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UNMISTAKABLY LANDMARK

Landmark tanks have grown

in popularity for both aesthet-

ic and functional reasons.The

tank shown here serves

Southlake,Texas.

The broad plain surrounding Dallas isunmistakably Texas. Wandering steersshare the landscape with encroaching sub-

urban development. The ever-bobbing oil welloften present reminds that this is big oil country.And distinctive Landmark composite elevatedtanks rise high above the plain, ensuring waterservice to local homes and businesses.

While most will make the cattle and oil con-nection, a Landmark composite elevated watertank is more likely to make an impression bysight than by name. The unit’s contemporary,industry-changing design was pioneered inthe1970s by the Lamon family that owns andoperates Landmark. The first Landmark com-posite tank — known as such because the designemploys both concrete and steel structural ele-ments — was erected in Southlake, Texas, in1986. Lamon estimates that 70 percent of newcomposite tanks in the United States areLandmark’s signature design but despite its pop-ularity and success, it is in many ways a work inconstant evolution.

“Our approach to business is that we don’twant to accept the standard simply because it’sbeen done before,” says Eric Lamon, P.E., whoshares the title of vice president along with broth-ers Mike and Chris. “The composite tank evolvedbecause of our focus on doing things better andproviding better solutions for our customers.”

That focus on better solutions has haddirect effects on design, construction practicesand coatings, from application methods tosupplier selection.

DESIGN EVOLUTIONThe composite tank concept originated by

Landmark was driven largely by economic con-

siderations for the end user. Traditional designshad been all steel, but by using maintenance-freeconcrete in the construction of the pedestal,future maintenance costs were reduced, as wereupfront construction costs.

Jim Climo, Landmark’s coatings manager,says, “Our goal is to get to zero maintenance, sowe’re constantly addressing design nuances onthe front end in order to extend the life cycle ofour product.”

Adds Lamon, “We don’t have to sell the addedbenefit of reduced maintenance. Our compositetank became the preferred style because it’salready a lower capital-cost solution, plus you getthe added value of lower maintenance. And themarket recognized composite tanks for their con-temporary styling and preferred aesthetics.

“Plus, the composite tank provides opportu-nities for multiple use applications. The interiorof the pedestal is basically free real estate, avail-able for anything from emergency response sta-tions to secure document storage to municipaloffice space.”

CONSTRUCTION INNOVATIONLike the tank design itself, its construction

is innovative as well. The architectural rein-forced concrete pedestal is poured and formedby conventional means. Steel for the tank isfabricated and delivered to a job site forassembly, which occurs at ground level ratherthan atop the finished pedestal. The assem-bled tank is then hoisted by hydraulics to thetop of the pedestal.

“It’s a unique approach, but we did itbecause the conditions at grade provided betterplate fit, easier inspection, better constructabil-ity and better execution,” says Lamon.

PROJECT PROFILE

BLY LANDMARKCOMPOSITE TANK PIONEER REFINESCONSTRUCTION, COATINGS STRATEGIES

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• Landmark pioneeredthe composite tank design,erecting the first inSouthlake, Texas, in 1986.• Tank assembly andcoatings application occurat grade level.• The compositedesign — particularly theconcrete pedestalconstruction —minimizesmaintenanceneeds.

AT A GLANCE

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This series of photos

shows a coated

Landmark tank being

raised to its permanent

position atop a

concrete column in

Mansfield,Texas.The

raising procedure,

which requires as many

as 40 hyraulic pumps,

takes about four hours

to complete.

“Everything’s integrated in our approach — thematerials, the steel erection and the painting.We do it this way because it provides the bestquality at the best cost.”

COATINGS AT GRADECoating begins at the fabricator, where in the

last year Landmark began experimenting with a“sacrificial” inorganic zinc prime coating to pro-tect steel during shipping and construction. Butthe bulk of the coatings work follows plate fit-ting at ground level, thereby practically elimi-nating the containment issues inherent to paint-ing at the top of a pedestal, and often inresidential areas.

“We avoid the challenges of containment,”Lamon says. “It’s another contributor to beingable to install at a more favorable upfront costbecause we don’t have the environmentalimpact issues.”

Coating considerations are built into theLandmark composite design, according toLamon, as evidenced by the generally flat surfacesand minimal irregular shapes and edges found onthe steel tank portion of the unit.

“There are very few of those hard-to-accessareas on a Landmark tank. For example, our roofrafters are sealed to the roof. In other designs,they may be stitch-welded, but we identified thatas a detail that we could improve upon.”

Landmark partners with as many as six con-tractors to apply coatings. In an effort to bringfurther cost-effective solutions to its customers,the company has recently begun partnering withSherwin-Williams to supply coatings. Climo likesthe MacroPoxy 646-NSF system on the tankinteriors, but the breadth of Sherwin-Williamscoatings options for steel tank exteriors also serveshis interests.

“Part of my job is knowing who is paintingfor us and providing paints for them that arenot only appropriate for the service the tankwill provide, but that fit their capabilities,” saysClimo. “The approach the industry has takenis, ‘here’s the system, use it.’ But there are situ-ation-specific solutions that make it very valu-able for us to be involved with a paint manu-facturer that offers a variety of solutions.”

To that end, Climo is very aware of new prod-ucts and technologies. He cites a recent job in

which ownership asked him to make acost-efficient recommendation on a recoatof an existing tank. Climo called for spotpriming with a Sherwin-WilliamsAluminum Mastic and an overcoat ofMacroPoxy 920 and Polysiloxane XLE-80.

“The unique thing about this tank isthat there was quite a bit of growth,” saysClimo. “By applying Polysiloxane XLE-80, that surface will be much less suscep-tible to growth. It’s just an example ofthe value of working with a supplier whocan bring that range of products to theequation.”

Having a broad range of coatings prod-ucts and technology at their disposal givesLandmark another tool in bringing greatervalue to their customer.

“There are minimum standards in thisindustry, and the industry used to work tothose,” Lamon says. “But our focus is onopportunities that exist — whether they’rein design, our construction practices or thecoatings that we use — to provide bettersolutions for our clients. As the premierprovider of composite tanks in the indus-try, we’ll continue trying to raise the bar.”

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While long-term protection is probably themost important role of the tank’s coating, itsappearance gets as much attention, accordingto Landmark vice president Eric Lamon.

That’s no surprise given that a compositetank is a highly visible form of community iden-tity. And nothing generates as much attention

as the logo — once black, block letters, logos noware colorful free-form graphic displays, many of

which Lamon has helped design.“While the logo is the smallest element of construc-

tion cost, it’s certainly the largest element of interest,”says Lamon. “Some will provide us a logo and somewill ask for our help which, with the benefit of havingdone a lot of them, we’re happy to offer.”

FORM OVER FUNCTION?