Industry: Agriculture / Agronomy | Service: Industrial Painting / Sandblasting & Coating | Contractor: TMI Coatings, LLC (AMPP QP 1 & QP 2 Certified)
Challenge
An agronomy facility in Nebraska needed a 300,000-gallon storage tank sandblasted and repainted to protect against corrosion. The scheduling constraint was seasonal: the facility needed the work completed during its winter downtime in December, when most painting contractors cannot operate due to cold temperatures that prevent standard coatings from curing properly. A coating applied below its minimum cure temperature fails prematurely due to improper crosslinking, poor adhesion, and compromised film integrity. The facility needed a contractor with proven cold-weather coating technology and the operational discipline to monitor and maintain temperature compliance throughout the application window.
Solution
TMI Coatings, LLC (TMI) mobilized to the Nebraska site in December, utilizing cold-weather coating technology that enables TMI to paint steel down to 0 degrees F. TMI’s superintendent continuously monitored surface and ambient temperatures throughout the project to ensure the coating system remained within the manufacturer’s specified cure window.
TMI sandblasted the tank to SSPC-SP6 Commercial Blast standards, removing all rust and mill scale to establish a clean substrate with proper anchor profile. TMI applied a rust-inhibiting epoxy primer by brush and roller, followed by a urethane topcoat selected for UV stability and long-term exterior durability. Brush and roller application was used throughout to prevent overspray in the facility’s operating environment.
Result
TMI completed the 300,000-gallon tank painting safely, on time, and on budget during the December cold-weather window. The owner’s representative confirmed that TMI’s superintendent ensured all temperature requirements were met throughout the project. The tank now carries a fully cured, properly crosslinked corrosion protection system applied under conditions that would have stopped most contractors. Cold-weather coating capability allows TMI to execute windows during winter downtime that other contractors cannot access, extending the working season for facilities that can only release assets during off-peak months.
Why TMI Coatings
TMI Coatings is an AMPP QP 1 and QP 2 certified industrial painting contractor with 40 years of experience across agricultural, manufacturing, and infrastructure environments in the Upper Midwest and Northern Plains. TMI’s cold-weather coating capability, proven down to 0 degrees F, is a core operational advantage that allows TMI to work year-round when competitors are sidelined by winter conditions. TMI deploys its own field crews nationwide with NACE CIP Level 3 certified inspection personnel and the temperature monitoring discipline required for cold-weather coating compliance.