Chicago-based EXSIF has excelled over the last 25 years to become a global leader in tank container leasing. Now operating a fleet of over 75,000 ISO tanks, the company is on a mission to provide the very best quality service that prioritises the customer and the environment at every stage of the process. Vice President of Engineering Michael Smith and Global Marketing Manager Eric Gorte revealed how, during an in-depth interview with Inside Sustainability. Report by Imogen Ward.
Ever since it was established in 2000, EXSIF has dedicated every day of operation to revolutionising bulk liquid transportation.
“We have built up a fleet of more than 75,000 ISO tanks that are sustainable in design and will play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable logistics,” explained Global Marketing Manager Eric Gorte. “Each one of our tanks is constructed from 93 per cent recyclable material and is designed to be flexible, robust and reusable, and we are currently
working on innovation projects to increase that percentage.”
ISO tanks are critical when it comes to transporting chemicals and gases from A to B. Designed with safety in mind, these tanks transport hazardous materials internationally. Unlike other alternatives such as drums and flexi-bags, ISO tanks are much more sustainable than other alternative bulk shipping options and provide an unparalleled integrity when it comes to accidents.
Ranging from 1,000 litres up to 45,000 litres, these tanks can carry anything from liquids and liquefied gases, food-grade, to cryogenic liquids. This flexibility makes them suitable to cover most industries.
Diversity in action
While integrated in the supply chain globally working with multinational chemical, gas and food producers, EXSIF has always tried to reduce its carbon footprint.
Although its tanks are useful to a wide range of industries, EXSIF has successfully carved out a niche in the offshore sector, where it regularly helps minimise any negative environmental impact. The company provides tank containers for offshore drilling operations to securely transport waste and other materials for wind turbines and concrete seabed pads.
The company has also seen a rise in demand from the ever-expanding offshore energy sector. Its tanks have become crucial to the transportation of lubricating oils and materials for concrete seabed pads.
“The ISO tanks consist of a stainless-steel pressure vessel, which is surrounded by a carbon steel frame, designed to protect the load from any potential hazards,” shared Vice President of Engineering Michael Smith. “Each tank has a 20-year design life, and they can be repaired and maintained for many years before they reach a certain stage in their life when it’s time to be scrapped.”
When the time comes, EXSIF has implemented its own recycling programme, with approved recycling partners based
in Rotterdam, Singapore, Shanghai and Houston, where the tanks are broken down and separated into different streams, ready to be remelted and reused to create new tanks. By adopting this circular approach, EXSIF has ensured the production of its tanks is as green as possible.
“Using this recycling programme means there is very little waste when it comes to scrapping our old tanks,” continued Mr Smith.
“The only element that can’t be recycled is the insulation that surrounds the tank
as this is often soaked in chemicals or spillages. In this case, the waste has to be disposed of safely – normally via incineration.”
A greener approach
Taking on a holistic approach, EXSIF has also successfully optimised its fleet and implemented life cycle management to improve efficiency and extend tank usability. These adjustments have significantly strengthened EXSIF’s position when it comes
to being a leader in sustainability. This was further reinforced when the company began its assessment journey with EcoVadis. In 2021, the company was awarded a silver medal, placing it in the top 25% of over 75,000 companies evaluated by the green assessor.
“Every year, we strive to improve upon our EcoVadis score,” shared Mr Gorte. “We would love to reach platinum status in the future.
course, the threshold goes up a little bit each year, but we love a challenge, and we are committed to improving our score no matter what.”
A cut above the rest
While supporting its green initiatives, EXSIF is also determined to maintain its position as an industry leader.
Stemming from a combination of cutting-edge technology, unmatched expertise and a customer-centric approach, the company has, without a doubt, earned its market-leading position. To sustain this success, EXSIF has developed several
key initiatives to ensure its services stand out above the rest.
EXSIF’s advanced digital fleet management platform is an innovative tool which optimises fleet operations by reducing empty moves – a costly occurrence that affects many industries and has a negative impact on the environment. Through the implementation of this platform, EXSIF not only optimises its operations, but also minimises its carbon emissions, which greatly benefits the
company’s wider commitment of being a sustainably driven entity.
The company also introduced a portal dedicated to the distribution of digital documents. This has helped provide a stress-free, easy-access solution for its customers whilst also cutting down on paper.
“We are entering a number of new markets to support these goals and promote the sustainability advantages of ISO tanks over traditional transport modes,” explained Mr Smith, in conclusion. “As we journey through our 25th year of success, we are proudly reflecting on our achievements while charting a bold new course for the future.” n
