Custom Tanks Made for Rigorous and Precise Storage Needs
Human ingenuity has driven us to seek personalized solutions since the dawn of civilization, starting with the invention of tools for basic survival needs like cutting and hunting. Fast forward to today, technology lets us harness this instinct in innovative ways, such as creating bespoke liquid storage solutions. At Plastic Mart, we bring these possibilities to life for you.
Whether you’re looking for durable poly tanks, strong fiberglass tanks, or heavy-duty steel tanks, this guide breaks down everything about custom tanks in less than 7 minutes.
What Are Custom Fabrication Tanks?
Custom fabrication tanks are specially made storage units designed to fit unique needs in industries like farming, construction, and chemical processing. They’re built using different materials—each with its benefits—to safely store water, chemicals, and other essential resources.
When envisioning a custom tank, the essential question is, “How can I create a storage solution tailored to my specific needs?” It’s a pursuit of finding the perfect storage option that meets even the most complex project requirements—covering size, shape, color, and unique custom features.
The Top Materials for Custom Tanks
Custom Polyethylene (Poly) Tanks
Custom poly tanks are a popular choice for their affordability and durability. These lightweight tanks are made using a process called rotational molding (or roto molding), which ensures a seamless and strong tank structure. They work well for water and some chemicals, making them a go-to for basic storage needs.
Key Benefits of Custom Poly Tanks:
- Lightweight and cost-effective
- Good chemical resistance for moderate use
- Customizable with added features like UV inhibitors and baffles
Custom Fiberglass (FRP) Tanks
Fiberglass custom tanks are built for toughness, with high resistance to both UV rays and corrosion. This makes them ideal for more demanding environments like wastewater treatment or fuel storage. Customization options are broad, allowing for specific resin types to meet various needs.
Key Benefits of Custom Fiberglass Tanks:
- Durable in extreme conditions
- Resistant to corrosion and UV exposure
- Customizable with fittings and reinforcements
Custom Steel Tanks
For high-capacity and high-strength needs, custom steel tanks stand unmatched. These tanks can handle huge volumes, making them perfect for industrial uses, municipal water storage, and fire suppression systems. Steel tanks, including steel frac tanks, are crafted with precision welding techniques and undergo strict quality checks to ensure long-term reliability.
Key Benefits of Custom Steel Tanks:
- Superior strength for large storage
- Highly customizable with advanced fabrication techniques
- Reliable for high-pressure and large-scale uses
Why Go Custom? Tailored Tanks for Precise Projects
- Perfect Fit and Size: Custom tanks are made to fit your space and volume requirements, so you don’t waste any space or capacity.
- Safety and Compliance: Customization ensures your tank meets all necessary safety and industry standards, which is vital for handling volatile or sensitive substances.
- Built to Last: Custom tanks are crafted using top-quality materials and tested rigorously to withstand wear and environmental factors.
How Custom Tanks Are Made
Roto Molding for Custom Plastic Tanks
Roto molding is used to make strong, seamless plastic tanks. In this process, powdered plastic is heated inside a rotating mold, creating an even and smooth tank. The results? A durable, leak-proof tank perfect for large or small applications.
Benefits of Roto Molding:
- Cost-effective for large tank production
- Seamless design minimizes weak points
- Versatile material choices for different needs such as plastic water tanks and chemical storage
Plastic Welding for Precision
Plastic welding is a technique used to join plastic pieces through heat, forming strong, watertight bonds. This is not only used to create new tanks but also to repair existing ones.
Benefits of Plastic Welding:
- Strong, airtight joints
- Can be customized for different sizes and specifications
- Cost-effective for repairs and custom additions
Steel Custom Fabrication
At Plastic Mart, our custom steel tanks are made using advanced techniques to ensure precision, durability, and safety. Our process begins with in-house design using AutoCAD by Autodesk, allowing for highly detailed and accurate drawings tailored to your specifications. The manufacturing process includes a comprehensive range of certified welding procedures, such as SMAW, GMAW, GMAW-S, FCAW-S, SAW, and GTAW, capable of handling various ferrous and nonferrous metals. This ensures robust, secure construction suited for high-capacity storage needs.
Quality Assurance and Testing play a crucial role in our fabrication process. Each tank undergoes thorough non-destructive examinations (NDT), overseen by an in-house Level III technician and AWS Certified Welding Inspector. These examinations include visual checks, magnetic particle testing, radiographic analysis, penetrant testing, and ultrasonic evaluation to confirm the tank's structural integrity. Additionally, leak testing and optional destructive testing are conducted to ensure the highest standards of performance and safety.
Benefits of Steel Custom Fabrication:
- High Precision and Customization: AutoCAD drafting ensures designs meet exact specifications, providing tanks tailored to your specific requirements.
- Strong, Reliable Construction: Certified welding methods produce durable tanks capable of withstanding challenging industrial conditions.
- Thorough Quality Control: Comprehensive NDT techniques and certified oversight guarantee tanks that are safe, reliable, and built to last.
- Expert Training: Our welders and quality control staff undergo rigorous training led by AWS Certified Welding Educators and inspectors, ensuring the use of the latest techniques for consistent quality.
