Of all the questions we are asked while attending trade shows all over the world, the following questions are the two most common: first; “What are the advantages of factory powder coated tanks over glass-coated tanks?” and  “are they really cheaper than glass-coated tanks?”.

One of the most important points to consider when deciding between a glass-coated tank and a powder coated tank is the tank’s life cycle cost. Two of the most common misconceptions are that glass-coated tanks are cheaper because they never need to be recoated and that a glass-coated tank will last forever. Well…… false in the first count, therefore, false in the second count; glass-coated tanks are very rigid and have little flexibility. They are more often than not subject to coating failure at the bolt heads and edges, making them vulnerable to corrosion attacks. There have been many incidents of spalling, where glass has flaked into stored liquids within the first 5 -10 years of the tank’s life. That’s pretty disturbing, especially if you are the end user, relying on the quality of the water stored inside the tanks.

One more item to consider in your “worthiness checklist” is that glass-coated tanks are not entirely coated; parts of the structure (wind girders, nozzles, rafters, etc.) are made of galvanized steel, the tank’s top is aluminum and the bottom is concrete. This means that cathodic protection will be required and the maintenance of such a system is a continuous and expensive burden, to say the least.

Wear and tear is an inevitable issue for all tanks. Considering that a glass coated tank cannot be recoated in the field, the downtime for maintenance is a huge cost issue; selecting the right coating for your needs should be a top priority.

At the end of its life cycle, a glass-coated tank must be totally dismantled and sometimes fully replaced. This means field repair is not an option and the extended service life is nonexistent. Now, all of a sudden the total life cycle cost of a glass-coated tank becomes astronomical. It doesn’t seem to be worth the money after all, does it?

We pioneered the use of powder coating in the industry 24 year ago for two indisputable reasons: quality and durability. These reasons have been the driving force for excellence behind our products, making powder coated tanks reliable and trouble free. Ask around, you won’t regret it.

If you stop and think about what makes the purchase of a bolted steel storage tank successful, you will realize that choosing the right coating is fundamental in achieving the savings and trouble-free storage you desire. Factory powder coated tanks seem to be not only the wisest choice, but the only choice.