Industrial bulk storage bins are the backbone of material handling in feed, grain, aggregate, chemical, and manufacturing operations. For this project, a client needed eight A36 carbon steel storage bins, complete with integrated platforms and stairs, fabricated and delivered to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
During fabrication, Southern Metal Fabricators' team encountered a meaningful quality decision: whether to drill or punch holes in the structural members. Punching is faster but can introduce micro-stress in thicker or harder material; drilling is more controlled and preserves structural integrity at the hole edges. Southern Metal Fabricators drew on its fabrication experience to resolve the question quickly — without pausing the production schedule — and documented the decision as part of its quality control process.
Completed on schedule, the finished bins were coated with Carboguard 60, a high-performance epoxy primer used specifically for industrial steel structures where corrosion protection and long service life are non-negotiable.
| Project Description | Bins - 8x |
| Processes Used | CNC Cutting |
| Equipment Used | Not Applicable |
| Part Dimensions | 18’-0” wide x 30’-6” tall |
| Materials Used | A36 carbon steel channels, angle, plate |
| Finishes | Carboguard 60 |
| Quality Control | Inspected for quality during fabrication process-problem areas tagged, photographed, and documented |
| Delivery Location | Chattanooga, TN |
| Standards | Not Applicable |
