The Scrubber conveyor projects were developed to move sludge from one area of the facility to another. The conveyor extends 1.5 miles over a natural wetland area, making corrosion protection of key importance to keep the facility running smoothly.

This project was originally specified for a 3-coat paint system. After attending a Galvanize It! educational seminar, the spec was changed to hot-dip galvanizing for corrosion protection. 1900 tons of steel supports, frames, and conveyors were galvanized for this large and highly visible project. The life-cycle savings of using galvanized steel was a key influence, as the constant maintenance and upkeep of paint for corrosion protection increases life-cycle costs exponentially over the life of the project. Because galvanized steel is maintenance-free for 75+ years, your initial cost is the only cost for decades.

For elements of the structure that needed to be colored for safety reasons, a duplex system of paint over galvanized steel was chosen. A duplex system increases the maintenance-free life of a project 1.5 to 2 times, and even when the superficial paint layer begins to chip and peel, the zinc coating within will continue protecting the base steel for generations.