Manchester Tank & Equipment Co

What Manchester Tank & Equipment Co does

Manchester Tank & Equipment Co. is a Franklin, Tennessee-based manufacturer of low-pressure steel and aluminum DOT cylinders and ASME pressure vessels, founded in 1946 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of McWane, LLC since 1999. The company's core products span propane tanks (5-lb portable cylinders through 1,000-gallon horizontal domestic vessels), industrial compressed-air receivers (up to 5,000+ gallons), and chemical/industrial cylinders including fire suppression, refrigerant, forklift, and welding applications. Following the June 2024 acquisition of Ditech Testing, the company also operates tank refurbishment, recertification, and asset management services through facilities in New Brunswick and Alberta, Canada.

Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales to a network of US propane equipment distributors and industrial OEMs, supplemented by professional services from the Ditech refurbishment business. The company employs a hybrid go-to-market: distributor/channel sales dominate the US propane market, while a direct sales team now serves the Canadian market following the December 2025 transition away from National Energy & Equipment. Product lines include the premium "Manchester PRO Line" featuring Rotarex Bluetooth-enabled smart valves and electronic capacitance gauges, and the cost-focused "Mainline Series." Manufacturing operations span four main facilities (Franklin, TN; Campbellsville, KY; Quincy, IL; Lethbridge and Scoudouc, Canada) plus a Sri City, India plant serving international LPG and industrial markets.

The company's technology stack is centered on certified metal fabrication and, more recently, IoT-enabled tank monitoring via third-party Rotarex gauges with plug-and-play telemetry compatibility. Distribution is supported by an industry trade-show presence (GAWDA), an active LinkedIn channel, a redesigned corporate website with published informational pricing, and an interactive tank configuration tool. Leadership is anchored by President Jordan de Lima, with Kevin Bense serving as Executive Vice President alongside his Group President role for McWane Waterworks; the senior team includes VPs covering Operations, Finance, Sales, and Supply Chain.

Name

Manchester Tank & Equipment Co

Legal name

Manchester Tank & Equipment Co.

Website

https://mantank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Manchester Tank & Equipment Co., founded in 1946 and owned by McWane, LLC, manufactures steel and aluminum propane cylinders, compressed-air receivers, and industrial pressure vessels, serving propane distributors and industrial OEMs across North America with growing refurbishment and smart-tank services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pressure Vessel Manufacturing

NAICS

Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing (33242), Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing (332420), Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing (3324), Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533), Fabricated Plate Work (Boiler Shops) (3443)

akta.pro primary industry

Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems MRO (Cylinders, Pumps, Valves, Hoses) (TLAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Pressure vessel manufacturing
• Propane tank production
• Compressed air receivers
• Industrial cylinder manufacturing
• Tank refurbishment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tank and Cylinder Manufacturing: Manufacturing and sale of steel and aluminum low-pressure DOT cylinders and ASME pressure vessels for propane, compressed air, chemical and industrial applications. Products include portable propane tanks, forklift cylinders, horizontal domestic tanks, air receivers, and fire suppression cylinders.
2. Tank Refurbishment and Recertification: Through acquired Ditech Testing, provides tank refurbishment, recertification, and asset management services. Includes hydrostatic testing, repairs, painting, valve installation, and logistics management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Manchester Tank designs and manufactures steel and aluminum low-pressure DOT cylinders and ASME pressure vessels for propane, compressed air, chemical, and industrial applications, with tank sizes ranging from 5-pound portable cylinders to 5,000+ gallon industrial receivers. Following the 2024 acquisition of Ditech Testing, the company also provides tank refurbishment, hydrostatic recertification, valve installation, and GPS-tracked asset management services covering units from 33 lbs to 2,000 gallons.

Product overview

Manchester Tank & Equipment Co is a manufacturer and refurbisher of low-pressure steel and aluminum DOT cylinders and ASME pressure vessels. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio organized around three core product lines: Propane Tanks (including horizontal LP gas tanks, vertical tanks, and DOT cylinders), Compressed Air/Air Receivers, and Chemical & Industrial products (including fire suppression cylinders, forklift cylinders, refrigerant cylinders, and welding cylinders). The company operates two sub-brands: the premium Manchester PRO Line featuring enhanced technology like Rotarex Smart Valves with Bluetooth-enabled gauges, and the cost-effective Mainline Series. Following the 2024 acquisition of Ditech Testing, Manchester Tank now offers full lifecycle services including tank refurbishment, recertification, and asset management with GPS-tracked logistics. Products serve residential, commercial, and industrial applications in propane, compressed air, and chemical sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manchester PRO Line: Superior quality propane tanks with enhanced design and technology featuring Rotarex smart valve and electronic gauges.
• Ditech

