Fabio Maselli, quality and marketing manager at OMZ, tells Tank Cleaning Magazine that the performance of internal tank cleaning has never depended on a single variable.
Instead, it is the result of a precise interaction between plant technology, specialist chemical formulations and disciplined process management.
According to Maselli, only when these three elements are correctly balanced can operators achieve the reliable, repeatable results demanded by today’s quality standards.
He explains that routine cleaning cycles are often straightforward, provided the correct combination of mechanical action, temperature and detergents is applied.
However, the past year has shown that many applications are anything but routine.
More complex residues, tighter hygiene expectations and the need to restore internal surfaces without compromising safety have driven demand for specialist solutions designed to tackle difficult contamination and maintain full operational integrity.
Reflecting on the year, Maselli notes that the tank cleaning sector continues to evolve rapidly. Operators now face a mix of pressures: minimising downtime, improving traceability, reducing manual interventions in confined spaces and meeting increasingly stringent customer requirements.
In this environment, he says, the choice of equipment and cleaning chemistry is no longer a secondary consideration but a decisive factor in achieving successful outcomes.
For OMZ, Maselli adds, these trends have shaped both customer expectations and the company’s own development priorities.
The year has reinforced the importance of integrated solutions that combine robust engineering with targeted chemical performance — an approach he believes will define the next phase of progress across the tank cleaning industry.
Can you sum up how 2026 has been for OMZ and MA-FRA as we approach the end of the year – are there any specific highlights?
This year has been a fundamental year for both OMZ and MA-FRA, marked by the consolidation of our collaboration and significant growth across the sectors in which we operate.
For OMZ srl, the year has brought a significant increase in the customer base and order portfolio, with around 30 projects currently underway.
This growth has also led to important investments in the company’s infrastructure, including the expansion of our workshop facilities, new offices, an enlarged production area with a dedicated carpentery department and a new area for machine testing and commissioning. We have also renewed and upgraded the vehicles used for our mobile workshop activities, strengthening our ability to provide on-site support.
For MA-FRA, the focus has been on expanding our presence in specialised sectors such as tank cleaning, heavy-duty transport and the railway industry, while continuing to develop increasingly effective and sustainable cleaning solutions.
Overall, 2026 has been a year of growth and consolidation, but also of strengthening our technical expertise and our ability to remain close to customers and their specific operational needs.
Can you also summarise the partnerships and product launches over the past year?
One of the most important developments has been the further consolidation of the partnership between OMZ and MA-FRA.
The collaboration combines OMZ’s expertise in tank cleaning systems and equipment with MA-FRA’s experience in professional detergency, research and chemical formulation.
This has led to the expansion of the OMZ Approved range, a dedicated portfolio of products for the cleaning, sanitisation and deodorisation of tanks and IBCs used in the chemical and food industries.
During the year, MA-FRA also developed specific formulations for particularly demanding applications, including the removal of contaminants such as latex residues and resins. Working directly with customers in real operating conditions has allowed us to test, validate and refine these solutions.
The objective is not simply to offer a chemical product or a cleaning system, but to provide a more complete solution in which equipment, chemistry, dosing and cleaning procedures work together.
What were some of the challenges that you faced?
Managing rapid growth has certainly been one of the main challenges for OMZ.
Today, we are managing more than 130 ongoing routine maintenance contracts, alongside extraordinary maintenance and service interventions and a continuously expanding production schedule.
At the same time, one of the key challenges for the OMZ–MA-FRA partnership has been establishing our position in highly specialised sectors and helping the market understand the added value of the collaboration.
The strength of the partnership lies precisely in the complementarity between the two companies: OMZ brings its experience in plant engineering, equipment and mechanical cleaning, while MA-FRA contributes its expertise in chemistry, formulation and research.
Bringing these two areas together allows us to approach complex cleaning challenges from a broader perspective and develop solutions that are effective, reliable and adapted to real operating conditions.
What can we look forward to from OMZ and MA-FRA in the new year?
Looking ahead to 2027, our objective is to continue growing in a smart and sustainable way, while making our service offering even more complete and effective.
We will strengthen our teams and introduce new professional expertise, while continuing to invest in infrastructure, technology and customer support.
International development will also remain an important focus, with OMZ planning to participate in major industry events including Transport Logistic in Munich, together with MA-FRA, and Autopromotec in Bologna.
At the same time, we will continue working closely with customers to optimise cleaning operations, with particular attention to reducing water consumption, cleaning times and the overall operational impact.
Technical consultancy and training will also play an increasingly important role. In complex cleaning applications, the product or equipment is only one part of the solution: understanding the chemistry, equipment, dosing, timing and procedures is what ultimately allows customers to achieve the best results.
For both OMZ and MA-FRA, 2027 will, therefore, be about continuing to grow while strengthening the technical partnership, customer relationships and the quality of the solutions we provide.
For more information: Visit www.omzsrl.it and www.mafra.it
A year of growth for OMZ and MA-FRA
