Local wine tank manufacturer Velo South Africa reports that the number of orders for stainless steel tanks increased during the past financial year.

Velo South Africa MD Chris Wium says the recent orders comprise roughly 50% for the winery industry and 50% for the liquid fertiliser, beverage, dairy and distillation industries, as well as for bakeries and drinking water treatment plants.

“We are working around the clock to keep up with all the orders that we have been receiving this year,” he says.

One significant order includes the supply of sixty-four 26 000 ℓ tanks to a winery in the Breede River Valley, in the Western Cape. The company completed this order in about two months.

Wium explains that some of the 26 000 ℓ tanks have double compartments, which comprise a 16 000 ℓ compartment at the bottom of the tank and a 10 000 ℓ compartment at the top. These compartments are used to either ferment or store wine.

Further, the standalone tanks will replace old steel tanks at the Breede River Valley winery. “The old steel tanks have reached the end of their lives and cannot be used anymore,” he adds.

In addition, the company is building three 300 000 ℓ fully isolated stainless steel tanks with cooling jackets, for a cellar in Paarl, in the Western Cape. Earlier this year, the company also supplied five 230 000 ℓ stainless steel tanks to another cellar in the Paarl region. These tanks are also fully isolated and equipped with cooling jackets.

Wium notes that, even though stainless steel tanks are an expensive investment, they have a nearly endless life span. Stainless steel tanks are also more hygienic and more visually attractive than conventional steel tanks, which have to be painted and treated for leakages and rust.

“We specialise solely in stainless steel tanks for any industry and, because we only use stainless steel in our factory, our products remain free from any rust contaminants,” he says.

Meanwhile, Velo South Africa is active on the export market. The company has been exporting stainless steel tanks, through local contractors, to countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius and the US.

Velo South Africa is the official importer and distributor for Velo Italy.