Industrial Tank Coating and Lining
Industrial Tank Coating and Lining Services — Corrosion Protection from the Inside Out
BlasTek provides comprehensive tank coating and lining services for water storage tanks, chemical processing vessels, fuel storage tanks, wastewater treatment structures, and a wide range of industrial process equipment. Preventing localized corrosion and product contamination requires specialized coating systems applied over properly prepared surfaces, and that is exactly what BlasTek delivers.
Our certified technicians install internal tank linings that meet AWWA, NSF-61, and project-specific standards, helping protect the structural integrity of your storage assets while ensuring stored products remain free from contamination, discoloration, or metallic pickup. Whether you manage a municipal water system, industrial chemical facility, or agricultural storage operation, BlasTek has the expertise and equipment to extend the service life of your critical storage infrastructure.
The Importance of Tank Lining and Coating
A tank or vessel storing water, chemicals, fuel, or other industrial fluids is under constant internal exposure. Moisture, dissolved oxygen, microbial activity, chemical pH, and temperature fluctuations all contribute to accelerated corrosion from within, gradually thinning tank walls, compromising structural integrity, and risking contamination of the stored product. By the time internal corrosion becomes visible as a pinhole, leak, or off-specification product, the damage has typically been developing beneath the surface for years.
A properly applied internal lining creates a continuous barrier between the stored product and the steel substrate, isolating the metal from its corrosive environment and interrupting the electrochemical reactions that drive corrosion. When installed over a properly prepared surface, typically a near-white or white metal blast to SSPC-SP 10 or SSPC-SP 5, and allowed to cure correctly, a high-quality tank lining can deliver decades of reliable protection before renewal is required.
The investment in professional tank lining is consistently justified by the significant extension of asset service life it provides. Tank replacement costs are exponentially higher than rehabilitation and recoating, making lining systems one of the most cost-effective infrastructure preservation strategies available. BlasTek’s tank lining work routinely extends service life by 15 to 30 years, delivering substantial long-term value to asset owners.
Tank Coating and Lining Systems
BlasTek provides a full range of tank coating and lining systems engineered to match the specific service environment, substrate, and regulatory requirements of each asset. Every system from potable water storage to aggressive chemical processing and wastewater infrastructure is carefully selected and applied to ensure long-term corrosion protection, product integrity, and reliable performance in demanding conditions.
Potable Water Tank Linings
Water storage tanks from small pressure tanks to large municipal reservoirs require NSF 61-certified coating systems that are safe for contact with drinking water. BlasTek applies NSF-approved epoxy and polyurethane lining systems from Tnemec, Sherwin-Williams, and other manufacturers, ensuring your potable water storage infrastructure meets all regulatory requirements for product safety and asset protection.
Chemical and Process Vessel Linings
Chemical vessels, reactors, and process equipment handling corrosive chemicals, acids, alkalis, and solvents require specialty lining systems with demonstrated resistance to the specific chemicals in service. BlasTek applies vinyl ester, novolac epoxy, and chemically resistant specialty linings for chemical processing and industrial manufacturing environments, working from detailed chemical compatibility assessments to specify the correct system.
Wastewater and Sewage Infrastructure
Concrete and steel structures in wastewater treatment including digesters, clarifiers, wet wells, lift stations face a particularly aggressive combination of corrosion mechanisms including hydrogen sulfide gas, microbially induced corrosion (MIC), and high-pH chemical exposure. BlasTek applies high-build epoxy and specialty lining systems engineered for wastewater service, restoring deteriorated concrete and steel infrastructure to serviceable condition.
Fuel and Petroleum Storage Tank Coatings
Above-ground storage tanks for fuel, petroleum products, and lubricants require both internal lining for product compatibility and external coating for atmospheric corrosion protection. BlasTek provides complete internal/external tank coating programs, including floor plate lining, shell interior coating, roof coating, and exterior atmospheric systems.
Tank Coating Process — From Surface Preparation to Final Inspection
BlasTek follows a disciplined, step-by-step coating process to ensure consistent, high-performance results:
- Pre-project condition assessment: Detailed inspection of the tank interior to evaluate corrosion patterns, existing coating condition, and substrate thickness
- Abrasive blast preparation: Near-white or white metal blasting to SSPC-SP 10 or SSPC-SP 5, achieving the required surface cleanliness and anchor profile
- Surface verification: Profile measurement and inspection of the prepared substrate prior to coating application
- Multi-coat lining application: Coatings applied in strict accordance with manufacturer specifications for film thickness, cure, and recoat windows
- Wet film thickness monitoring: Continuous verification during application to ensure proper coverage and performance
- Final inspection and holiday testing: Spark testing of the completed lining to identify pinholes or discontinuities
- Project documentation: Comprehensive coating records provided to support warranties, compliance, and long-term maintenance programs
Request a Tank Coating Assessment
Contact BlasTek to schedule an on-site assessment of your tank or vessel. We will evaluate the current coating condition, recommend a lining specification, and provide a detailed project estimate. Call us at 616-243-7550 or fill out our contact form to get started.
