niplast polishes up autoglym liquid storage facilities
Premier car care company, Autoglym has specified Niplast thermoplastic bulk tanks for the storage of process chemicals at its Letchworth site. Four UV-stabilised polypropylene tanks were supplied, each with a working capacity of up to 15 tonnes, and they were custom made to fit a specific site location, their tall, narrow profiles being made possible by Niplast's distinctive manufacturing process.
Established in 1965, Autoglym is now synonymous with high quality car care and valeting products around the world, distributing to forty different countries. The company holds international approvals for some fifty car marques, including Aston Martin, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz and Rolls-Royce, with leading automotive manufacturers and importers choosing Autoglym products for on-line production work, main dealer use and motor show preparation.
Products are manufactured to international quality and environmental standards at its Letchworth, Herefordshire’ headquarters and liquid raw materials are held in bulk storage vessels, to take advantage of economical and efficient road tanker deliveries. The new Niplast chemical storage tanks feature an unusually compact 2000mm external diameter, to meet specific installation footprint requirements. This bespoke solution was facilitated by the butt fusion welding of extruded thermoplastic sheet, which permits maximum design flexibility, as compared with mandrel coil winding, which is restricted to pre-set diameters.
The vessels were built in blue self-coloured polypropylene to DVS2205 specifications, according to the chemical composition, specific gravity and delivery temperatures of the different liquids being stored. One was fitted with an internal 2kW stainless-steel immersion heater, to provide frost protection, and all incorporate inlet couplings and 50mm diameter fill lines for road tanker discharge, outlet drainage flanges and mushroom vents, as well as external pressure gauges.
The tanks are between 5200mm and 6200mm in overall height and each includes a closed top and 600mm upper access manway, with removable cover secured by polypropylene nuts and bolts. Each vessel has an internal sloping base to allow total product discharge; there is also a second flat base underneath and the cavity is infilled with high density polyurethane foam to support the load.
As with all Niplast thermoplastic storage vessels, the tanks at Autoglym are corrosion resistant, require minimal maintenance and should deliver many years of dependable service.
