Hanging on my office wall is a quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.” After we have learned an effective way of doing a task, it sometimes becomes very difficult to consider innovation and change. For 60-plus years, key plates, bull pins, blank nuts, dogs, wedges, Mokum bars etc. have been the vocabulary of “tankies” all around the world. “Tankies” have always searched for time and labor-saving solutions to complete their tasks. For years these tools have remained relatively the same. While the use of these tools is paramount in the construction process of field-erected tanks, these tools have undergone some significant innovative changes in recent years.
Involvement breeds innovation
You can’t expect to meet the challenges of today with yesterday’s tools and expect to be in business tomorrow. If not for visionaries of the past in our industry, we would still be building wooden tanks. The introduction of the bull pin to replace square wedges is one of the most significant innovations in tank building in my opinion. The use of a round, tapered wedge (bull pin) has many advantages over the square wedge. For example, forging and heat treating bull pins make them extremely tough as compared to a wedge cut from A-36 material. Also, full engagement of the taper on a bull pin keeps it from backing out while in use. Square wedges develop high spots on the wedge surface resulting in a small contact area, which allows them to back out under pressure. Lastly, a bull pin can also be used as an aligning tool.
Another key innovation is that of the forged key plate. Key plates have been used for decades. Forging key plates allows the weight to be reduced by up to 50 percent while continuing to maintain the strength of a conventional key plate. Forged key plates are now available in different versions such as the 90-degree version used for pushing/pulling and raising/lowering walls. A hinged key plate can provide 110 degrees of movement for use in numerous angles where fit up is needed. A modified key plate system (Romy) eliminates the need of half clamps.
“The problem is never how to get new innovative thoughts into your mind but how to get the old ones out,” said Dee Hock, former CEO of Visa. With that being said, another significant innovation in field-erected tank construction is the introduction of magnetic tools. Whether holding, fitting, fairing, housekeeping or lifting, switchable permanent magnets have found their way into our industry and are taking it by storm. Several examples include:
1. Fitting and fairing with a magnetic pry-bar to eliminate a dog and wedge when working out high/low mismatch, thus eliminating grinding.
2. Holding or hanging tools to provide a hands-free work environment.
3. Line and cable control.
4. Lifting plates without the need of electricity.
5. Attach your track welder quickly.
6. Magnetic welding ground.
7. Attach a windshield that overcomes the elements and reduces arc flash occurrences.
8. Attach all types of lights including LED lights, which are growing in popularity for their cool crisp light, lower heat emissions and energy savings.
Liability
In our litigious society today, many manufacturers and construction companies have found it necessary to halt the practice of “shop built” or “handmade” tools for use in production. Many of these decisions are results of higher liability insurance rates and/or insurance companies not willing to provide coverage to companies that continue to build their own tools. When procuring fitting tools from outside sources, ensure they are providing adequate liability insurance defined as “a part of the general insurance system of risk financing to protect the purchaser (the ‘insured’) from the risk of liabilities imposed by lawsuits and similar claims.” Are your assets covered? Cheaper is not always better.
For more information about NISTM, visit www.nistm.org or call (800) 827-3515.
For more information about this topic, contact Smith at (281) 905-4790 or kevin@fitupgear.com.
