Growth spurt
Feature Story
From humble beginnings, Trans-Tech has developed into a tank-manufacturing behemoth
Trans-Tech Industries has developed a bulk-oil truck tank that is capable of delivering bulk oil while also having a rear section for transporting packaged goods and 55-gallon drums.
Trans-Tech Industries was incorporated in Maine in 1984, and was initially located in Southwest Harbor, Maine, near Acadia National Park, in a former boat-storage building that was converted into a tank-manufacturing facility. At that time, co-founders Bob Neal and Ken Peters believed the market was ready for a well-designed and expertly crafted aluminum truck tank of the highest quality. After building some prototype and test tanks (based on a new design that was ultimately patented), Trans-Tech completed its first production unit that was displayed and sold at the June 1985 New England Fuel Institute trade show in Boston.
Trans-Tech originally offered only three different tank models, but as sales steadily increased, the product line was expanded to seven models with various configurations available to satisfy the requirements of different markets and regions of the country.
Originating in an old boat-storage facility in 1984, Trans-Tech’s operations have gradually been updated and now reside in a 43,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Brewer, Maine.
Additional office space uptown has glass office partitioning for separating workspaces and a 6,000-square-foot facility in the town of Hancock were rented to accommodate the increase in tank demand. However, while sales continued to grow, and with the introduction of a new line of 7,000-gallon and 10,000-gallon aircraft refueler trailers, it became increasingly obvious that the company could not remain in Southwest Harbor where there was no opportunity for significant expansion.
Accordingly, a search began in the surrounding area and in June 1997 discussions with the Brewer Economic Development Commission led to the implementation of a plan to consolidate all of Trans-Tech’s operations under one roof in the city of Brewer, Maine.
The Eastern Maine Development Corporation worked with Trans-Tech, Trans-Tech’s bank, The Bar Harbor Bank, and the City of Brewer to develop a financial package which enabled the company to build a new state-of-the-art, 43,000-square-foot facility in the East West Industrial Park, located just minutes from Interstate 95.
The operations were moved during July and a formal opening celebration on Aug. 1, 1999, was attended by crowds of well-wishers and dignitaries, including Gov. Angus King. In addition to equipment moved from the original location, over half a million dollars was invested in new machinery to provide the latest in computer-controlled plasma cutting, forming and welding equipment. With the latest in modern equipment and a highly skilled workforce, Trans-Tech is able to produce products of the highest quality.
In 2003, the company acquired an adjacent 7,000-square-foot facility and relocated all of its small parts fabrications next door, providing more manufacturing capability within the main plant to accommodate the continuing increase in demand for its products.
The company has also purchased an additional four acres of adjacent land with tentative plans already on the drawing board to construct another facility of approximately 30,000 square feet, in anticipation of growth in demand for its aircraft refuelers, specialty highway trailers and bulk oil units that combine the capability of delivering bulk oil along with a rear section for package goods and 55-gallon drums.
Trans-Tech now manufactures a wide range of aluminum truck-mounted tanks ranging in size from 400 gallons to 6,000 gallons, and trailers ranging from 5,000 gallons to 10,000 gallons.
All tanks and trailers are designed and built to DOT 406 specifications and are marketed through a network of 34 distributors, extending on the East Coast from Maine to Florida and as far west as North Dakota. As a matter of policy, the company does not sell directly to end-users and believes the needs of the customer are better served by local experienced distributors who are in a position to quickly respond for service and customized equipment installations.
