The 11th annual National Aboveground Storage Tank Conference & Trade Show takes place Wednesday, September 12, and Thursday, September 13, at the Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston, Texas. The annual event is hosted by the National Institute for Storage Tank Management (NISTM).

Founded in 1989, NISTM is a nonprofit organization that provides educational opportunities, resources, and training seminars about the operation, regulation, and management of storage tank systems. The institute works with numerous state and federal organizations.

The annual event includes both a conference and trade show. Conference sessions are held from 8:00 a.m. local time until 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday and 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, while the trade show is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday and 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Conference Highlights

Educational sessions relevant to the coatings industry on Wednesday may include “Short Stories of Coatings and Linings Calamities: Causes and Cures,” hosted by Vijay Datta and Dr. Mike O’Donoghue of International Paint, LLC, from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday; “Fire Protection Considerations for Tank Facilities,” presented by Benjamin Entrekin of Pond & Company from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday; and “Seal Failures and How to Avoid Them,” led by HMT’s Allie M. Alderson from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m.

New to the conference in 2018 is a series of specialized NACE International tracks, hosted by Louis Koszewski of US Tank Protectors, Inc., from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Topics are “Cathodic Protection of Tank Bottoms Resting on a Concrete or Asphalt Pad”; “The Next Generation of Double Bottom Tanks – An Innovative Approach that Will Change the Industry”; and “Limitations of Using ER Probes or Coupons under Aboveground Storage Tanks.”

Among Thursday’s highlights are “Case Study: Robotic Inspection of In-Service Storage Tank Bottom,” presented by Steve Trevino of Diakont from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m.; “A Permanent Method for Preventing Corrosion on Steel,” hosted by Eoncoat’s Merrick Alpert from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m.; and “Innovation for Immediate Live Tank Leak Repair with High-Performance Polymer,” led by Thomas Fink of Technofink LLC from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The complete list of sessions can be accessed at the conference website.

Exhibitor Focus

Exhibitors potentially of note to coatings contractors may include Advanced Polymerics, Inc. (#300);  BrandSafway (#214); Caldwell Tanks, Inc. (#305); Carboline (#406); DeHumidification Technologies, LP (#205); Denso North America (#512); Fischer Technology (#608); Leica Geosystems (#117); NACE International (#112); Parker Hannifin Corp. (#111); and Tarsco, a TF Warren Company (#500).

The full list of exhibitors can be accessed at the NISTM conference website. Attendees are allowed to walk through the trade show at no cost on both days.

Attendees can also attend a special “Network Mixer” on the trade show floor at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, following that day’s closing conference sessions. The mixer offers opportunities to network with aboveground storage tank owners, regulators, equipment vendors, and consultants.