Types of Products That Can Be Rotomoulded

Rotomoulding, or rotational moulding, is a method of manufacturing plastic products that are hollow.

The process is best known in the tank industry, but many manufacturers are also using the technology to make plastic products for a range of other industries. We take a look at some of the most innovative products that can be made through rotomoulding:

Medical products

A significant number of technological advancements have been made in the healthcare industry recently. There are many types of medical products which require hollow plastic parts, and rotomoulding offers a safe and reliable method for producing them. For example, the smaller components of complex medical devices, like surgical instruments and containers for dialysis machines, can be made through rotomoulding. Massage balls, foot baths, anatomical reproductions, storage for emergency equipment, wheelchair parts, and therapeutic aids can also be made with rotomoulding.

Furniture and home decor

New trends in the furniture and homewares industry are emerging as designers discover that molten plastic gives them the ability to create shapes and designs which simply could not be made with any other material. Rotomoulding also allows for the large-scale production of goods and homewares at a cheaper price. Some examples of rotomoulded furniture and decor pieces include: plastic stools, outdoor furniture, vases, lamps, bathtubs, sculptures, book shelves, and beds.

Automotive and marine

Rotomoulding is used for a wide range of products in the automotive and marine industry. For example, heating and air conditioning ducts, arm rests, sun visors, dashboards, small dinghies, jet ski parts, buoys, and life rings can all be made using this technique. Another advantage of using rotomoulding in the marine industry is that the products can be made using UV stabilised plastic for longer life spans and protection in even the harshest of marine conditions.

Agriculture

From cattle feeders to garden planters, fertiliser tanks, and pontoons, the possibilities for using rotomoulding in the agricultural industry are endless. Plastic is also easily transportable and weighs very little when compared to other agricultural products made out of metal or wood, which is an added bonus when you live on a farm and you need to drive long distances.

Material handling

Rotomoulded crates, eskies, and other storage containers are also great for transporting liquids, chemicals, fruits, vegetables and other fresh produce because they are made from non-toxic, BPA-free, food-grade plastic. They don’t rust or rot like metal or wood, and they’re odourless, splinter-free, easy to clean, and can resist most acids, salts, seawater and alkalis. Many companies also choose to transport their goods using rotomoulded products because their seamless one-piece design allows for a higher load-bearing capacity and good durability.

Waste

Managing waste can be a difficult process without the right equipment. The advantage of using rotomoulded plastic for products like port-a-loos, drop toilets, garbage bins, and septic tanks is that they are really easy to clean, and are able to withstand a large amount of wear and tear. They also minimise the risk of leaks and uncomfortable smells from leaching into the area.

Custom products

The best thing about rotomoulding is that, with innovative design and one mould, you can easily make all sorts of custom products and projects. From personalised kayaks to playgrounds, children’s toys, basketball hoops, pool stairs, wheelbarrows, chicken coops, garden sculptures, and more — if you can think it, you can probably make it with rotomoulding!

Curious about other products that can be rotomoulded? Or are you interested in manufacturing a product with rotomoulding? If you have a brilliant idea that you think will change the world call us today on 1800 666 333, or send us an enquiry online.

Maintaining Your Septic Tank

Your septic tank may be the most overlooked and undervalued appliance on your property. Most homeowners tend to have an ‘install it and forget about it’ approach.

Failure to provide proper care and servicing of your septic tank, however, can degrade the environment, reduce the value of your property, and cause serious health problems for your family. Here’s some must-know tips on maintaining your septic tank:

Cleaning

Your septic tank has multiple parts which require cleaning at different times. It’s a good idea to keep a log or record book of these times to ensure that you’re always on top of everything. The filter at the rear of your septic tank, which stops floating elements from blocking up the discharge pipe, should be cleaned out annually. The tank itself should be pumped out regularly by a professional, and thoroughly washed out approximately every 4-5 years.

Household products

When it comes to maintaining your septic tank, there are a number of products that should not be disposed of down your household drainage system. These items include coffee grounds, fats, grease, oils, large volumes of beer and wine, milk, sanitary napkins, tampons, baby wipes, dental floss, medical pills, disinfectants, tissues, paints and varnishes. It’s a good idea when cleaning your home (toilet, shower, sink, etc.), to use products that are specifically made for septic tanks and won’t kill the important bacteria that breaks down the waste in your tank. It’s also recommended to avoid products that contain ammonia, chlorine, pesticides, caustic solutions, and antibacterial substances. When doing the laundry, try to use liquid cleaners as opposed to powdered cleaners, and spread your loads out evenly across the week.

