Open-top conversions
Full lid removal, half-lid hinge cuts, hatch and manway cuts with flame-polished edges.
Service 08 — Fabrication
Custom fabrication
Half the totes that leave our yard are not totes anymore. They are rain harvesters, aquaponics beds, wash stations, grain hoppers and dunk tanks. If you can sketch it on a napkin, our fab bay has probably already built it.
- Sheet
- 29
- Revision
- 2026-10
- Scale
- 1:1
- Drawn at
- Peoria IL
40+Standard modifications
3–10Day turnaround
1Minimum order
100%Built on reused containers
Modifications we do every week
Ports & bulkheads
Bulkhead fittings from 1/2" to 3", sight glasses, overflow and vent ports, camlock and garden-hose adapters.
Multi-tote banks
Two to twelve totes manifolded to a common header with isolation valves and a single fill point.
Insulation & heat
Reflective jackets, closed-cell wraps, inline heaters and freeze-protection packages for outdoor service.
Cage modifications
Extended legs, forklift pockets, stacking collars, lifting eyes, rack-mount brackets and guard panels.
Branding
Printed placards, cage plates, UV vinyl wraps, stencilled identification and serialised QR tags.
| Build | Base container | Typical lead time | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain harvester kit | Grade B 275 gal | 3 days | Garden, barn, shop roof capture |
| Aquaponics bed | Food-grade 275 gal | 5 days | Cut-top grow bed plus sump |
| Mobile wash station | Grade B 330 gal | 7 days | Jobsite hand wash and rinse |
| Grain / feed hopper | Grade C, cut cone | 6 days | Bulk dispensing on farms |
| Fuel transfer station | Grade A 275 gal | 10 days | Off-road diesel with pump and meter |
| Dunk / parts tank | Grade C 275 gal | 4 days | Shop degreasing and soak |
From napkin to loading dock
01
Send the sketch
A photo of a drawing is genuinely enough. Dimensions optional, intent required.
02
We spec it
You get a parts list, a container grade recommendation and a fixed price.
03
We build it
Fab bay work, leak test, and photos of the finished unit before it ships.
04
We deliver it
On our trucks inside the radius, on a common carrier beyond it.
What we will not fabricate
- Pressure vessels. An IBC bottle is not rated for pressure and no modification changes that.
- Potable drinking water systems for human consumption, unless the build starts from a certified food-grade bottle and you accept the documentation limits.
- Fuel storage that would violate local fire code — we will build the transfer station, you confirm the permit.
- Anything that requires cutting a UN-marked tote while keeping its UN rating. Cut it and the rating is void, full stop.
What the fab bay works with
| Operation | Method | Tolerance | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lid removal / open top | Router and flame polish | ±3 mm | 35 min | Raw edges crack eventually; polishing is not optional |
| Cone cut for hoppers | Template cut, 60° standard | ±5 mm | 1.5 hr | 70° for ground feed and anything that packs |
| Bulkhead port | Hole saw, EPDM both sides | ±1 mm | 15 min | 1/2 in to 3 in, supported against the wall |
| Sight gauge | Twin bulkhead and clear tube | ±2 mm | 40 min | Our second most requested retrofit |
| Cage cut and re-weld | Jig, MIG, zinc-rich primer | Square ±3/8 in | 1 hr | Welded ring at every cut line |
| Leg extension | Welded tube, cross-braced | ±5 mm | 1.5 hr | Specify the discharge height first |
| Insulation jacket | Closed-cell with foil face | — | 45 min | Buys a few degrees, not a winter |
| Heat trace and thermostat | 120 V, controlled | — | 2 hr | This is what buys a winter |
| Manifold, 2–12 containers | Full-bore header, valve per unit | Level ±1/8 in | 2–6 hr | Geometry is the hard part |
| Branding | Printed placard, plate or wrap | — | 20 min | Never across the UN plate |
- Send a photograph of a sketch. Dimensions optional, intent required — we will come back with a parts list and a fixed price.
- Tell us the discharge or use-point height before anything is cut. It determines the whole build and cannot be changed afterwards.
- Tell us what goes in it, so the base container grade and gasket material are right first time.
- Expect photographs of the finished unit before it ships, and a leak test on anything that holds liquid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of modifications can you do?
Standard work includes open-top and hatch cuts, bulkhead fittings from 1/2 inch to 3 inch, multi-tote manifolds, insulation and heat, cage modifications, and branding. Rain harvesters, aquaponics beds and wash stations are common builds.
How long does a custom build take?
Turnaround runs 3 to 10 days depending on the build. A rain harvester kit takes about 3 days and a fuel transfer station about 10. Every build is on a reused container.
Is there a minimum order?
No. The minimum order is one. You can send a photo of a sketch, then receive a parts list, a container grade recommendation and a fixed price before we build.
Will I see the finished unit before it ships?
Yes. Each build gets a leak test, and we send photos of the finished unit before it ships. We deliver on our own trucks inside the radius and by common carrier beyond it.
What will you refuse to build?
We do not build pressure vessels, since an IBC bottle is not rated for pressure. We also will not keep a UN rating on a cut tote, because cutting voids it. Fuel stations must meet your local fire code.