AlumiTank stands out as a unique fabrication shop capable of producing both pressurized and non-pressurized cylindrical tanks, as well as various non-cylindrical shapes, including rectangular, trapezoidal, and D-shaped tanks. This advanced capability stems from years of experience and state-of-the-art plate rolling technology.
Based in Harvard, Illinois, AlumiTank specializes in aluminum fabrication. In addition to CNC plate rolling, the shop offers CNC milling and turning, routing, laser cutting, welding, press bending, testing, and other supporting services.
According to President David Kirkpatrick, AlumiTank is a significant producer of custom components. “We manufacture over 8,000 different part numbers, and this number keeps increasing weekly,” he noted. “There’s a wide variety of tank types in the market, especially for Class 8 trucks, where demand remains steady. We supply tanks to dealerships for all major OEMs, as well as for older and vintage trucks.”
Founded in 1989 by Kirkpatrick’s father Robert and uncle Terry, AlumiTank has seen consistent growth and continually invests in enhancing its production capabilities, expanding its range of aluminum tanks for sectors such as OEMs, railroads, heavy vehicles, mining, and military applications.
Recent investments in advanced plate rolling technology have opened new lucrative markets for the shop, including high-capacity tanks for refrigerated railroad cars, pressurized tanks for large cement mixing trucks, and notably, non-cylindrical fuel tanks.
AlumiTank operates three Davi plate rolling machines: the MCA 2517, MCA 3022, and MCA 2518/S16. The MCA 2517, acquired in 2011, replaced an outdated manual machine and produced over half a million tanks until its recent upgrade. This upgrade includes the advanced iRoll eXtreme control system.
In 2018, AlumiTank added the MCA 3022, a four-roll machine designed for 450-gallon cylindrical fuel tanks for refrigerated boxcars. This machine allows rolling aluminum sheets up to 0.250” thick and 10’ wide. “The development took about two years, during which we collaborated closely with the customer’s engineering team to finalize specifications and produced prototypes for evaluation,” Kirkpatrick explained.
Following the boxcar project, AlumiTank ventured into producing pressurized tanks after being approached by a cement truck OEM. Initially, they didn’t manufacture pressurized vessels, but after ongoing discussions, they became the supplier for those tanks and subsequently expanded to high-pressure compressed-air reservoirs.
Their latest Davi machine, the MCA 2518/S16, was acquired in 2023 and features the iRoll eXtreme CNC, crucial for producing rectangular, D-shaped, and trapezoidal tanks. Kirkpatrick highlighted that the new controller significantly enhances efficiency, allowing for rapid programming.
“Most Class 8 trucks use cylindrical tanks, while smaller Class 6 or 7 trucks typically have non-cylindrical options,” he noted. “To create those, we needed to program complex shapes efficiently, and the new machine enables us to achieve that with precision.”
Kirkpatrick emphasized the improvements in programming capability with the latest Davi machine. The new touch screen interface and increased program storage—9,999 programs compared to 99 in the previous model—greatly enhance operational efficiency.
Before adopting such advanced CNC controls, operators relied heavily on their expertise and manual adjustments. Now, Davi’s machines feature material databases that streamline the process, allowing for easy adjustments based on material variations.
“The capabilities we now have with the new controls have transformed our operations,” Kirkpatrick said. “Davi’s user-friendly interface and fast program generation save us time and ensure accuracy, especially when introducing new tank designs.”
For AlumiTank, maintaining process repeatability is essential. The reliability and ease of use of Davi machines have solidified their partnership. “When we needed more plate rolling machines, Davi was the obvious choice. Their support has been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration as we expand into new aluminum fabrication markets.”
