Philippi-Hagenbuch celebrates 25 years of efficient, safe dust control with its patented water tanks

Since introducing water tanks in 2001, they have become a staple of Philippi-Hagenbuch’s custom-engineered equipment lineup, giving customers an efficient dust control solution for new trucks and through converting an existing haul truck to a water truck. From the first water tanks that rolled out its doors, Philippi-Hagenbuch has prioritised design features that emphasise durability, efficiency, and safety. The company has manufactured more than 100 water tanks in the past 25 years, and to this day, every HiVol Water Tank is still operating.

“Dust control is an important daily task for operations to complete, but facilities often face challenges in terms of safety and efficiency when they use standard water tanks. When we started manufacturing ours, we really wanted to challenge the norm,” said Josh Swank, Philippi-Hagenbuch chief growth officer. “It’s common to get five, maybe seven years out of most water tanks on the market. Our mission was and continues to be to provide a solution that lasts for several decades, not years. It gives us a great sense of pride seeing that all the research, testing and engineering that goes into every water tank has paid off.”

Philippi-Hagenbuch had been manufacturing custom haul truck bodies for about three decades when a customer approached them with a request for water tanks. Striving to manufacture whatever solution customers need to help them haul, Philippi-Hagenbuch began looking at applying their design expertise and standards to engineer a water tank.

While studying the dimensions and specifications necessary for the tank, they realised that volumetrically, a water tank would be about the same as their coal bodies. Philippi-Hagenbuch then studied other water tanks on the market and spoke in-depth with customers about what challenges they faced with these products. The result of the company’s research was a square, flattop HiVol Water Tank with a range of features and technology not previously seen in the industry. That first water tank was delivered to Campbell County, Wyoming, in March 2001, where it still operates today.

Manufacturing a water tank that stands the test of time starts with using high-quality material. Philippi-Hagenbuch water tanks are built with superior-grade Hardox® 450 steel, which is more than 300% harder and more corrosion-resistant than the steel used in most other water tanks on the market. If hauling in highly acidic environments, Philippi-Hagenbuch offers HiVol Water Tanks with Hardox HiAce acidic-resistant steel. The company also manufactures insulated water tanks designed for cold weather conditions, with optional heating for use in environments as cold as minus -40 degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius.

Philippi-Hagenbuch also takes an innovative approach to ensure an extended lifecycle for the inside of the water tank. Most manufacturers use an epoxy coating on the inner walls of the tank, which over time results in a membrane effect trapping water behind the coating at a flex point. The trapped water eventually leads to cracking and chipping of the steel. Philippi-Hagenbuch instead coats the inside of the tank with a rust-resistant primer and has never experienced rust or corrosion in a HiVol Water Tank.

Philippi-Hagenbuch engineers its water tanks to achieve the lowest weight and greatest possible hauling capacity. The square design lowers the centre of gravity and maximises the haul truck’s hauling capability safely, unlike traditional round and trapezoidal water tanks which typically can only utilise 80% of the truck’s capacity in order to avoid dangerous churning. The internal side-surge stabilisers and baffling system fully compartmentalise the water, minimisng churning and improving vehicle stability. Philippi-Hagenbuch’s patented design also makes maintenance simpler and safer with full-sized interior and exterior doors and access points at the top of the tank.

Extensive quality control testing is done with every tank prior to shipping to the customer. After it’s constructed, Philippi-Hagenbuch fills the bottom 20% of the water tank with environmentally bioluminescent material and lets it sit for 48 hours. After 48 hours, they check underneath the water tank in the dark to ensure there are no leak points. Because of the leakproof design, every Philippi-Hagenbuch water tank comes standard with an industry-best three-year structural warranty.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/18032026/philippi-hagenbuch-celebrates-25-years-of-efficient-safe-dust-control-with-its-patented-water-tanks/