Customer story
ChemCom Industries: ‘The new tank offers greater ease of use and results in cost savings’
Gpi delivers a 60 m³ stainless steel storage tank for ChemCom Industries
ChemCom Industries supplies high-quality industrial chemicals such as methanol, formalin, adhesives/resins, fertilizers, and various solvents. Due to the need for expanding the existing tank farm to increase storage capacity for caustic soda, the demand for a new stainless steel storage tank arose. The company approached Gpi Tanks.
Gert Krul, process technologist at ChemCom Industries, was involved in the project from the beginning. He explains the reasoning behind it: ‘We wanted to reduce the transport of caustic soda and eliminate the storage of caustic soda in IBCs. Additionally, the goal was for the tank to be flexibly usable for the storage of other chemicals as well.’
The assignment
The order involved the design, production, delivery, and installation of a 60 m³ stainless steel storage tank with an overflow platform. The tank was designed according to the European standard EN13445 for unfired pressure vessels. It was made from stainless steel 316L. After production at the factory in Lopik, the tank was pickled and passivated to restore the stainless steel’s corrosion resistance. The tank was inspected according to the test and inspection plan, including a ‘full of water’ pressure test and x-ray inspection at predetermined points. The tank was finished with mineral wool insulation and aluminum cladding. After production, Gert visited the headquarters in the production hall in Lopik for the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), where he had the opportunity to inspect the tank himself before it was transported. ‘Gpi made a professional impression,’ Gert said about his visit.
'The collaboration was professional. The cooperation went smoothly from the engineering phase to the execution phase.'
Transport & installation
Gpi organized the road transport of the tank to its final destination in Farmsum, and Gpi’s technicians placed and anchored the tank on the designated foundation. Gert: ‘The technicians installed the overflow platform for access to the adjacent 100 m³ tank. The caged ladder from the adjacent tank was moved to the new tank. Due to excessive wind, this was postponed, as safety was of course the top priority. A week later, the caged ladder was installed in its new position.’
The outcome and collaboration
The new tank replaces the smaller IBCs used for caustic soda storage. Gert explains the benefits: ‘Because we can now store a large quantity in one place, fewer transports are needed. This offers greater ease of use and results in cost savings.’ ChemCom’s process technologist looks back on the project with satisfaction: ‘The collaboration was professional. The cooperation went smoothly from the engineering phase to the execution phase. Any remaining issues were well resolved, and communication was always clear.’
