BUCON
BUCON Industries, based in Bergschenhoek in the Netherlands, is a major producer of corrugated steel tanks which are widely used in the horticultural and agricultural industries. The company’s round and square tanks are made with Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products to ensure their long life and durability. BUCON also produces coloured tanks in either light grey or dark green with Granite® HDX, also from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.
Tanks with Granite® HDX
BUCON also produces coloured tanks in either light grey or dark green. For these, the steel used is Granite® HDX from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. The light grey finish suitably matches the windows of greenhouses, while the dark green finish blends perfectly into the environment for outdoor applications.
A close partnership
BUCON relies on ArcelorMittal’s expertise whenever they have questions explains Erik Passchier, CEO of BUCON: “We’re always innovating, and ArcelorMittal’s technical people have a lot of knowledge about steel. Their answers are based on knowledge and numbers – they don’t make promises they can’t keep. And they strongly believe in long-term relationships and working together to find the best solution – both technically and commercially. What’s technically possible is not always commercial, but ArcelorMittal’s people understand this.”
The benefits of Magnelis® on BUCON's tanks
Studies have demonstrated that 3% magnesium offers greatly improved corrosion resistance, which is why BUCON have chosen Magnelis® from ArcelorMittal. Thanks to the unique galvanisation layer that includes 3% magnesium and 3.5% aluminium in addition to zinc, Magnelis® offers excellent protection against rust, even under the most aggressive conditions found in horticulture and agriculture.
Another major benefit of using Magnelis® is the reduced level of zinc runoff to soil compared to hot-dip galvanised solutions. This was of key importance to BUCON, which “was one of the main reasons why we chose Magnelis® on a strong steel (S350GD) substrate,” says Passchier.
In addition, Magnelis® is an optimal solution for BUCON’s horticultural customers who need affordable and long-lasting solutions. Notes Passchier: “In industrial applications, our tanks represent just a small percentage of the overall project budget. But in horticulture and agriculture they account for a much bigger percentage – margins are much lower.”
FLEXbuild turns tanks into homes with Magnelis®
BUCON is exploring a new application for their tanks as low-cost housing for Africa. As well as being easy to construct, the housing units can be quickly adapted as family needs change and are fully recyclable at the end of their long life.
Known as FLEXbuild and made of corrugated Magnelis® panels, the modular building system makes it possible to rapidly deploy a range of relatively inexpensive and sustainable architectural solutions almost anywhere in the world.
