Gas boom boosts Spfld manufacturer

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - One local business is helping to promote natural gas as a viable alternative to oil.

Titeflex, located in Springfield, manufactures Teflon hoses, which are used in natural gas-powered vehicles to send compressed natural gas from the tank to the engine.

The Teflon inner core is created to withstand the high pressure of the gas, then a stainless wiring is braided around the Teflon core.

"Natural gas hoses are relatively new. We started in the early 90's, but because of the cheap oil as I said before, the market didn't even take off until the early, not even early, I'd say the last three or four years, and our sales have gone up as much as 600%," said Hank Ziomek, Director of Sales for Titeflex.

Congressman Richard Neal (D-Springfield) visited Titeflex Tuesday to promote the Natural Gas Act, which will provide a credit to customers who purchase natural gas-powered cars. The Act will also stimulate the natural gas industry, which is improving because of the increased cost of oil.