We Only Build with Stainless Steel — Here’s Why
Across the industry, many septic and pumper trucks have tanks made from aluminum. After 42 years in business working with aluminum, carbon steel and stainless steel, we’ve learned that stainless steel is the best choice for cost-effectiveness and durability. Our tanks are all made from 304L medical grade stainless steel and last longer than the truck chassis they sit on.
304L Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum
When it comes to stainless steel vs. aluminum, there’s no contest! See for yourself.
| Stainless Steel | Aluminum |
|---|---|
| Corrosion Resistance | |
| Our high-alloyed grade stainless steel can resist corrosion from sodium chloride (salt), alkaline solutions, chlorine bearing environments, and most acids. All of these are critical properties to your long-term success in portable sanitation and liquid waste removal. | Chemicals and urine have adverse effects on aluminum, making internal and external corrosion inevitable with an aluminum tank. |
| Fire & Heat Resistance | |
| Our special high chromium and nickel-alloyed grade stainless steel resists scaling and retains strength at high temperatures. | Stainless steel has over twice the melting point that aluminum does. |
| Hygiene | |
| It's very easy to clean our stainless steel tanks, which makes them the first choice for strict hygiene conditions. Our stainless steel grade, 304L, is the choice of hospitals, kitchens, abattoirs and other food processing plants. | Common chloride cleaners will attack aluminum, so it requires special cleaning techniques. |
| Aesthetic Appearance | |
| The bright, easily maintained surface of our stainless steel tanks provides an attractive, modern appearance that lasts over time. | Aluminum tanks initially have a pleasing shine, but will begin to pit when exposed to salty climates. |
| Strength-to-Weight Advantage | |
| Our higher grade of stainless steel has a work-hardening property that results in significant strengthening of the material from cold-working alone. This allows reduced material thickness over convention grades, which leads to cost savings. | Aluminum is prone to cracks and requires more structural bracing than a stainless steel tank. |
| Impact Resistance | |
| The austenitic microstructure of our higher stainless grade provides high toughness, from elevated temperatures to far below freezing, making this steel particularly suited to our industry's varied locales and applications. | Aluminum is not as structurally sound as stainless steel and will cave or collapse if under the impact of even a small fender-bender. |
| Long-Term Value | |
| When you consider how long the tank will last you, stainless steel is often the most affordable material option over time for your investment in a new portable sanitation tank, which also promotes a considerably higher re-sale value. | Aluminum tanks don't hold resale value. Recycling a retired tank would only bring less than fifty cents per pound based on 2020 recycling prices. |