Oversized Plastic Pickling Tanks for a major player in the steel industry in France

An ambitious project, a tailor-made solution, and technological innovation in the service of sustainability!

As part of a major project for a leading player in the steel industry in France, our teams from the Air & Gas Business Line, John Cockerill EE, and John Cockerill Hungary combined their expertise to design and manufacture an XXL plastic pickling section.

The project involved the fabrication of three pickling tanks measuring over 20 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, and 2 meters high, along with three intermediate tanks dedicated to brushing and rinsing stages. The system also included a complete air treatment setup, featuring a gas scrubber, fans, ductwork, and retention tanks.

This project quickly emerged as a true technical challenge on multiple fronts.

On the one hand, the tanks had to be designed in very large dimensions without any visible metal reinforcements, to ensure long-term resistance in a highly corrosive environment. On the other hand, handling equipment weighing over 17 tons required highly precise logistics and the use of specialized lifting equipment.

In response to these constraints, our teams developed a solution based primarily on the use of plastic, robust, innovative, and durable, offering longevity, reliability, and safety, while minimizing corrosion risks and reducing long-term maintenance requirements.

This approach represents a significant technical advancement, particularly well suited to the demanding industrial requirements of pickling lines..

Installation is currently underway at the client’s site, with commissioning and initial testing scheduled for October 2025.

This project fully demonstrates John Cockerill’s ability to deliver technically ambitious, tailor-made solutions that address the specific needs of our clients, while meeting the highest standards of industrial performance and sustainability.