+353 (0) 1 424 7000
info@galco.ie
Services
About Galvanizing
Galvanized steel in agriculture
Steel is one of the most commonly used materials in agriculture. It is strong, versatile and economic. Consequently, it is used for a variety of different applications from fences and gates to building frames, feeding barriers and appliances. However, steel must be protected or it will rust, and that costs the agriculture industry many millions of euros every year.
The method you choose to protect your steelwork today could have a major influence on the time and money that must be spent tomorrow. What is needed is an economic, long lasting method of steel protection. It has to be tough, safe to use with animals and crops and needs little maintenance. Hot dip galvanizing meets all these needs.
Why galvanize?
Competitive initial cost
Durability
Longevity
Availability
Versability
Sustainability
And aesthetics
Save Your Structures
Agricultural steelwork has been protected by hot dip galvanizing for more than one hundred years. In the past it was mainly small objects such as buckets, watering cans and feeding troughs that were galvanized – and they usually lasted until they were worn out. Today, most steel products can receive the same level of protection, not just building frames and farm gates but all fencing, penstock equipment and appliances.
The hot dip galvanizing process consists of dipping the steelwork, after it has been chemically cleaned, in a bath of molten zinc. The zinc reacts with the steel to form alloys that are metallurgically bonded to it. Upon withdrawal from the galvanizing bath, a layer of pure zinc covers the alloy layers. The coating has unique resistance to damage from, for example, farm vehicles. The outer layer of pure zinc cushions impact, while the zinc-iron layers beneath, which are harder than steel, provide abrasion resistance.
Save Money
Low initial cost and long, maintenance-free life mean hot dip galvanizing offers the best possible return on investments in steel structures and agricultural equipment.
Competitive initial cost: Contrary to popular belief, galvanizing is not an expensive corrosion protection system for steel.
Reduce Time and Maintenance Bills
A standard hot dip galvanized coating on fabricated steelwork, i.e. building frame, gate or appliance, give a typical life without maintenance of 50+ years in a rural environment. A paint coating could need remedial work three or four times before the galvanizing needs any attention.
This is both time consuming and expensive, especially when it involves the use of outside contractors and scaffolding, or the structure is on outlying land. In the case of a barn or animal shed it could be very inconvenient to re-site livestock so that maintenance could be carried out.
It has been estimated that with paint, for every pound spent on the initial investment, another pound is spent on repairs and maintenance. Specifying hot dip galvanized steel will reduce maintenance bills and the time involved in maintenance.
Galvanizing Offers
Great Value
Long Life
Tough coating, takes knocks and bangs of everyday farming
Protects all your steel inside and out
Other benefits of hot dip galvanizing in agriculture
- Toughness and abrasion resistance – hot dip galvanizing produces a tough, durable and permanently bonded coating which is better than many other systems in protecting steel from damage, for instance, from tractors or machinery. What’s more, any bare steel exposed by scratches or drilled holes is protected by the surrounding zinc.
- Reliability – complete coverage, inside and out is a unique feature of hot dip galvanized coatings.
- Hygiene – the abrasion and corrosion resistance of hot dip galvanized steel provides an easy to clean and hygienic surface.
- Reduced labour – particularly with building frames, once the hot dip galvanized steel is erected cladding can begin immediately. This eliminates time consuming on-site painting.
- Availability – hot dip galvanizing facilities are widely available so your suppliers should be able to offer hot dip galvanized products. It is recommended that a galvanizer is used which is a member of galvanizers association.
- Environmental performance – left alone outside, hot dip galvanizing will protect steel from the weather for many decades. It will protect steel from other substances found on farms such as diesel oil and petrol. However, galvanized steel can be attacked by prolonged exposure to acidic materials such as slurry and manure. If this is likely, a coat of bitumen paint should be applied to the galvanized steelwork. Short term exposure, as in slurry pumps, is not normally a problem providing that the steelwork is rinsed of after use and allowed to dry. It is also advisable to paint galvanized steelwork with bitumen paint if it is going to be immersed continuously in water.
Contact our team
Over the past 50 years, Galco has become a recognized leader offering high quality equipment and systems. We are dedicated to exploring the latest construction technologies to generate cost savings for clients.
Send Us a Message
Fields marked with an * are required
"*" indicates required fields
