Business View Magazine | December 2020

86 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 buried steel water transmission pipe. The water infrastructure is closely examining tank and pipe materials (of all kind) for performance during seismic activity. We’ve been working with the military for their guide specs.” As for other industry highlights, Geyer states, “Secondary containment of aboveground tanks is staying very strong, as are 2-hour fire tested tanks. And we’re seeing a trend with some of the specialty type fuel storage tanks. There are now a number of rectangular tanks being requested, as opposed to the traditional cylindrical tanks, and they’re getting bigger. A rectangular form is not the most efficient way of storing liquid but when real estate is limited, or a tank has to be squeezed in a certain area, it might make sense. Recently, one of our members had a request to make a rectangular tank that was almost 12 feet tall. They used to be waist high. So that poses new challenges for fabricators having to make a flat piece of steel and make sure it stays flat after they build it, weld it, pour insulation between two walls, and so forth. So it creates quality challenges more so than the aesthetics.” Wayne Geyer’s knowledge, experience, and intuition have served the Steel Tank Institute/ Steel Plate Fabricators Association in good stead. And now, as he steps back to enjoy some well-earned down time, Geyer can relax in the certainty that his legacy of commitment to the members, and the steel industry at large, will be in good hands in the years to come. because of the pandemic that process will pivot to virtual audits and inspections.” Technological advancements have been ongoing over the decades, and Geyer has been at the helm for much of that growth. Without going into specifics on what’s coming down the pipe, he comments, “We’re looking at an underground storage tank with a new type of corrosion protection and secondary containment. It’s too early to go into detail but it’s part of our program to always be looking for things that are new and better and maybe easier for fabricators to produce. Our pipe group program has been expanding, we’re working on specifications for