2,500. In second place was Ashley Baham from Bengal, winning an iPhone 14 Pro 128GB Space Black + AppleCare (Value $518).
Third place in the raffle went to Kevin Coleman from Vecenergy. He won the 10.9″ iPad WiFi 64GB Blue + AppleCare (Value $1,198). And in fourth place was Kathryn West from Leidos, who won the $100 Visa Gift Card.
WHERE IS THE INDUSTRY GOING?
Overall, the innovations spoken about at the conference reflected what the industry already knows – the tank storage industry is changing rapidly. As we move towards cleaner and greener fuels, as well as into the digital transformation, terminal operators need to make sure they’re striking the right balance between innovation, safety and operations.
That’s why it’s so important to keep attending trade events like this – to share and absorb the latest industry breakthroughs. It’s up to terminal operators to keep up to ensure their facilities don’t fall behind. As the tank storage world keeps changing, I’m looking forward to seeing how these events progress, with new and exciting ideas each time.
For more information:
Save the date for NISTM’s next event, which will take place in Orlando, Florida on April 3-5, 2024.
Tank Storage Magazine will also be in attendance at the upcoming 16th Annual National Aboveground Storage Tank Conference & Trade Show in The Woodlands, Texas on December 5-7, 2023.
