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Coatings maker Tnemec has developed a new 3D graphic tool that allows tank owners and operators to design and visualize their next tank coating system online.
The interactive Tank3D tool allows users to customize elevated and ground potable water storage tanks with a wide palette of colors, graphics, text and logos.
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Tnemec |
| The tool allows users to visualize text, colors, graphics and logos. |
“With Tnemec’s Tank3D, it is possible to visualize how a water tank will appear using variable design elements and Tnemec coatings,” said Doug Hansen, the company’s director for the Water Tank Market. “Using this technology, more than 100 color options and countless graphic enhancements can be explored in minutes, rather than hours or days.”
Users can zoom and pan around their customized tank and view a pre-programmed “fly-by” that shows the tank from different perspectives. Printer-friendly PDFs and color swatches are also available using the new technology.
Trends in Tank Design
“Most water tanks today incorporate graphic designs, such as the name of the town, or a logo or mascot,” Hansen said.
“With the development and introduction of Tank3D technology, we are making it even easier for tank owners, engineers, fabricators and painting contractors to use Tnemec coating systems in designing water tanks that are a source of community pride.”
Jessi Bixler, electronic marketing manager, who directed development of the tool, called it “the first truly interactive tool of its kind that offers such a wide range of functionality. Existing applications for this market are little more than color guides with very minimal functionality.”
The program operates on all Web browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome, and is both Mac and PC compatible. It is activated by downloading a plug-in.
“The user can then select their style of tank, the colors they want to use, along with text, logos and other graphics, so the final design will closely resemble the actual finished project,” Bixler said. “By varying the color, engineers and architects can determine which colors work best with other design elements such as logos and lettering.”
AWWA Rollout
Tank3D was introduced at this year’s AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition in Washington, DC.
“During our live demos, everyone was impressed with how quick and easy the program was to use, along with the fact that it allowed them to customize their design with logos and text using different typefaces,” Bixler said.
Tnemec coating consultants will be introducing customers to Tank3D over the next several months. The company plans additional enhancements for more design options, such as new tank styles and different backgrounds.
Established in 1921, Kansas City-based Tnemec is one of the largest privately held companies in North America, specializing in industrial coatings for steel, concrete and other substrates for new construction and maintenance. In recent years, Tnemec has actively encouraged aesthetic and innovative tank designs through its annual Tank of the Year competition.
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