Tanks

Processing tanks serve as the holding and staging point for liquids, chemicals, ingredients, and gases before, during, and after a mixing or milling stage. A tank selected for one process stage (bulk storage, for example) carries different design requirements than a tank selected for active mixing, where agitation, fitting placement, and material compatibility with the batch contents become primary considerations. Norstone, Inc. sources tanks across this full range of process functions, matching tank design to the stage of the operation it supports rather than treating storage, mixing, and transfer as interchangeable applications.

Tank Configurations (Examples are shown but NOT limited to just the styles in the photos.)

Process tanks are available in the following configurations:

• Materials of construction: Stainless steel, carbon steel, and poly (molded or fabricated resin)
• Sizes: Laboratory pots up to large production tanks, measured in gallons or liters
• Top and bottom styles: Flat, slant, cone, and dish bottoms
• Options: Jacketed, insulated, portable, stationary, closed top, open top, vented
• Access features: Top openings, side ports, and fittings for valves, transfer lines, and gas or liquid connections
• Skid-mounted assemblies: Full skid systems combining tanks, mixing components, and transfer fittings into a single unit

Vented tank designs accommodate applications where gas displacement or pressure equalization is required during filling, mixing, or transfer. Dual-fitting configurations allow simultaneous inlet and outlet connections, supporting continuous transfer operations rather than batch-only handling. Tank access points (top openings, side ports, and sight ports) are specified according to how operators load, inspect, or sample the batch during processing. Fitting placement and valve type are selected to match the fluid or gas being handled, since a configuration suited to a thin liquid transfer does not necessarily suit a viscous batch or a gas-venting requirement.

Material Compatibility

Material selection depends on chemical compatibility, contamination sensitivity, and the fluids, ingredients, or gases the tank will hold.

• Poly tanks are typical for water-based and lower-corrosivity applications. Poly construction (via molding or resin fabrication) offers a lighter-weight option where corrosion resistance from aggressive chemicals is not the primary requirement. Poly tanks are common in general storage applications across chemical and industrial settings.
• Stainless steel tanks serve chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and beverage processing where contamination control matters. Stainless steel resists a broader range of chemical exposures than carbon steel and supports cleaning protocols common to regulated industries. This makes stainless steel a standard choice where ingredients or food products move through the tank between batches.
• Carbon steel tanks fit general industrial storage and transfer where corrosion resistance is not the primary requirement. Carbon steel construction is a standard option for chemical storage applications without stringent contamination or corrosion demands.

Batch size and quantity requirements (whether measured in gallons or liters) factor into tank sizing alongside material selection. A tank specified for laboratory-scale batches carries different sizing than a tank specified for full production quantity, and Norstone, Inc. sources both ranges under the same process tank category. Container quantity, whether a single tank or multiple units feeding a shared transfer system, is confirmed against the process before an order is placed.

Manufacturer Representation

Norstone, Inc. represents multiple tank manufacturers and sources custom-built tanks to match specific process requirements. Design details, including port placement, jacket type, fitting compatibility, and access configuration, are confirmed against the application before order. This approach allows tank specification to follow the process (chemical compatibility, batch size, mixing or storage function) rather than a fixed catalog of stocked sizes.

Tank orders are matched to the intended service: storage, mixing, or transfer. A tank intended for long-term storage of chemicals or ingredients is specified differently than a tank intended to support active mixing operations, where agitator clearance, baffle placement, and fitting access become relevant to the design. Where a process involves injection or transfer of resin, gases, or liquid batches between systems, fitting and valve compatibility across each connected tank is confirmed as part of the specification process.

Industries served through this category include chemical processing, food products, beverage production, coatings, and general industrial operations, each with distinct compatibility and safety requirements tied to the materials stored or processed.

Related Equipment

Tanks work alongside Mixers and Dispersers within a processing line, and connect downstream to Grinding Media Depot® products for milling operations that follow tank-based mixing or storage stages.

Other Process Equipment Categories