The Tank Company
Oval Stainless produce fuel, oil, water and process tanks in aluminium and stainless steel to many types of industry. We are now a major OEM supplier to both the marine and specialist vehicle manufacturing sectors as well as the petro-chemical and gen-set industries. Waterjet cutting and CNC folding ensures consistency of measurements for small production runs, and all welders are coded. Every tank is individually numbered and pressure tested.
Our range consists of;
- Marine
- Industrial
- Petro-chemical & Gen-sets
- Bespoke
See below for further information.
Range
Marine
Fuel, water and waste tanks in aluminium and stainless steel have been a speciality since 1981. Customers include The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Sunseeker International, Fairline Boats, Princess International and Sealine. All tanks are radius-edged and gauges, ports, sumps straps and fastenings will be designed to suit customer requirements. Every tank is fully guaranteed for two years and carries full product liability insurance.
Industrial
We supply aluminium and stainless steel fuel tanks to the truck industry. Our unique production methods enable us to produce tank bodies with only one horizontal seam. CNC produced tooling ensures that pressed ends and baffles are manufactured to high specifications. We are very happy to work with either Manufacturers or Operators, one offs are a speciality and obsolete tanks can also be replicated. Aluminium tanks tend to outlast mild steel by a factor of about four thus justifying the slightly higher initial cost.
Petro-chemical & Gen-sets
We manufacture all sorts of low pressure vessels, (up to 100PSI test pressure), and vacuum tanks for these sectors, individually fabricated, TIG welded by coded welders, numbered and tested. Special designs and shapes to fit within generator sound enclosures can be accommodated. Specialist Stainless steel and aluminium industrial pipe-work can also be fabricated and welded.
Bespoke
We are keen to quote on one off specials including process and industrial tanks, general aluminium fabrications and structures. We have experience of building aluminium boat hulls and superstructures up to about 12 metres long, RIB “A” frames and fittings. These can be powder coated or painted as required.
What we do
We specialise in producing high quality stainless steel products for industry and home. See the list below for some of our services;
- Oval and Round Tube
- Furniture
- Interior & Exterior design
- Marine Stainless steel
- Bespoke tanks
- Architectural
Our products are finished to the clients specification, this comes in the form of four different grades, ranging from "mill" to "mirror polish" for further info please email us.
Production
Drawings
Drawings can be accepted in any standard CAD format, (Solidworks, AutoCAD, Iges, Step), or on paper. They are then used to program our waterjet cutting equipment. Comprehensive quotations can be supplied on receipt of full drawings or assistance can be provided with tank design.
Fabrication
Waterjet cut sheet aluminium or 316 stainless steel are used for the main body and ends of the tank. Main corners are usually radiused for strength and CNC shaped. Baffles are made as required with punched holes. Sender and fill/ pickup/ balance ports are CNC machined as required.
Welding
Tanks are all then individually hand welded, either TIG or MIG, by coded and time served welders in dedicated welding bays with cranes and other material handling equipment as required by the mass of the tank. A rolling program of updating the welding equipment to the latest synergic MIG sets is now underway for those tanks that require MIG welding. One welder completes every tank thus ensuring pride in the finished article.
Quality Control
All tanks are made to relevant BS standards and are CE approved for marine use. Dimensional checks are performed and every tank is then pressure tested to ensure that there are no leaks. After pressure and “drop” testing each tank is numbered, a full record of which has been kept since 1981 to ensure traceability and easy replication in the unlikely event of a replacement being required. Over 33,000 have now been recorded.
Finishing
Both aluminium and stainless steel tanks can be powder coated or painted as required in a selection of popular colours.
Carriage
Tanks are packaged as required complete with gauges, straps and any fittings specified. Carriage is either on one of our own vehicles or a Nationwide overnight pallet carrier.
Care tips
Installation
Always ensure that the surface that the tank is mounted on is level and firm, bear in mind the mass of the tank when full of fuel. (A litre of diesel weighs 0.98KG). If mounting on frames or stringers in a boat pad out with foam “bear” tape on wide bearing surfaces, (black RA21 is best).
For tanks in the bottom of hulls we recommend either stainless steel or powder coated aluminium as unpainted they will eventually corrode with salt water contact.
When strapping down tanks use either stainless steel or webbing type straps, again bearing in mind the total mass of the tank including fuel and the speed of the vessel, thus forces involved. Place foam tape under any stainless steel straps where they contact the aluminium tank body to prevent corrosion and abrasion on the contact patch.
Seal all fittings with a proprietary thread sealant and check for leaks when first commissioned.
Care
Periodically check the body of the tank all fittings for leaks, weeping or stains. Wipe down any surface dust with a fresh water damped cloth on aluminium tanks. Check tightness of any retaining straps regularly again bearing in mind loads involved. Do not let anything lean on a tank where over a period of time it may start to rub away the surface thus weakening the tank structure. If possible look under the tank say once a year to check for corrosion on the bottom surfaces if in contact with any salt water.
Fuel
If using diesel in a marine environment ensure that you periodically add a “bug killer” at recommended doses and intervals. The “diesel bug” can, if left unchecked, completely clog a fuel system, possibly leaving you stranded. It thrives on the water found in fuel and the bug killer can turn this water into a burnable component in the fuel. Always try to leave your tanks as full as possible as then there is little room for condensation to form in the top of the tank. Ensure that there is always adequate fuel filtration prior to the engine and inspect regularly. Ideally once a year drain the tanks completely and then refill.
Latest News
A new venture for Oval ! Having been increasingly asked to solve the handling of tenders on larger and larger yachts we formed Tender Solutions in early 2011 to concentrate on these problems.
With many years of practical boating experience behind us we can design your bespoke tender recovery solution.
Ranging from the smallest inflatable tender on the back of a 30ft motor boat up to tenders of 30ft and more we can handle them all.
With most solutions produced in mirror polished 316L stainless steel longevity is guaranteed. We use only the finest Brenderup and Stoltze rollers, Harken track, sealed bearings and stainless castors.......more.
Contact
+44 (0)1202 749907
info@oval316.co.uk
H3 The Fulcrum, Vantage Way,
Mannings Heath, Poole,BH12 4NU.
Dorset.