Wastewater disposal area

Your septic tank’s wastewater disposal area is a single-use area only, and should not be used for other purposes like parking cars, keeping horses and livestock, play for children, or growing vegetables. The micro-organisms in your soil neutralise the pathogens in your wastewater, so it’s important to keep the soil as healthy as possible and regularly mow your lawn. At the same time, try to clear away any plants that were not recommended by your provider. Dosing your septic system with a product like actizyme once every 12 months is also a good way to improve your soil’s health.

Warning signs

It’s important to have your septic tank inspected for problems every 3-10 years, depending on the size of your tank. However, if you ever notice any sewage backups in your home, slow draining toilets and drains, sewage odours, sewage surfacing on your property or lush, green growth over the drainfield, you should contact your plumber as soon as possible. You should also never make or allow repairs on your tank without obtaining the required health permits, or attempt to fix your system on your own without the proper knowledge. Always use a professional contractor when needed.

Looking to upgrade or install a septic system on your property? Contact Global today, or give us a call on 1800 666 333.

Safety and Manufacturing Standards of Plastic Products

At Global Rotomoulding, we take pride in delivering products that comply with Australian safety and manufacturing standards.

All of our products are made with care, vigilance and the highest level of caution to ensure that they are fit for use by you…our valued customers! Here are some of the reasons why we believe that our products are some of the safest on the market:

1. Plastic products that are safe for food

At Global Rotomoulding, we manufacture polyethylene (plastic) products that comply with the AS/NZS 2070 Australian Standard. This means that our products are food-grade safe and are capable of storing goods which are fit for human consumption.

Our plastic is also BPA-free, which means that there is no chance that bisphenol A (a harmful industrial chemical) could seep into your food or beverages. Exposure to BPA has been linked with poor behaviour in children and infants, and has been shown to have negative health effects on the brain.

During our manufacturing process, we use only raw materials and processing aids that are formulated to be suitable for food use or that are known to be safe for contact with food. All of our raw materials are correctly segregated and can easily be identified to ensure that we never accidently use the wrong material or mix things up by mistake. We work really hard at preventing contamination within our machinery, and we maintain a high level of hygiene.

Some of our most popular food storage products include our livestock troughs and feeders, water storage tanks, and aquaculture tanks.

2. Water storage tanks that are safe for drinking

At Global Rotomoulding, we manufacture tanks that comply with the AS 4020 Australian and New Zealand Standard. This means that our tanks are suitable for use in contact with drinking water. The AS 4020 standard requires that our tanks do not affect the taste or appearance of water, do not support the growth of microorganisms and do not release metals or compounds which are toxic to living cells. All of our tanks have been thoroughly tested and assessed to see how they react with water, and have been declared safe for use.

We manufacture a range of different water storage tanks including: urban tanks, above ground tanks, domestic underground tanks, vehicle tanks, and transportable tanks.

3. We are consistent and efficient in our practices

Global Rotomoulding have been an Australian and New Zealand ISO 9001 certified company since 2004. This means that we are committed to delighting our customers, meeting their needs, and delivering products on time without fault. We aim to prevent problems before they become an issue, maintain close relationships with our suppliers, and treat our employees fairly and with respect.

Are you interested in custom rotomoulding? Looking to purchase a quality water tank or food storage product? Call us on 1800 666 333 or enquire online today to find out how we can help you!

Benefits of Rotomoulding

Rotomoulding, or rotational moulding, is a plastic manufacturing method with great design, production, and economical advantages.

From lower production costs to reduced environmental impact, we take a look at some of the best reasons to use rotomoulding for your next big project!

A smarter design

There are several benefits of rotomoulding that other plastic fabrication methods can’t match. To begin with, the products themselves are made from one piece of plastic, rather than welding or bolting together various components. This means that each product has greater durability and is less likely to fall apart or break due to weak joints and corroded weld lines. The process of rotomoulding also allows for a wide range of shapes, designs and products that simply could not be made with other materials. In addition, the precise application of molten plastic means that you can create a uniform wall thickness, even at corners and defined angles, therefore reinforcing the product’s overall strength and sturdiness.

