Fusion Weld Tanks Wins U.S. Licence

17 October 2002

Fusion Weld Tanks' Double Wall Permatank uses Grade 250 steel for the inner shell, replacing the traditional fibreglass.

Industrial manufacturer Fusion Weld Tanks has secured a licence through the Steel Tank Institute (STI) in the US to manufacture Double Wall Permatanks for the Australian and Asian markets - a win for both the local industry and steel in general.

The double wall tanks are used by major oil companies and chemical companies as underground fuel tanks in service stations, chemical storage and fuel storage in airports. In the past a number of these tanks were made from fibreglass, not steel. However, Fusion Weld Tanks uses  steel for the inner shell of the tanks, with a fibreglass outer shell finish. The structural strength of steel makes a superior double wall storage tank. Permatanks are manufactured in various sizes from 2500 litres to 110,000 litres.

Fusion Weld Tanks, a division of Fusion Weld Engineering, filled the void left by the closure of Rheem Tank Products, which was acquired by Steel Tank and Pipe (STP) in 1997 and ceased business in 2000 after STP went into receivership.

Fusion Weld Tanks general manager, Charles Gatt, said the company had largely been able to take over from where STP/Rheem left off. "We were able to rehire the nucleus of the Rheem design, engineering, sales and manufacturing team," Mr Gatt said.

"Major companies have given a sigh of relief because we have once again filled the void left by the closure of Rheem Tank Products. We are delighted at the support we have received from these companies."

From its plant in the Melbourne suburb of North Sunshine, Fusion Weld Tanks supplies around 100 tanks a year to the Australian and Asian markets through its contract with STI.