Using ISO Tanks for Your Chemical Supply Chain

White Paper

INTRODUCTION

WHAT ARE ISO CONTAINERS

WHY ISO TANKS FOR HIGH VOLUME CHEMICALS & GASSES

Ensuring Purity & Preventing Contamination

Enhanced Safety & Compliance

Cost Efficiency & Flexibility

Global Availability & Supply Chain Integration

Sustainability & Environmental Benefits

ARE ISO TANKS RIGHT FOR MY BUSINESS

CONCLUSION

Introduction

The chemical logistics and supply chain industry has undergone significant transformations in recent years, driven by factors such as globalization, increasing regulatory demands, and the need for efficient and sustainable operations. One notable trend has been the growing adoption of ISO tank storage for the transportation and storage of chemicals, particularly high-purity chemicals and gases used in industries like semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

In this white paper we will:

Define ISO Tanks,
Discuss the benefits, and
Share reasons why you would consider pivoting to ISO Containers for your chemical and gas storage and transportation

What are ISO Containers?

ISO tanks are standardized, reusable steel containers that are designed for the intermodal transportation and storage of materials. Originally used for shipping goods across various modes of transport—by sea, rail, and road—their versatility, durability, and compatibility with a range of shipping methods have led to their increasing use in chemical logistics. ISO tanks are also widely available in various configurations, including specialized containers for the storage of hazardous materials, high-purity chemicals, and gases.

VERSATILE

DURABLE

COMPATABLE

These containers come in a variety of sizes and are designed to handle chemicals under different pressure and temperature conditions. They are ideal for bulk transport and can be customized to meet specific industry needs, such as those in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical sectors.

Why are ISO Tanks Ideal for High-Volume Demand Chemicals & Gases?

High-purity chemicals and gases require stringent handling and storage conditions to maintain their integrity and quality. ISO tanks are well-suited for the storage of these materials due to the following reasons:

Ensuring Purity and Preventing Contamination

The key advantage of ISO containers is their ability to maintain the integrity of the materials they store. Unlike traditional storage methods that may require frequent transfers between containers or vessels (each transfer increasing the risk of contamination), ISO tanks are designed for both transport and long-term storage, minimizing the number of transfers. Many ISO tanks come equipped with high-quality seals and advanced monitoring systems, which help prevent contamination from external sources, such as air or moisture.

Additionally, the interior surfaces of ISO tanks can be treated or coated to meet specific purity requirements, ensuring that no chemical reactions occur between the stored material and the container walls. This makes ISO tanks ideal for the storage of ultra-high purity gases and chemicals.

Ultra-high purity chemicals and gases are critical in semiconductor manufacturing processes such as etching and wafer cleaning, as well as in pharmaceutical applications where chemical stability is crucial.

Enhanced Safety and Compliance

Another reason companies are moving to ISO tank storage is the improved safety and compliance that these containers offer. Storing hazardous chemicals presents significant risks, and companies are under increasing pressure to meet stringent regulatory requirements for the safe handling, transport, and storage of such materials.

ISO tanks are built to comply with international standards for the transport and storage of hazardous materials, such as those set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Doing everything perfect may still not work. Adapting to ever-changing scenarios is a separator between good and great logistics teams.

Innovation and adaption require a want-to attitude. The amount of effort to adapt in real-time requires a lot of attention, time, and focus. Some companies just don’t have the means to adapt and are stuck with the fate of the disruptions.

They are designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions, including:

Exposure to high pressures,

Corrosion, and

Temperature fluctuations

Cost Efficiency and Flexibility

Cost is always a significant factor in chemical logistics, and one of the primary drivers behind the move to ISO tank storage is the potential for cost savings.

Flexibility, Less Infrastructure

ISO tanks offer greater flexibility compared to traditional storage tanks, as they can be easily transported and repurposed without the need for large, fixed storage installations. This flexibility allows companies to optimize their storage capacity based on fluctuating demand, without having to invest in expensive infrastructure.

Standard

Additionally, because ISO tanks are standardized, they can be used across multiple modes of transport (rail, sea, road), reducing the need for additional handling and transfers during shipping. This reduces:

Labor costs

Risk of accidents or spills

Shortens lead times—allowing companies to move chemicals from supplier to end-user more efficiently

Lease vs. Buy

Furthermore, ISO tanks can be leased as needed, offering companies an alternative to the high upfront capital expenditures associated with building and maintaining bulk storage facilities. Leasing ISO tanks allows companies to scale their storage and transport capacities based on project requirements, eliminating the need for long-term investments in storage infrastructure that may not always be utilized at full capacity.

Global Availability and Supply Chain Integration

As supply chains become more globalized, the ability to integrate storage and transportation solutions across multiple regions and transportation networks is essential. ISO tanks provide a standardized, globally recognized solution for chemical storage that is compatible with international logistics networks. This is particularly important for where raw materials and finished products often cross multiple borders before reaching their destination.

Sustainability and Environmental Benefits

Sustainability is an increasingly important consideration in chemical logistics, particularly in industries like pharmaceuticals, where environmental impact is scrutinized by regulators, consumers, and investors. ISO tanks are built to last, with a lifespan that can exceed 20 years. This reduces the need for frequent container replacement, minimizing waste and reducing the overall environmental impact of chemical storage.

Additionally, the ability to use ISO tanks for both storage and transportation reduces the number of transfers required, which in turn lowers the likelihood of chemical spills or leaks that can have disastrous environmental consequences.

Many companies are also investing in ISO tanks that are compatible with green technologies, such as solar-powered monitoring systems, to further reduce the carbon footprint associated with chemical storage.

Are ISO Tanks right for my business?

In analyzing if utilizing ISO tanks is right for your business, the answers may have been self-evident as you read, but we’ve synthesized the decision-making down to a few questions:

Does your manufacturing processes require a lot of chemicals and gases?

Are the chemicals you use high-purity and have specific handling requirements?

Do you have global suppliers?

Is there pressure from regulators, shareholders, or the communities you operate in to be safer and more sustainable?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, moving your chemical and gases to ISOs may be in your best interest.

Conclusion

In this white paper we’ve defined an ISO tank, explored its capabilities, and provided reasons why they can benefit your supply chain. We found that they ensure purity, increase safety, reduce costs, support a global supply chain, and attribute to positive sustainability practices. In all, we believe that ISO tanks are the future of the chemical and gas industry and would like to offer our assistance in navigating your business in this exciting new direction.

Rinchem’s Offerings

Luckily Rinchem is already active and experienced in the ISO tank space. In the industries we operate we see the ISO tank becoming more prevalent as more chemical manufacturers and tech manufacturers are pivoting. Rinchem is capable of end-to-end management of your ISOs and offers the following services:

Storage

ISO yards are available at several facilities across the globe

Transportation

Rinchem can execute multimodal transportation as we offer ocean freight, drayage, regional delivery, and cross-country over the road transportation in the United States. Our services also include local transportation in South Korea, Taiwan, and Israel.

Tracking

With Rinchem’s logistics platform Chem-Star®, you can track your product from end to end, ensuring the containers specifics remain intact to maintain the integrity of the product, and ensure a smooth supply chain.

Open Invitation

With our experience with ISO tanks, we welcome you to reach out to discuss the ISO tank space, if it’s the right move for you, and how to migrate to utilizing this logistics technology.

Please email customersolutions@rinchem.com and we will connect you with our ISO team.