As road networks across Australia and New Zealand continue to expand and diversify, demand for high-performance bitumen additives like crumb rubber and polymer-modified binders is rising. But while innovation is accelerating at the material level, many storage and logistics operations remain fixed in place.
Conventional tank farms, with their high capital requirements and lack of mobility, are often unsuited to the dynamic nature of crumb rubber workflows. These blends require consistent heat, rapid transfer, and the ability to adapt to shifting project locations.
In this evolving landscape, the MEST Bitutainer™ is helping operators across Oceania rethink how they manage binder storage and supply. This applies across remote highway depots and high-spec PMB plants alike.
What Makes Crumb Rubber Handling So Challenging?
Crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB) presents logistical hurdles that traditional bitumen does not. Unlike standard grades, CRMB requires:
Continuous agitation to prevent separation
Reliable heating to maintain workability
Tight control of viscosity and shear conditions
Rapid transfer and minimal dwell time
These challenges make long-distance transport and static storage models inefficient. Moving hot, viscous materials between distant facilities increases risk and reduces material consistency.
To maintain binder quality and reduce wastage, operators increasingly prefer heated on-site storage. This allows them to store and use product at the point of application or blending.
A Purpose-Built Solution for Mobile Bitumen Storage
TEC’s MEST Bitutainer™ was designed specifically to meet the operational needs of advanced bitumen blends like crumb rubber and polymer-modified bitumen.
Unlike fixed tanks, the MEST is:
Trailer-portable and side-loader compatible, enabling rapid relocation
Fully integrated with electric or diesel heating, insulation, and control systems pre-installed
Secondary-contained, removing the need for bund walls or civil works
Quick to deploy with no site setup required before arrival
Adaptable to specialist equipment such as internal mixers or heated pipework
This combination of mobility, plug-and-play functionality, and thermal stability makes it particularly well suited to Oceania’s climate conditions, regulatory environment, and infrastructure footprint.
MEST Bitutainer™
Bitumen Storage Solution
MEST Bitutainer™
Bitumen Storage Solution
Use Cases Across Australia and New Zealand
The MEST Bitutainer™ is already gaining traction across Oceania, where its modular form factor and high-spec design offer key advantages for:
Crumb rubber binder plants, enabling small-batch production close to the point of use
Asphalt contractors, providing on-site storage for hot spray coat applications
Regional highway projects, supporting mobile binder logistics in remote environments
Specialty blend production, where heating and viscosity control are essential for quality
In Australia, operators have used the MEST to establish reliable binder storage for road spraying operations and reduce reliance on long-distance bulk supply. New Zealand contractors have begun exploring the MEST to support crumb rubber integration in projects with variable terrain and temperature conditions.
For more detail on practical outcomes, see our article on Revolutionising Spray Coat Logistics with the MEST Bitutainer™.
Built for the Demands of Specialty Binder Logistics
While crumb rubber is the lead use case, the MEST is equally relevant to operators handling:
Polymer-modified bitumen (PMB)
Emulsions requiring precise reheat
Cutbacks or multi-phase blends
Its design allows for temperature management, batch-based workflows, and reconfigurable connections. These are key attributes when managing materials sensitive to settling or thermal variation.
Compared to fixed facilities, the MEST offers lower setup costs, faster commissioning, and a smaller environmental footprint. These qualities align well with emerging sustainability mandates and regional project timelines in both Australia and New Zealand.
A Future-Ready Approach to Bitumen Storage
As Oceania’s roads become more advanced, so do the materials and logistics strategies that support them. The MEST Bitutainer™ gives contractors and asphalt producers the flexibility to scale up binder capabilities without investing in permanent infrastructure.
Whether you are transitioning into crumb rubber workflows, trialling new binder technologies, or expanding regional coverage, the MEST provides a platform that balances performance, mobility, and compliance.
Learn more about the MEST Bitutainer™ and how it supports evolving bitumen operations in Oceania.