Fabrication for Critical Water & Aqueous Service

We solve fabrication challenges for water systems. Northern Manufacturing uses specialty alloys to build reliable, spec-ready components that mitigate corrosion and compliance risks, delivering the peace of mind technical buyers value most.

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The Challenge: A Vicious Cycle of Degradation and Failure

Engineers specifying equipment for aqueous service face a fundamental challenge. It’s rarely a single, isolated issue, but a cascade of interconnected failure modes—beginning with the initial fabrication quality and ending in premature failure and costly downtime.

The Corrosion & Biofouling Cycle

The real threat isn’t general corrosion, but localized pitting and crevice corrosion started by chlorides. This issue is amplified by biofouling and MIC, creating a vicious cycle of failure.

Fabrication Quality: The Critical Failure Point

Poor fabrication quality directly accelerates failure. A single weld defect or surface contamination can compromise even the most advanced alloys, initiating catastrophic corrosion.

The Non-Negotiable Burden of Compliance

Beyond technical failure is the risk of non-compliance. Failure to meet strict standards like NSF/ANSI 61 for potable water systems can halt operations and cause catastrophic project delays.

Our Solution: Mitigating Risk Through Verifiable Fabrication Excellence

We build components engineered to interrupt the cycle of failure. Our approach transforms fabrication quality from a liability into your core asset for long-term reliability, built on a foundation of certified processes and deep metallurgical expertise.

  • Certified Welding Excellence: Our AWS-certified welders use precision GTAW to create flawless, corrosion-free welds that maintain material integrity.
  • Superior Surface Finishing: Our chemical finishing and passivation processes fully restore the steel’s protective layer for maximum corrosion resistance.
  • Expertise in Advanced Alloys: We are experts in fabricating a full spectrum of advanced alloys (Duplex, Hastelloy), preserving their critical properties.
Interior of a stainless steel spray pickling and passivation bay featuring stainless steel fabrication equipment and organized workspaces, showcasing a hexagonal metal structure and bright overhead lighting for custom precision metal fabrication projects.

Examples of Fabricated Aqueous Equipment

Our capabilities are applied to a wide range of custom-built equipment designed for specific process conditions.

Municipal Water & Wastewater

We build aeration tanks, large-diameter piping, clarifiers, and structures for grit and sludge handling.

Food & Beverage

We fabricate sanitary mixing tanks, Clean-in-Place (CIP) skids, and high-purity process piping.

Power Generation & Chemical

Our expertise includes ASME pressure vessels, shell and tube heat exchangers, and custom reactors.

Filtration Systems

We manufacture RO/DI skids, skid-mounted filtration equipment, and custom pressure filter housings.

Full-Service Stainless Steel Fabricator

From raw stainless material to fully assembled, corrosion-resistant products, Northern Manufacturing provides everything under one roof. Our capabilities are built for scale, precision, and complex project requirements.

  • Municipal Water & Wastewater
  • Power Generation
  • Food & Beverage
  • Chemical Processing
  • General Industrial & Manufacturing
  • Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences

Frequently Asked Questions

316L is reliable in water with chloride levels below 1,000 ppm. For higher chloride concentrations or in warmer environments, Duplex 2205 is the safer choice due to its superior resistance to pitting and Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC).

Welding damages the steel’s protective layer, making it vulnerable to corrosion. Passivation is an essential chemical treatment that removes contamination and fully restores this protective layer, ensuring maximum corrosion resistance.

A full penetration weld fuses completely through the joint, creating a smooth interior surface. This eliminates any crevices where microbes could hide, which is critical for ensuring sanitary conditions in industries like Food & Beverage.

Partner with an Expert in Corrosion-Resistant Fabrication

Your critical equipment deserves more than a standard fabrication process. It requires a partner who understands the science of corrosion and has the certified processes to mitigate it. Contact our team to review your project’s technical requirements and discover how our approach can lower your total cost of ownership