Shipping a 16,000-litre stainless steel dairy tank across the Atlantic requires more than simply finding a large enough container.
For a recent North American order, Fabdec prepared and shipped two DX-CO container dairy tanks with capacities of 12,000 and 16,000 litres. Alongside the tanks, the shipment also included QUANTUS plate coolers and FOOT-WASH Pro cow footbath systems, creating a comprehensive package of Fabdec dairy equipment ready for installation on arrival.
The shipment provides a good example of why the DX-CO was developed specifically with international transport in mind.
Designed Around Containerised Export
Large dairy tanks can present significant logistical challenges when they need to travel internationally.
The shape and configuration of the DX-CO help overcome these challenges. Each vessel can be positioned on its side within the container, while the pipework is located at the rear of the tank to help maximise the available space.
For this North American shipment, both the 12,000 and 16,000-litre vessels were a snug fit in terms of their width and height. However, careful use of the remaining container space meant there was still room to ship additional Fabdec equipment alongside them.
This included plate coolers and FOOT-WASH Pro systems supplied as part of the same customer order.
Preparing the Tanks for Their Journey
Before leaving Fabdec, each DX-CO undergoes a final inspection.
Once the inspection is complete, our team professionally wraps and protects the vessel. This preparation helps protect the stainless steel surfaces throughout handling and transportation, ensuring the equipment arrives in excellent condition.
For this shipment, external lifting specialists then assisted with loading the tanks.
The wrapped vessels were carefully craned from above and lowered into open-top shipping containers. With only limited clearance around the vessels, accurate positioning was essential.
Secured for International Transport
Once positioned inside the container, the equipment must remain secure throughout its journey.
The tanks were stabilised using protective air bags and ratchet straps. These help prevent unwanted movement while also protecting the vessel and surrounding equipment during transport.
The result is a tightly packed container containing not only a substantial milk cooling tank, but also additional equipment required for the customer’s dairy installation.
Ready for Installation on Arrival
Container-friendly design also helps simplify what happens at the other end of the journey.
Once the equipment reaches its destination in North America and is unloaded, the DX-CO is ready to move into the installation stage. This helps customers source major pieces of their dairy cooling and farm equipment from one manufacturer and have them transported together.
As Fabdec’s international dairy business continues to grow, shipments of this type are becoming increasingly common.
Designing equipment with transportation in mind allows us to supply large-capacity dairy systems to customers much further afield without compromising the quality or functionality of the finished product.
Dairy Equipment Built for International Projects
Fabdec manufactures dairy cooling, storage, pre-cooling and farm equipment from our UK manufacturing facility, supplying customers across international markets.
The DX-CO container tank is one example of how product design can help make large-scale dairy equipment more practical to transport internationally.
Available in a range of capacities, DX-CO tanks combine stainless steel construction, milk cooling capability and a container-conscious configuration for dairy projects where export logistics matter.
Planning an international dairy project?
Speak to Fabdec about milk cooling tanks, pre-cooling equipment and dairy farm systems for projects in the UK and overseas.
