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F.lli Mazzariol S.r.l., Officine Meccaniche B.S. S.r.l., and Bomben Ferruccio & C. S.r.l. are three experienced Italian road tanker fabricators who have used 1.4301-type austenitic stainless steel (ASTM 304) to make road tankers for bitumen, as well as other substances including fuel oils and liquid waste.
All three have recently found a successful alternative to 1.4301 in these applications – Outokumpu’ proprietary duplex grade LDX 2101® – thanks to the efforts of stainless steel specialists from Outokumpu’s Italian sales company. They have convinced the fabricators that LDX 2101® makes an even stronger and lighter road tanker owing to its high mechanical strength, typical of all duplex grades. The high strength allows for considerable reductions in material thickness and, as a result, in weight. The very low nickel content of LDX 2101® (1.5% as opposed to 8.3% in 1.4301) provides fabricators with significant additional competitive edge.
Mazzariol first tested LDX 2101® to make one tanker head, with the help of on-site technical assistance from Outokumpu. Assured of the mechanical behavior and welding characteristics of the duplex material, Mazzariol rolled out its first LDX 2101® bitumen road tanker in February 2007. B.S. followed, completing its first LDX 2101® bitumen road tanker a month later.
LDX 2101® is used to fabricate the tank that holds the content. The tanker is then insulated and clad in other materials.
To date, Mazzariol has completed four, and B.S. five, bitumen road tankers using LDX 2101®. Bomben Ferruccio has fabricated three LDX 2101® road tankers, used to transport fuels and chemicals.
Switching to duplex, Bomben Ferruccio has managed to reduce material thickness from 8mm to 6mm in tanker heads and from 6mm to 5mm in tanker shells. Even greater thickness reductions are possible depending on national standards that regulate tanker wall thicknesses.
Piero Mandirola, Purchasing Manager of Mazzariol, comments on LDX 2101® and on Outokumpu’s level of service: “At first we were somewhat concerned about using a new product, especially because we didn’t have a clear idea about product performance. But now after using LDX 2101® in production, our assessment is quite positive. We have found the material easy to bend and form, despite its very high strength. It also has very good machinability. We have been happy with this material, and we have the feeling that Outokumpu has the right knowledge to support us in innovative solutions.” Mr. Mandirola reports that Mazzariol has decided to place a new order for LDX 2101® in the coming weeks.
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