These advanced practices allow us to deliver custom steel tanks that excel in strength, longevity, and adaptability for various industrial applications.
How Custom Fiberglass Tanks Are Made
Custom fiberglass tanks are constructed using specialized methods to create strong, corrosion-resistant storage solutions. The two main fabrication techniques are filament winding and hand lay-up.
Filament Winding involves winding continuous glass filaments coated with resin around a rotating mold to form a robust, composite tank structure. This process ensures consistent wall thickness and structural integrity, making it ideal for large tanks requiring extra strength.
Hand Lay-Up involves manually applying layers of fiberglass mat or fabric onto a mold, which is then saturated with resin. This technique allows for more complex shapes and detailed customization, making it suitable for tanks with specific design requirements or integrated fittings.
Customization Options include choosing from various resin types, such as polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy, tailored to the tank's application for enhanced chemical resistance and durability. Reinforcements, such as flanged openings and structural supports, can also be incorporated during the fabrication process.
Benefits of Fiberglass Fabrication
- High Strength and Durability: The composite structure resists corrosion, UV exposure, and extreme conditions.
- Customizable Design: Hand lay-up allows for complex shapes and custom features.
- Chemical Resistance: The choice of resin type ensures suitability for aggressive chemicals and harsh environments.
- Long Service Life: Fiberglass tanks offer longevity with minimal maintenance.
These processes result in custom fiberglass tanks that provide reliable, long-term solutions for applications in industries like wastewater treatment, chemical storage, and agriculture.
Custom Plastic Welding: The Key to Seamless, Durable Joints
What is Custom Plastic Welding?
Plastic welding is a process that bonds two or more plastic pieces through heat, creating strong, seamless joints. This method is used to produce durable plastic tanks, repair existing ones, or form intricate assemblies in various industries.
Poly and Fiberglass Tank Applications
Water Treatment: Both poly and fiberglass tanks excel in water treatment plants, thanks to their resistance to chemicals and corrosion.
Agriculture: Poly tanks are common for water storage, while fiberglass is preferred for storing fertilizers and chemicals.
Food and Beverage: Custom poly and above ground fiberglass tanks meet FDA standards, making them safe for food-grade storage.
Industrial Use: Fiberglass tanks handle harsh chemicals and extreme conditions well, perfect for industrial and mining applications.
Applications of Steel Fabricated Tanks
Steel fabricated tanks are known for their strength, durability, and adaptability, making them a popular choice across various B2B industries. Here are five key applications where custom steel tanks excel:
- Municipal Water Storage: Steel tanks are essential in municipal water systems, where their high capacity and durability support the storage and distribution of large volumes of potable water. Their ability to withstand pressure and environmental stresses ensures reliable service for long-term public water supply needs.
- Industrial Chemical Storage: Industries that handle volatile or corrosive chemicals require tanks that offer robust containment and safety. Steel tanks meet these demands with their high tensile strength and customizable linings that prevent chemical reactions, ensuring safe storage and compliance with stringent regulations.
- Fire Suppression Systems: In commercial and industrial buildings, fire suppression steel tanks are often used as part of fire suppression systems due to their resilience and ability to store large quantities of water or fire-retardant chemicals. Their structural integrity and fire-resistant properties make them a dependable component of safety infrastructure.
- Oil and Fuel Storage: Carbon steel tanks are a top choice in the energy sector for storing oil and fuel. Their fabrication process can include corrosion-resistant coatings and specialized welding to prevent leaks, making them suitable for long-term storage in refineries, fuel stations, and power plants.
- Wastewater Treatment: The processing and storage of wastewater demand tanks that can handle harsh substances and fluctuating conditions. Corrugated steel wastewater tanks are designed for high-capacity and high-strength applications, allowing them to manage the demanding nature of wastewater treatment facilities efficiently. Their customizable features, like internal coatings and reinforced structures, enhance their suitability for these tasks.
Each of these applications benefits from the strength, reliability, and adaptability that steel fabricated tanks offer, making them a versatile and essential solution for industrial and commercial storage needs.
Easy Maintenance for Long Tank Life
- Keep Up with Inspections: Regular checks can catch potential issues early. Poly tanks should be inspected for stress cracks, while fiberglass tanks should be checked for any signs of resin wear.
- Clean as Needed: Keeping tanks clean ensures they stay safe for use. Fiberglass tanks might need a surface treatment, while poly tanks benefit from simple, regular cleanings.
- Repair Options: If damage occurs, plastic welding can restore poly tanks, and fiberglass patching can extend the life of FRP tanks.
Trust Plastic Mart for Custom Tank Solutions
There you have it – the complete guide to custom tank fabrication.
Which custom tank works for you? Is it a poly custom tank with its lightweight perks and chemical-resistance appeal, or a fiberglass custom tank – lauded for its customizability and longevity? Or perhaps your project demands heavy duty application thus calling for high-strength steel custom tanks? Whatever your needs are, Plastic Mart has a tailored fit.
Contact Plastic Mart and let our specialists deliver guidance in greater depth.
