Large GRP tanks, gas scrubbing columns for export

Forbes, the largest UK manufacturer of custom built tanks, has completed and delivered one of their largest ever export orders, for 42 large tanks in GRP to go to Kazakhstan

"With the lack of new investment in the manufacturing industry in the UK, it is essential to open up other markets to remain a successful and profitable business" stated Melvyn Jupp, Sales Director: "One of the major problems in exporting large one piece items such as tanks, is finding a suitable method to transport them safely to site".

During the initial stages of compiling specifications, the company always considers the design and in particular the overall size, in relation to transportation.

This often requires units to be designed to fit into standard ISO containers or built within a modular frame system - or to give the maximum width and height to permit transportation by road or rail.

The recent order for Kazakhstan was specifically designed for the process of mineral separation, but with the problem of shipping to Kazakhstan held in mind.

The consignment of 42 tanks was shipped from the Forbes Kelso site to the nearest docks, these being at Berwick upon Tweed.

The company chartered a 4000 tonne Russian ship for the journey to St Petersburg.

A number of the tanks went as deck cargo.

After arriving in St Petersburg the tanks were transhipped to rail on a specially chartered train complete with armed guards for their two week journey south to Kazakhstan.

The limiting factor of width permitted on Russian Railways of 3.5 metres restricted the diameters of the tanks to this width.

"We are delighted to find all tanks in pristine condition and to everyone's amazement, without even a scratch" stated the project engineer when the shipment arrived on site: "All tanks were strapped to specially design low cost cradles and with detailed handling instructions supplied by Forbes installation was extremely easy".

Once products have arrived on site, Forbes considers the ease of installation to be paramount to the success of the overall contract.

Detailed lifting, handling and installation instructions are agreed with the customer well before the products arrive on-site.

With difficult installations, Forbes offers the further support of an engineer to attend site to assist and take responsibility for the safe erection and hand-over to the client.

Three recent export orders further demonstrate how Forbes tackled the major problem of transportation of such large items economically.

The first involved a 20 metre high gas scrubbing column and sump tank for China.

This unit was broken down into suitable sections to allow containerisation for shipment direct to site in China.

Design engineers ensured that all sections did not exceed the internal dimensions of the containers.

Forbes engineers assisted on site during the installation over a two week period.

A current export order, which is complete and awaiting shipping, this time for Australia, consists of 2 GRP tanks and a large degassing column: this had posed major design problems, with the unit being confined to ISO container sizes.

With careful process and mechanical design the whole plant is to be shipped in 40 feet and 20 ft standard containers.

Other exports involving difficult cargo sizes included a tank and process tower shipped by road to Spain.

Once again the process and design engineers specified equipment around economical road transportation.

Not only are the shipping arrangements important; the protection of product during shipping and installation are major design aspects, which need to be carefully considered.

To ease installation problems on site and to ensure the completely assembled unit was shipped without the danger of damage, the tower and sump tank were designed within a complete modular steel frame, which formed part of the overall structure once installed.

The overall dimensions were controlled to a specific width and height to ensure economic transport by road.

Forbes continues to develop the export markets for their products despite the difficulties encountered in shipping.

A further order for tanks to be shipped to Kazakhstan is nearing completion.

Further Forbes sales personnel are based in Holland, Spain and France, to enable immediate and local contact with European customers.

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