Innovation through Collaboration
How STA Technical’s Solutions Have Become Industry Essentials
Innovation at STA Technical begins not in a client’s office, but on site - with the people who install, maintain, and rely on the company’s equipment every day. By listening closely to engineers, installers, and manufacturers across the UK’s fuel infrastructure network, STA has built a reputation for designing practical, durable tools that have quietly become part of the industry’s everyday toolkit.
“Our role isn’t just to supply equipment,” says Warren Peters, Managing Director of STA. “It’s to support those people maintaining the nation’s fuel infrastructure, and to provide products that ensure they can do their job safely, efficiently, and with confidence in their tools.”
That philosophy underpins two of STA’s most recognised developments, the Tank & Pipe Test Rig and the Fuel-Grade Labelling System; each born from collaboration, refined through feedback, and now widely regarded as industry benchmarks.
The Tank & Pipe Test Rig – A New Standard in Practical Testing
What began as a simple request for a reliable way to test multiple forecourt lines and tanks has evolved into one of the most trusted diagnostic tools in the sector. The STA Tank & Pipe Test Rig enables installers to test up to five lines at once, with its sub-manifold design replicating site setups accurately and efficiently.
Compact, waterproof, and built into a rugged Peli case, it’s designed for life on the road — precise enough for manufacturer QA testing, yet tough enough for daily forecourt use. With an ATEX-approved digital gauge offering fine 10 mbar readings, engineers can test both pipes and tanks with confidence.
With 150 now sold, these test rigs are now a common sight in service vans and testing facilities alike, and their long-term reliability is supported by STA’s refurbishment and calibration service, ensuring every unit stays traceable and accurate for years in the field.
The Fuel-Grade Labelling System – Redefining Safety and Clarity
STA’s Fuel-Grade Labelling System tells a similar story of practical innovation. Originally developed in response to a reported accident that resulted in a customer’s child receiving stitches, and the challenges of label replacement on site, it was designed hand-in-hand with installers and operators.
The result is a curved-edge holder that removes sharp corners and can include a rubber safety trim for added protection. Its durable, UV-resistant polyester labels — made from materials used in aviation — stand up to the harshest forecourt conditions, while the tool-free holder design makes replacement quick and simple.
“It’s amazing how something as simple as a label can make such a difference,” says Warren. “By redesigning the holder to be safer and quicker to change, we’ve solved a daily frustration for installers and improved safety for everyone who uses the site.”
Now adopted by major forecourt networks nationwide, the system has quietly become a standard, improving safety and consistency across installations. Darrin Francis from Tanks and Pipework adds: "We've been buying STA's grade labels since 2022 and they're a winner. Weather resistant and resilient, we've installed almost 200 this year alone - they're now our go-to when it comes to grade label swap outs."
Finishing up Warren says “Across both innovations, a clear pattern has emerged – that we listen, refine and deliver. Our new product development isn’t for novelty’s sake, it’s about solving genuine, everyday forecourt challenges. Our products work so well in the real world as they are built from real-world feedback.”