Injection moulding vs. rotomoulding

In comparison to injection moulding, which is a common technique used to inject molten plastic into a metal mould, rotomoulding has less stress points and greater uniformity. Rotomoulding is a low-pressure process involving heat and rotation, which means that, unlike in injection moulding, high strength moulds are not needed to withstand the pressure. The slow rotation process used in rotomoulding fuses the resins together in uniform layers with fewer stress points. Therefore, rotomoulded products are very structurally more sound and have excellent load-bearing properties.

Superior plastic

At Global Tanks, our rotomoulded products are made from UV stabilised polyethylene for protection from ultraviolet radiation and long-term degradation by the sun. This is great for products that are designed for outdoor use, like water tanks, agricultural tanks, troughs or livestock feeders. Unlike other water tanks made from metal, our rotomoulding is also rust and corrosion resistant, which means that it has a longer lifespan and a lower risk of leakage. Our plastic is also food-grade and can withstand most acids, chemicals, seawater, and alkalis, making it safe to store fruits, vegetables, other fresh produce, and hazardous materials.

Lower production costs

Rotomoulded products are made using a single mould, which can be reused multiple times. The lead time for a mould is fairly short and each one is relatively inexpensive to make (once the pattern has been designed). This allows for large-scale production runs and repeated manufacturing at a lower cost. The durability and strong design of rotomoulded products also means that less money will be spent on repairing damaged products, and consumers will be happier with a long-lasting purchase.

Reduced environmental impact

One of the leading benefits of rotomoulding is the process is environmentally friendly. No chemicals, gases or dangerous toxins are released into the atmosphere during production, and there is no material wastage. It takes less fuel to make products with plastic because it is a lighter material than metal or wood, and the plastic is 100% recyclable. This means that we have a low carbon footprint, and with every product that is recycled we reduce the amount of raw materials being mined from the earth.

Easy to use

Because of their light weight, rotomoulded plastic products are much easier to transport. Especially our rural vehicle accessories, like our tool boxes, tractor canopies, ute tanks, rope box, and grain auger hopper. When compared to metal, even our 45,000-litre tank is easy to move and install. Our plastic septic tanks are also a lot easier to clean and maintain because the plastic does not break down or rust.

Are you interested in creating a custom rotomoulded product? Or, want to know how the benefits of rotomoulding can help your next project? Call us on 1800 666 333, or send us an online enquiry today!

Case Study: Aquapro

From concept design to product prototyping and testing, Global Rotomoulding are passionate about developing innovative products and moulding plastic in a creative way.

In this case study, we take a look at the development process of one of our most unique product collaborations, the AquaPro, and walk you through the benefits of using rotational moulding for custom projects.

aquapro

What is the AquaPro?

The AquaPro is a commercial, underground water storage system with a large capacity (over 1 million litres), and was developed in collaboration with Vinidex and Trymak. Due to its large size, it is primarily installed under places like shopping centres, office blocks and car parks. However, unlike most large underground water storage solutions — such as concrete tanks and injection moulded structures — the AquaPro was designed to be cost-effective, versatile, and modular.

The design

Similar to a puzzle, the AquaPro was designed to have rotomoulded components which seamlessly fit together and can be arranged in multiple configurations. The main advantage of having a composite structure (i.e. made up of several parts and elements) is that the tooling expenses are minimised and the system can be easily installed by regular drainage plumbers in areas that are usually difficult to access (e.g. heritage listed sites). With custom-designed rotomoulded joiners, the AquaPro was meticulously engineered to meet structural codes, resist external pressures, maximise water volume, and prevent leaking.

Rotomoulding technology

Moulding consistently accurate parts with dimensional stability can be challenging. However, with the latest rotomoulding technology and machinery, we were able to produce high quality, stress-free components with surface finishes comparable to those of injection moulding. Some of the benefits of using rotational moulding technology for the Aquapro include: low lead times for the moulds (2-4 weeks), the ability to run different moulds simultaneously on the same equipment, the ability to mould intricate components easily, and lower costs.

Global Rotomoulding are experts at producing custom moulds and products with complex shapes. If you’re interested in producing rotomoulded components, send us an enquiry or give us a call today: 1800 666 333.

Photo Credit: Vinidex Aquapro