This article examines two cases where MATCOR customers were able to save up to 23% on their deep anode system budget.
Today’s inflationary and supply-chain-impacted environment adversely affects many of our clients as they try to complete necessary upgrades and replacements to critical cathodic protection systems after two years of COVID-impacted operations.
Unfortunately, costs are climbing faster than most cathodic protection budgets. This often means doing less and/or pushing already overdue projects that should be completed this year into future budget cycles.
Relief For Your Cathodic Protection Budget
With owners stressed by diminishing return on limited cathodic protection budgets, there has never been a better time to consider MATCOR’s Durammo® Deep Anode System. Simply put, Durammo significantly reduces your installation cost compared to traditional deep anode systems.
If you are not familiar with MATCOR’s Durammo Deep Anode System or deep anode systems in general, read the articles below.
- Deep Anode System Comparison: 9 Reasons Durammo® Beats Conventional Systems
- Deep Anode System Design
- Enerfin Joins Growing List of Satisfied Durammo® Deep Anode System Users
- What is the Carbon Footprint of Deep Anode Systems
This article is not about the higher quality, longer system life, improved venting, greater ease of installation, lighter system weight, or the safer-to-install features of the Durammo – we have all of that going for us.
This article is about stretching your deep anode system budget. Let’s look at two recent quotes submitted by MATCOR in competitive bidding situations this month, March 2022. These are not abstract numbers for illustrative purposes, but real system quotes provided by MATCOR in a competitive situation.
CASE 1: High Silicon Cast Iron (HSCI) vs Durammo Deep Anode System in OKLAHOMA
This proposal was for a single anode system installation where there was an existing anode junction box and rectifier. The existing anode junction box reduces the materials savings since one is not needed for the Durammo. In this case, it is not needed for the conventional HSCI system either.
For most projects, the installation cost savings are higher when multiple anode systems are installed. While saving a few hours on one site does not result in much savings, over multiple sites, there is a greater cost reduction since entire project days can be eliminated.
| Client Specification | MATCOR Durammo Alternative |
| 30 Amp Groundbed | 30 Amp Groundbed |
| 250-foot total depth | 250-foot total depth |
| 10” diameter hole | 10-inch diameter hole (8-inch option) |
| Loresco SC3 backfill | Loresco SC3 backfill |
| (15) Anotec 2684 70 lb HSCI anodes | Continuous MMO wire anode assembly |
| #8 AWG HMWPE/Kynar individual anode leads | #8 AWG HMWPE/Kynar dual system leads |
| Allvent PVC slotted vent pipe | MATCOR SuperVent™high performance deep anode vent |
| Existing Anode Junction Box and Rectifier | Existing Anode Junction Box and Rectifier |
| Materials Cost $16,126 | Materials Cost $11,075 ($9,128) |
| Labor and Equipment $20,455 | Labor and Equipment $19,819 ($18,897) |
| Total Installed Cost $36,581 | Total Installed Cost $30,894 ($28,025) |
CASE 1 Deep Anode System Savings
- Material savings of 31% (or 43% if using 8” diameter hole)
- Installation savings of 3% (or 8% if using 8” diameter hole)
- Total Installed Cost Savings of 16% (or 23% if using 8” diameter hole)
CASE 2: Graphite Anodes vs Durammo Deep Anode System in Wyoming
| Client Specification | MATCOR Durammo Alternative |
| 30 Amp Groundbed | 30 Amp Groundbed |
| 300-foot total depth | 300-foot total depth |
| 10” diameter hole | 10-inch diameter hole (8-inch option) |
| Loresco SC3 backfill | Loresco SC3 backfill |
| (15) 4” x 80” wax treated graphite anodes | Continuous MMO wire anode assembly |
| #8 AWG HMWPE/Kynar individual anode leads | #8 AWG HMWPE/Kynar dual system leads |
| Allvent PVC slotted vent pipe | MATCOR high performance SuperVent™ |
| Supply and install Junction Box and Rectifier | Supply and install Rectifier |
| Materials Cost $32,427 | Materials Cost $24,608 ($22,291) |
| Labor and Equipment $22,426 | Labor and Equipment $21,472 ($20,197) |
| Total Installed Cost $54,853 | Total Installed Cost $46,080 ($42,488) |
CASE 2 Deep Anode System Savings
- Material savings of 24% (or 31% if using an 8” diameter hole)
- Installation savings of 4% (or 10% if using an 8” diameter hole)
- Total Installed Cost Savings of 16% (or 23% if using an 8” diameter hole)
Saving Your Cathodic Protection Budget
These were two recent, completely different projects with different anode comparisons and different scopes of work. In both cases, the Durammo provides significant cost savings over conventional discreet anode systems. We see this pattern repeating often.
For more information, or to learn how much you can save with Durammo deep anode systems, please contact us at the link below, or reach out to your local MATCOR account manager.
Contact a Corrosion Expert