Industries We Serve
BlasTek is a specialty sandblasting contractor built for the most demanding industrial environments. We provide expert blasting, coating, and corrosion control solutions for a wide range of sectors, including:
- Municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities
- Food and beverage processing plants
- Pharmaceutical and cleanroom facilities
- Energy generation and power transmission infrastructure
- Steel fabricators and structural steel fabrication shops
- Advanced manufacturing and heavy industry
- Commercial and industrial construction
- Environmental and disaster restoration projects
Service Areas
BlasTek operates from two strategic locations: our headquarters in Shelbyville, MI, serving the greater West Michigan region, and our dedicated powder coating facility in Grand Rapids, MI. Our mobile field service teams extend across Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Southern Illinois, covering the heart of the Midwest industrial corridor. We proudly serve primary areas including:
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Three Rivers, MI
- Southwest and Northern Michigan
- Southern Illinois
- Northern Indiana
- Ohio
Industries We Serve
BlasTek is a specialty sandblasting contractor built for the most demanding industrial environments. We provide expert blasting, coating, and corrosion control solutions for a wide range of sectors, including:
- Municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities
- Food and beverage processing plants
- Pharmaceutical and cleanroom facilities
- Energy generation and power transmission infrastructure
- Steel fabricators and structural steel fabrication shops
- Advanced manufacturing and heavy industry
- Commercial and industrial construction
- Environmental and disaster restoration projects
We Follow Best Practices
We came together because we understand and specialize in the unique demands of media blasting.
- Sustainablility
- Project On Time
- Modern Technology
- Always By Your Side
Frequently Asked Questions — Tank Coating
How often do tank linings need to be renewed?
The service life of a tank lining depends on the stored product, temperature, application quality, and the original coating system. A well-applied, high-quality epoxy lining on a properly prepared substrate in potable water service can last 15–30 years. Fuel and chemical service linings may require more frequent inspection and renewal depending on the aggressiveness of the environment.
Can a corroded tank be relined, or does it need to be replaced?
In most cases, a corroded tank can be relined if the structural integrity of the tank wall is still acceptable, meaning the shell, floor, and roof have not been perforated or thinned below minimum structural thickness. BlasTek’s pre-project assessment includes wall thickness measurement to confirm relinable status before committing to a lining program.
What is NSF 61 certification and why does it matter for water tanks?
NSF 61 is a product certification standard that verifies coating materials used in drinking water contact applications do not leach harmful chemicals into potable water at harmful levels. Municipal and public water system owners are typically required by state regulatory agencies to use NSF 61-certified coating systems for water storage and distribution infrastructure. BlasTek specifies NSF 61-certified systems for all potable water applications.
What Our Clients Say
Testimonials
Sales and Operations
Clearwater Filtration
Matthew McDonald
BlasTek has completed every project either on schedule or ahead of schedule. They excel with every job in craftsmanship and workmanship. In my mind, they are one of the leaders of the trade in the West Michigan area. Their integrity and determination to provide the best service for their customer are undoubtedly one of the best I have ever seen.
Project Manager
Andy J. Egan Co.
Chad Reed
Over the last few years, we have been utilizing BlasTek LLC for various fabrication projects ranging from semi loads of large-bore carbon steel piping to complex equipment and piping skids. They not only meet the demanding turnaround of our projects but have also expressed great quality and workmanship. Among other things, BlasTek has expressed a willingness to adapt to the specific needs and skillsets of some of our projects.
Advantages of Dry Ice
When it comes to dry ice blasting, there are several advantages associated with a technology that safely removes contaminants without causing harm to the underlying substrate. For example:
Non-Abrasive
It’s not so much the impact of the dry ice that cleans a surface, but rather, the kinetic energy released from the heat transfer upon impact. The impacted surface is literally frozen by the dry ice pellets which, in turn, causes the weakened contaminants to lose their adhesiveness and break free from the substrate during dry ice blasting.
No Residual Media
Since dry ice goes directly from a solid to a gas upon impact, there is no secondary cleanup with dry ice blasting beyond the contaminants being removed. Normally the coatings or contaminants can be swept or vacuumed from the floor beneath the treated object. Whereas chemicals and solvents create environmental concerns, and water carries with it the risk of bacteria growth, dry ice blasting produces zero secondary waste.
No Disassembly
Dry ice blasting is such a delicate process that equipment need not be disassembled during cleaning. Unlike media blasting and water blasting, there is no waste material produced by CO2 blasting. That means equipment can be cleaned in place, which should reduce plant downtime. In fact, if proper safety procedures are followed, most equipment can be cleaned ‘online’ to increase the amount of heat transfer during cleaning and maximize end results.
Environmentally Friendly
Dry ice blasting is an EPA, USDA, and FDA approved cleaning process, making it the perfect solution for most industrial and commercial surface decontamination projects.