Storing wastewater and other hazardous chemicals is not a market opportunity for the faint of heart. Getting it wrong can cost millions in fines, not to mention a loss of reputation. Polymaster is setting the standard.
“In the water and waste industries, a range of chemicals is commonly used to treat water to an acceptable level, be it for drinking or waste treatment. We differentiate by ensuring our tanks and dosing solutions will be inert (or unaffected by) to the stored chemicals.”
That’s Jason Egan, the National Key Account Manager for Polymaster. Polymaster is a leading Australian manufacturer of liquid storage solutions. The family-owned business has offices and facilities throughout Australia, and its vision is to become the industry standard for liquid storage.
Jason has been with Polymaster for about four years. He came to the industry after years in rail and logistics.
“Polymaster is a good business. It’s growing and knows what it will do and where it will expand. Its progress and growth combine well with the people and the culture. The company has many long-term employees with a great culture. It’s a great place to work,” Jason says.
Polymaster has been at the forefront of the industry for almost three decades. Its success comes from designing and manufacturing industry-endorsed and product-certified solutions. The extensive range of products includes chemical tanks, diesel storage, rainwater tanks, liquid fertiliser storage, septic tanks, and animal care products.
Polymaster has built its reputation on innovative designs, superior customer service, and commitment to delivering products that exceed expectations.
At the cutting-edge
Polymaster’s commitment to innovation is reflected in the range of materials used to create its tanks.
Jason says the company’s quality promise means users will get products that are safe, easy to install and use and will last. It’s what Polymaster has built its products, reputation, and entire business around. Top-grade materials are fundamental to its products that are trialled and tested at every point in the design and manufacturing process. Global quality and process certifications back every tank, dosing system or custom fabrication.
“The big difference is that Polymaster has several grades of polyethylene material, which allows compatibility and safety in storing the chemicals used in the water treatment process,” Jason says.
“We have a sister business of the company that produces the raw materials for our tanks. This gives us complete control and traceability of the product from raw material to finished tank. The team adds antioxidants to achieve different grades of chemical compatibility. It means we offer specific tanks that will hold specific chemicals.
“When engineers look for a storage tank, they can be sure that Polymaster can offer a compatible tank. They do not need to work out if the tank is compatible, the right size, and in line with the relevant standards. If an engineer wants a sodium hypochlorite tank, we can provide one.”
It’s not just the materials that keep Polymaster at the front. Including dosing equipment as part of the tank construction immediately benefits customers with a single source supply, warranty and service.
“We can install the pumps, piping, and other custom items required. It allows our customers to accurately dose the chemicals needed for the relevant purpose. This is critical for water treatment,” Jason says.
“Polymaster products are made with a design life of 25 years which is why the industry leaders trust us to provide safe, reliable, long-term solutions.
“When it comes to water treatment, companies must treat their waste from the product or remediation processes to a required level. There are cost benefits to businesses where they maximise water quality before going into trade waste. When storage tank failure occurs and chemicals enter waterways, serious fines can occur. The cost of a purpose-built Polymaster tank is insignificant to the fines, environmental impacts and reputation damage that can happen to a business.”
Major projects
Polymaster has been involved in many projects across Australia. Some of its vital work is around soil remediation.
“We are working with almost every major road and rail project across Australia,” Jason says. “You can see the cone-bottom, self-bunded with dosing and process tanks on those sites. The process is to remove soil and contaminants from the sludge, neutralise the ph of the water and return the water.
“Coagulants, flocculants dosed from our self-bunded tanks or enclosed IBC units can be added to ensure the sludge is separated. The next process is filtration, where back flush RO tanks can be part of the process. The final process helps clients complete their pH corrections where acids or alkalis are dosed.
“When it comes to trade waste from various industries, it largely works the same way, finishing with pH correction. Water utilities require us to have the water pH within a specific range, and significant costs kick in if the client can’t meet that. It’s why there is a meter for tracking the levels before entry to trade waste.”
When Jason speaks about the innovation behind the company, he’s most proud of the self-bunded chemical tanks. They are double-walled, and the self-bunding means that Polymaster has effectively manufactured a tank within a tank – the internal tank is constructed inside a purpose-built polyethylene tank. It’s designed to prevent chemicals from interacting with the environment in the unlikely event of a leak.
He also talks about one of the top-selling new products.
“One thing attracting a lot of attention is our unique Enclosed IBC Bund. It solves many problems associated with intermediate bulk container (IBC) storage and chemical/fluid decanting in a fully bunded weather-resistant, purpose-built enclosure which can include built-in dosing skids,” Jason says.
“Polymaster makes it from high-grade polyethylene material. The Enclosed IBC Bund allows easy forklift movement with a simple connection to a 250-litre day tank. It eliminates OH&S issues associated with IBC handling.
“We developed this product with some of our biggest customers. Their engagement in the process was vital.”
Jason says innovations such as the Enclosed IBC Bund have driven Polymaster’s acceptance in the marketplace. A continued focus on research and development has shown customers that Polymaster is at the cutting edge of liquid storage.
For more information, visit: www.polymaster.com.au