Products and services

• Propane Tanks Low-pressure steel and aluminum DOT cylinders and ASME pressure vessels for safe storage and transport of propane, available in sizes from 5 lb to 1,000+ gallons for residential, commercial, and industrial use.
• Compressed Air Receivers Steel pressure vessels and air receivers for industrial compressed air systems, available in vertical and horizontal configurations from 1 gallon to 5,000+ gallons.
• Chemical and Industrial Tanks Pressure vessels designed for chemical and industrial applications including refrigerant cylinders, industrial welding cylinders, and fire suppression cylinders.
• Horizontal LP Gas Tanks ASME domestic horizontal propane tanks for aboveground, underground, and combined AG-UG installations, ranging from 120 to 1,000 gallons, manufactured at the Campbellsville, KY facility opened in 2020.
• Manchester PRO Line Premium enhanced tank series featuring the Rotarex Smart Valve with Bluetooth-enabled ELG gauge, liquid withdrawal valve, premium epoxy primer and polyurethane topcoat, custom lids, and branded vinyl labels.
• Mainline Series Quality-focused yet cost-effective tank series featuring Mainline valve options and premium powder coat paint application, customizable through the Tank Configuration Tool.
• Forklift Cylinders Steel and aluminum forklift cylinders for liquid petroleum fuel applications, available in 20 lb, 33.5 lb, and 43.5 lb sizes.
• Tank Refurbishment and Recertification Services Through the acquired Ditech Testing operations, Manchester Tank provides hydrostatic testing, repairs, painting, valve installation, and logistics services for DOT cylinders and ASME tanks, with services authorized by Transport Canada and the Canadian Gas Association.
• Asset Management and Logistics Services Turnkey asset management system including unique barcoding, GPS-tracked fleet, online account management, and dedicated logistics for tank and cylinder tracking, certification management, and inventory management.
• Fire Suppression Cylinders Steel pressure vessels for fire suppression applications, compliant with applicable safety standards and intended for fire equipment distributors and fire protection OEMs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced footprint: tank diameter decreased from 48 to 41 inches on 1000-gallon air receivers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ditech TestingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Manchester Tank acquired the tank refurbishment and recertification business of Ditech Testing in June 2024. Ditech, founded in 1997 by Dan Leblanc, had grown tank refurbishment and recertification operations in New Brunswick and Alberta, Canada over 25+ years. The acquisition enabled Manchester Tank to expand from new tank manufacturing into full product lifecycle services including refurbishment, recertification, and asset management.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Worthington Enterprises: Worthington Enterprises (NYSE: WOR) is a leading global manufacturer of pressure cylinders (propane, compressed gas, refrigerant, fire suppression) and a direct competitor to Manchester Tank in DOT cylinders, ASME pressure vessels, and propane tanks across North America.
• Norris Cylinder: Norris Cylinder is a long-standing manufacturer of high-pressure and low-pressure gas cylinders (propane, acetylene, oxygen) directly competing with Manchester Tank in industrial and specialty gas cylinders.
• Luxfer Gas Cylinders: Luxfer Holdings (NYSE: LXFR) manufactures high-pressure aluminum and composite gas cylinders used in firefighting, medical, and specialty gas applications, directly comparable to Manchester Tank's DOT cylinder and aluminum forklift cylinder lines.
• Catalina Cylinders: Catalina Cylinders manufactures aluminum and steel gas cylinders for propane, autogas, and industrial gases, a direct competitor in aluminum forklift cylinders and portable propane tanks.

Emerging players

• Flame King: Flame King is a smaller, fast-growing manufacturer of propane tanks, cylinders, and accessories, competing with Manchester Tank at the consumer and RV/propane-cylinder end of the market with a more retail-oriented GTM.
• Rexarc International: Rexarc International manufactures acetylene cylinders and gas welding equipment, overlapping with Manchester Tank's chemical/industrial cylinder line and serving a similar industrial customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Chart Industries: Chart Industries (NYSE: GTLS) is a broad industrial gas equipment incumbent making cryogenic and process gas equipment; it overlaps with Manchester Tank in industrial and specialty gas pressure vessels but operates a much wider portfolio.

Others

• Amerex Corporation: Amerex Corporation is a McWane sister company that manufactures fire extinguishers and fire suppression equipment, making it a portfolio-adjacent peer that uses comparable steel pressure vessels and competes indirectly in the fire suppression cylinder market.
• Worthington Steel: Worthington Steel (NYSE: WS) is a steel processing company that supplies the flat-rolled steel Manchester Tank and other pressure-vessel manufacturers use as primary raw material, making it a key upstream supplier and ecosystem peer.
• Blue Rhino (Ferrellgas Partners): Blue Rhino is the largest propane tank exchange brand in the US, a downstream customer/ecosystem partner for Manchester Tank's portable propane cylinders rather than a direct manufacturer competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ManchesterTank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manchester-tank-and-equipment

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Manchester Tank & Equipment Co