By: Steve Freed, Induron Regional Manager
Back in the spring of 2013, longtime Induron representative Tex Enoch met with Kent Webster of Corrosion Control Corporation to discuss an exciting new project encompassing an interior and exterior rehabilitation of a 750,000-gallon ground storage tank on the bank of a trout breeding stream in the Pocono Mountains.
This project was exciting not only because of the location on a beautiful mountain stream, but also because it represented the launch of Induron’s new Perma-Clean 100 Ceramic Epoxy. The job was a huge success and helped propel Perma-Clean 100 to become an industry-leading 100% solids high film build epoxy used in water tanks throughout the country.
Fast forward over a decade, and in the summer of 2025, Induron again partnered with Corrosion Control Corporation to help launch another new product, Perma-Clean 100 SL. The “SL” stands for single leg, meaning the product can be applied using a single leg pump instead of the more costly and complicated plural component pumps that had been used to apply 100% solids thick film epoxies throughout the industry over the past decade. Kent Webster and Clay Warren have become a formidable team now, leading Corrosion Control Corporation as they continue to improve and grow their business.
About the project
The goal of the project was to paint the interior and exterior of a new 400,000-gallon Pedesphere Elevated Storage Tank, which was built by Caldwell Tanks for Aqua, New Jersey. The plan for the project was to:
- Ensure proper surface preparation and priming on a new tank that was shop primed over 2 years ago.
- Apply Perma-Clean 100 SL at 25-35 mils DFT to the tank interior.
- Paint the exterior system, including Induron’s Perma-Gloss topcoat, which included an intricate logo featuring more than 20 different colors.
Priming with Ceramaprime
Caldwell Tanks shop primed the steel sections of this tank over two years ago with Ceramaprime. Due to unanticipated delays in project timing, the tank did not get fully erected in Woolwich, NJ until the summer of 2025, which is when Corrosion Control was tasked with painting the tank. In order to evaluate primer adhesion over time, Caldwell Tanks personnel applied a series of “dollies” in accordance with ASTM D4541 to measure this adhesive strength in a quantifiable manner. Induron was present for this performance testing and evaluation, and it produced fantastic results, with an average well above 1000psi and multiple samples measuring over 2000psi. Further, each sample tested failed cohesively, which tells us that even under these extreme pressures the coating was not removed from the substrate. Rather, it failed within the film, as designed, leaving intact coating on the surface to protect the tank.
All in all, Ceramaprime’s excellent adhesion after over two years allowed Corrosion Control to simply spot blast and re-prime the areas that needed it, mostly due to material handling damage that had occurred in transit and while welding the tank. With a proven track record of performance in tough conditions like this, it is no wonder that more tanks are now being primed with Ceramaprime rather than the organic zinc-rich primers of the past.
Appling Perma-Clean 100 SL
Corrosion Control and Induron met to discuss the proper application parameters in order to apply Perma-Clean 100 SL successfully. As a 100% solids material, Induron insists that no paint thinners be added when applying this product. Perma Clean 100 SL is a true 100% solids paint. In contrast, other paint manufacturers inexplicably tell contractors to add paint thinner to their product they call “100% solids” in order to apply their product. The end result was a successful spray application of Perma-Clean 100 SL that met 25 mils minimum DFT throughout the interior wet area of the tank.
Finishing the exterior with Perma-Gloss and the Woolwich Township logo
The logo is a story in itself! The Woolwich Township held a contest amongst its citizens to design a logo for the new water tank. The winning design incorporated locally-farmed tomato and corn, a backdrop of the Philadelphia skyline, rolling hills and pinelands that are associated with the area, and the motto “Nurture – Cultivate – Prosper.”
When it came to painting the logo on the tank, Induron and Corrosion Control asked the tank owner, Aqua New Jersey, which colors to use for the rendering of the logo. Aqua in turn deferred to the contest winner, who selected over 20 specific colors to use from a library of thousands of possible Pantone colors. The result is a beautiful tank logo that all of Woolwich Township can take pride in. Plus, by using Induron’s Permagloss Fluorourethane for both the topcoat and for all logo paint, this design is sure to retain its color, gloss, and overall beauty for decades to come!
“Every project comes with its own set of challenges, whether it’s timing, weather, or logistics,” said Clay Warren of Corrosion Control Corporation. “On this one, what stood out was how well Ceramaprime held up after two years and the application-ease of PermaClean 100 SL . Both of these products allowed us to focus more energy on delivering a clean, precise finish both inside and out.”