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Recycled Mining Tires Used As Water Tanks
Giant Rubber Water Tanks of Lodge Grass, Mont., works with mines to reuse scrap tires to produce durable livestock watering systems. The company’s goals are to provide an environmentally friendly tire disposal system and a cost-effective and indestructible livestock water trough.
While freezing temperatures, fighting bulls, and unexpected run-ins with equipment can take down standard water tanks, the absorbent rubber won’t dent, so you pay for the trough once and can expect it to work as promised for years.
Company founder Gerald Mahoney grew frustrated in the 1980’s with the lack of quality livestock water tanks available for his Wyoming ranch. Troughs broke down without notice, leading to expensive replacement costs. One day, a tour of a coal mine proved serendipitous when he noticed the large truck tires in operation there. He believed these tires could be used as virtually indestructible water troughs—all that was necessary was to remove the sidewall.
Mahoney acquired a tire from the mine and set to work finding a solution to remove the top. He developed a machine that could efficiently cut the tire into the trough design he envisioned. Mahoney began testing the tires on his property, assessing them for durability and freeze resistance. His neighbors noticed and began requesting their own. Word spread and Mahoney ran a part-time business under his ranch until 2002, at which point he transitioned the operations to full-time.
Today, Giant Rubber Water Tanks, Inc. remains a family business that’s grown to include 140 dealers across the United States and beyond. The company works directly with mines, tire disposal businesses, and tire manufacturers. All tires are shipped directly to customers. Then, a dealer travels onsite with mobile cutting units to cut the tire and transform it into working order right where it’ll be used. Tanks range from 200 to 1,800 gallons or 6 to 13 ft. in diameter. They can be custom-cut to almost any height. The rubber tire’s thickness and coloring act as natural protection against freezing, and a few low-tech improvements, like an insulated rim cover, can prevent freezing entirely.
The business’s other facet is its recycling program. It takes minimal energy to deconstruct each tire and recycle it into new products, which has made the company highly desirable for scrap tire management. Giant Rubber Water Tanks considers itself to be the most cost-effective, efficient, and eco-friendly way to deal with scrap tire waste. On average, it recycles between 4,000 to 5,000 OTR tires annually from mining sites while also processing hundreds of tires brought by individuals and through contracts with recycling businesses. Each tire-cutting unit can bagel slice approximately 30 57-in. or 63-in. tires per day.
Contact the company directly for custom quotes on water tanks or guidance on recycling industrial tires.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Giant Rubber Water Tanks, Lodge Grass, Mont. 59050 (ph 888-830-9504; ed.grwt@yahoo.com; www.giantrubberwatertanks.com).


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2024 - Volume #48, Issue #2