Case Study: Custom Stainless Steel Tanks for Benjamin Moore
Posted: August 2026
About the Client
Benjamin Moore is a leading manufacturer of premium paints, stains, and coatings. When the company needed two new tanks for paint batching and storage, it turned to SWF Industrial to manage the project from design through delivery.
The tanks were similar to units Benjamin Moore had purchased before, but these would be built for heavier-duty service. Each one measured approximately 20 feet tall and 9 feet in diameter. And nearly every moving component had to be made specifically for the application.
SWF’s scope included:
- Tank design and engineering coordination
- Complete 3D modeling
- Stainless steel fabrication
- Integration of custom machined and manufactured components
- Final delivery of both tanks
The Challenge
Large custom stainless steel tanks require careful coordination under ordinary circumstances. This project added another layer; two oversized tanks had to move through design, component approval and fabrication in time to meet Benjamin Moore’s shipping deadline.
The tanks were fabricated from stainless steel for corrosion resistance within the paint batching and storage application. Their heavier-duty design also called for numerous machined parts and specialized moving components.
Most of those components weren’t available off the shelf. They had to be specified, manufactured to order and sourced from multiple vendors—some with considerable lead times.
That placed a great deal of work at the front of the project. SWF’s project management team had to define each component, coordinate the design details and secure customer approval before releasing the tanks for production.
By the time fabrication could begin, the schedule had little room left for error.
The Solution
SWF managed the project as a coordinated design-and-fabrication effort rather than treating the tanks as a straightforward build-to-print assignment.
Complete 3D Modeling
SWF developed detailed 3D models to define the tank structures and the placement of their custom components before fabrication began.
The modeling process was led by Travis Shireman, who worked closely with the project team to understand the application and translate its requirements into a fabrication-ready design. This gave the shop a clear plan for two unusually large builds with a long list of specialized parts.
Custom Component Coordination
Every moving component was manufactured to order in sizes selected specifically for these tanks.
SWF’s project management team coordinated the technical details, vendor requirements and approval process for the machined and manufactured components. It was a lengthy road—but a necessary one. Releasing an incorrect part or overlooking a long-lead item could have disrupted the entire production schedule.
Large-Scale Stainless Steel Fabrication
Once the design and components were approved, SWF’s Stainless Department moved quickly.
The team fabricated both 20-foot-tall tanks while carefully managing shop capacity, sequencing and quality. Despite the size of the tanks and the compressed build schedule, fabrication proceeded smoothly and remained on track for the required shipping date.
The Result
SWF completed and delivered two heavy-duty custom stainless steel tanks for Benjamin Moore’s paint batching and storage operations.
The project demonstrated SWF Industrial’s ability to:
- Design and model large custom process tanks
- Coordinate specialized machined components from multiple vendors
- Fabricate oversized stainless steel equipment
- Manage long-lead procurement without losing control of the schedule
- Deliver multiple complex fabrications against a firm customer deadline
The finished tanks reflected the work that came before fabrication ever started: detailed modeling, patient component coordination and a production plan that left nothing to chance.
For SWF Industrial, the project’s success came down to the people who understood the assignment and executed it well—particularly Travis Shireman during 3D modeling and the Stainless Department, whose work kept both tanks moving toward delivery without sacrificing the quality required for the build.
SWF Industrial: Making a Difference
For more than 40 years, SWF Industrial has helped customers move complex projects from concept to completion through experienced project management, advanced fabrication capabilities and a commitment to quality.
Looking for a custom stainless steel tank fabricator or a partner for your next large-scale industrial project?
Start a conversation with SWF Industrial, let’s fabricate the future.