Stainless Steel Tank Fabrication for a Copper Mining Operation
Updated: Sep 16
When a copper mining operation needed custom stainless steel storage tanks, they came to G-Tech Steel. Here is how we built them — from raw material to collection at our Thulisa Park yard.
Stainless steel storage tanks fabricated by G-Tech Steel for copper mining application — ready for collection at our Thulisa Park yard
The brief
Copper mining operations work with aggressive process chemicals — acids, leachate solutions and slurry — that destroy ordinary mild steel in months. The client needed storage tanks that could handle those conditions without degrading, without contaminating the process, and without demanding constant maintenance.
The specification: custom stainless steel tanks fabricated to the client's dimensions, built for long-term chemical resistance in an active mining environment, collected from our fabrication yard in Thulisa Park, Johannesburg.
Welding on Stainless steel storage tanks fabricated by G-Tech Steel for copper mining application — ready for collection at our Thulisa Park yard
Why stainless steel for copper mining
Copper is typically extracted through hydrometallurgical processes — crushing ore, leaching it with sulphuric acid, and recovering dissolved copper through electrowinning or solvent extraction. Every stage of that process involves corrosive liquids at varying temperatures and concentrations.
Mild steel fails quickly in these conditions. It corrodes, contaminates the process stream, and introduces iron into a system where iron is an unwanted impurity.
Stainless steel — specifically Grade 304 and Grade 316 — resists corrosion because of its chromium content, which forms a passive oxide layer on the surface. Grade 316 adds molybdenum, which specifically improves resistance to chloride attack, making it the preferred choice where sulphuric acid or salt-based leachates are present.
For the mining client, the choice of stainless was not optional — it was the engineering requirement.
How we do stainless steel tank fabrication
Material selection and sourcing - We sourced stainless steel plate to the client's specified grade. Sheet dimensions were selected to minimise weld seams and reduce the number of potential weak points in the finished tank wall.
Cutting and forming - Plate was cut to dimension and rolled to form the cylindrical shell. Rolling stainless requires controlled pressure — too aggressive and the material work-hardens unevenly, creating stress concentrations. Our team worked to the client's wall-thickness and diameter specification.
Welding - All welds were TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welded. TIG is the standard for stainless steel tank fabrication because it produces a clean, controlled weld bead with minimal spatter and no contamination of the weld pool. The inert gas shield prevents oxidation — critical for maintaining the corrosion-resistant properties of the base material at the weld zone.
Welds were completed in a consistent sequence to manage thermal distortion and keep the tank true to dimension.
Fitting out - Inlet and outlet nozzles, manholes and any client-specified fittings were welded in position and checked for alignment. Internal surfaces were inspected for weld integrity before handover.
Inspection and finishing - Completed tanks were inspected for dimensional accuracy and weld quality prior to client collection. External surfaces were finished as specified.
Collection from Thulisa Park
The tanks were collected directly from our fabrication yard at 30 Brunel Street, Thulisa Park, Johannesburg. The client arranged their own transport — we loaded and secured the tanks for road transport to site.
Collection from our yard is available for all fabrication projects. For clients arranging their own logistics, we provide load plans, weights and securing points on request.
Stainless steel storage tanks fabricated by G-Tech Steel for copper mining application — ready for collection at our Thulisa Park yard
What this project demonstrates
This project brought together several things G-Tech Steel does in one scope: material knowledge, precision welding, dimensional control, and logistics coordination for a client working in a demanding industrial environment.
We are not a large-volume stainless tank manufacturer. What we offer is the ability to fabricate to a specific brief, work directly with the client on specification, and produce a finished component ready for collection or delivery — without a long queue or a minimum order requirement.
We fabricate for mining, industrial and infrastructure clients
If you are specifying custom fabricated steelwork for a mining or industrial application — tanks, hoppers, structural components, pipework, cat ladders, walkways or conveyors — we welcome the enquiry.
Tell us what you need. We will tell you whether we can build it, what it will cost, and when it will be ready.
G-Tech Steel
📞 076 342 4858
📍 30 Brunel Street, Thulisa Park, Johannesburg
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