Hot Dip Galvanized Tanks

Truck Works Inc, has developed a "Hot Dipped Galvanized" (patent pending) tank option. This was developed to provide a lower cost option long life tank. HDG meets NFPA requirements to provide corrosion resistance for steel tanks and plumbing. HDG bonds to the steel at approximately 3600 PSI compared to approximately 600 PSI of sprayed on linings. Just look at power poles and light poles chosen to be galvanized, used by most municipal and government entities, along with numerous other galvanized products. The HDG has been been proven and chosen as a life extending process as it is less costly than alternative materials, and more effective by requiring no maintenance other than inspections over steel coatings. Consider a study conducted by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE). The study estimates the annual direct cost of metallic corrosion to the U.S. economy is 3.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) or approximately $300 billion. When the coating has finally worn through, the process can be redone to again extend the life of the unit without ever compromising the steel material the product is made from. This means with periodic inspections (approximately every 5 years) the tank and plumbing could last forever, never needing replaced just refinished! The estimated life of a galvanized tank product without refinishing when the coating wears, would be approximately 50 years! You can do the research yourself at the AGA American Galvanizers Association, or other galvanizing resources, and read our press release at Truck Works Inc Press Releases . I would like to point out a few of the alternative materials pros and cons before i finish this post, however include that HDG is not without its own pros and cons, and include some info on these as well.
Stainless Steel:
PRO - Very hard material, very resistant to corrosion.
CON - Brittle, has tendency to fracture (crack), especially as Truck mounted tank, as water movement and material weight causes stress on materials as fabricated.
Con - EXPENSIVE! material at cost is typically 3 times more expensive than steel.
these cons typically outweigh the ROI (Return on Investment), compared to alternative materials or coatings over steel.
ALUMINUM:
Pro - Resistant to corrosion of many materials.
Pro - Soft material far less tendency to fracture (crack), see above.
Con - Soft material, depending on material transported, can degrade rapidly or melt completely through if caustic enough.
Con - More expensive than steel, and slightly less expensive than stainless.
HDG:
Pro - Corrosion resistant, acts as anodic material (coating will wear through while leaving steel material exposed) Steel sub-material is ( I would determine) mid-level corrosion resistant.
Pro - Softer material far less prone to fracture (crack), with steel material underneath.
Pro - Coating can be redone when degraded, leaving sub-structure entact.
Con - Materials transported must be within specific PH range to avoid accelerating degradation of coating.
Pro - Sub-structural steel is stress relieved through HDG process, from extreme temperatures encountered.

Please do your own research to determine what product will work best for your application before deciding what type of product to request quotes on from manufacturers, and if we can answer any more questions for you, contact us through our website, or me at rmundell@truckworksinc.com .
Any other manufacturers interested in developing and building HDG products, please feel free to contact Truck Works Inc. We are open to discuss Patent royalty agreements regarding HDG tank products, and have no desire to corner a market, just "build a better mousetrap", and develop product improvements, while recovering our R&D costs.

If you have made it this far, i sincerely thank you for your interest and time in reading. If you wish to post a comment or question, I will do my best to answer them here, or include answers in future posts.

Robert Mundell
Vice-President
Truck Works Inc
http://www.truckworksinc.com/