TEC Expands UK Presence with MEST Bitutainer™ for PolyBitumens, Driving Efficiency and Reliability in Bitumen Storage

TEC Container Solutions has strengthened its UK presence through a new project with PolyBitumens, deploying the MEST Bitutainer™ as a dedicated storage solution for their bond coat emulsion product at their customers site. The project not only aims to meet PolyBitumens’ bitumen storage requirements but also serves as a demonstration of TEC’s capabilities, offering potential for further industry adoption of the MEST Bitutainer™ across the UK.

Project Overview

PolyBitumens approached TEC seeking a reliable, flexible storage solution to support the expansion of its external customer base. Faced with the need for a dedicated tank for its bond coat emulsion, PolyBitumens opted to lease the MEST Bitutainer™ to meet the storage needs for their long-term customer. Delivered on-site in August, the MEST Bitutainer™ offers a comprehensive storage solution designed specifically to support PolyBitumens’ product delivery while also ensuring ease of operation and cost efficiency.

The Role of the MEST Bitutainer™ to enhance Operations

The MEST Bitutainer™ has been positioned at the end customer site as the dedicated tank for receiving PolyBitumens’ bond coat emulsion, along with a training and commissioning morning. The unit is equipped with a range of automated features, including automatic recirculation and temperature regulation, which keep the emulsion at a consistent 60°C to maintain its integrity. Thanks to its streamlined design, the MEST allows spray truck operators to fill their sprayer trucks directly without the need for on-site supervision, creating a self-sufficient solution.

Key Features Supporting Operational Efficiency

The MEST Bitutainer™ offers several features tailored to meet the requirements of the project:

• Automated Temperature Control and Recirculation: The MEST maintains product quality by keeping the emulsion at the required temperature and recirculating it daily. This overcomes previous challenges where it was down to the end users operators to monitor and manually carry out the recirculation and heating operations.
• Ease of Operation: The MEST can be managed by sprayer truck and delivery drivers without technical support, due to its simple controls, safety interlock features and intuitive design.
• Energy-Efficient, Insulated Design: The double-walled, insulated tank provides thermal efficiency and reduces the energy required to maintain temperature, while its self-bunded structure mitigates spill risks, ensuring a secure and environmentally conscious solution.

Polybitumens Feedback on the MEST Bitutainer™
“PolyBitumens has operated a fleet of mobile storage tanks for several years, and due to growth, we were looking to expand our fleet to meet customer demand. We started our research into what offerings were available for the UK market and came across TEC Projects. James and the team at TEC were extremely helpful and after a few meetings to discuss our requirements, TEC presented the MEST. PolyBitumens had the new MEST delivered directly to a customer and the feedback has been really positive. The innovative MEST has significantly improved our capabilities and the efficiency in operation. The MEST is fully electric, and so better for the environment with zero emissions and provides the customer with lower running costs. The MEST’s fully automated operation provides the customer with peace of mind knowing the product can be automatically circulated and heated to ensure it is looked after in storage and ready for use at any time of the day. This also means operators are not having to spend additional time on site to ready the product before loading, providing the customer with further cost savings and efficiency improvements.
And finally, what I really liked about the MEST is that it is self-bunded, so no having to build containment bunds around the tank, which saves both time and money, and there is no need for the ongoing monitoring of the bund to clear rainwater – a real positive benefit in the MEST design compared to alternative mobile tank offerings.
Logistically, the MEST can be transported with ease, being a standard 40ft container, and so makes it very versatile and allows for quick relocation with just a power supply being the only external connection to the MEST.
Overall, the new MEST has been a game-changer for us, and we highly recommend it to any business looking to enhance their bitumen or emulsion storage solutions.”
– Paul Kimber, PolyBitumens Business Manager

Benefits

The deployment of the MEST Bitutainer™ offers significant advantages to both PolyBitumens and their end customer. For PolyBitumens, the dedicated tank ensures consistent storage capacity for regular deliveries, supporting their logistic operation. It also provides peace of mind in knowing the product is going to be well maintained, avoiding product quality issues or disputes down the line.
For the end customer, the tank’s ease of fill and discharge operations, along with minimal maintenance and supervision needs, makes it a highly convenient addition to their site.

Looking Ahead

TEC will continue to work closely with PolyBitumens and their end customer to monitor the  performance of the MEST Bitutainer^TM and gather operational insights. These insights will support ongoing improvements to the unit’s functionality as the company continue to provide new units to the market. Adding remote monitoring is the next step, with the unit designed to easily increase functionality without major rework. TEC aims to cement its role as a sustainability-driven company in the bitumen logistics sector, setting new benchmarks for efficient, reliable, and safe storage solutions.

About TEC Container Solutions

TEC Container Solutions is an industry leader in bitumen transport and storage solutions, dedicated to delivering innovative, flexible, and sustainable solutions to meet evolving industry needs. With a focus on quality, efficiency, and client satisfaction, TEC is committed to providing solutions that drive operational excellence in bitumen logistics.

To find out more about the MEST Bitutainer^TM, or TEC’s wider bitumen transport and storage range, contact us today.