What Protanic does

Protanic Inc. is a Saukville, Wisconsin-based petroleum compliance and storage tank testing company founded in 1972 by William Purpora and Dave Beets, predating the establishment of federal underground storage tank (UST) regulations. The company provides EPA-mandated compliance testing, tank and line leak detection using proprietary Petro-Tite equipment and helium pinpointing methodologies, cathodic protection services, fuel polishing, and tank cleaning. Its technology stack centers on physical field-testing instruments (Petro-Tite Line Tester, helium leak pinpointing, multi-threshold leak detectors at 3 gal/h, 0.2 gal/h, and 0.1 gal/h sensitivities) along with a web-based monitoring product called MyTankGauge that delivers 12 months of ATG inventory and compliance data.

Protanic serves retail fuel station operators, multi-site corporate fuel retailers, municipalities, and industrial/commercial fuel storage operators across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Customers reach the company through direct sales contact via a website form and an 800-number. Named enterprise customers include Kroger, Kwik Trip, Thorntons, Caseys, Road Ranger, Food 4 Less, and Transcanada; the State of Illinois DOT is a government reference account. Recurring compliance work, including containment testing, ATG/sensor certification, vapor recovery/NESHAP testing, monthly and annual inspections, and overfill prevention device inspection, forms the revenue base, complemented by cathodic protection, construction/repair, fuel polishing, and ancillary product sales (FUELSTAT test kits, Fuel Right additives).

Since June 2021, Protanic has operated as a subsidiary of Stenstrom Petroleum Services Group, serving as the group's compliance division. It maintains affiliated-company relationships with Purpora Engineering (equipment and training) and Evora Energy (Iowa service and construction), and a training partnership with UST Training. The company employs 11-50 people with a sales-led, field-service-oriented go-to-market model.

Name

Protanic

Legal name

Protanic Inc.

Website

https://protanicinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Protanic is a Midwest-based storage tank testing company providing EPA compliance testing, leak detection, cathodic protection, and tank servicing for retail fuel operators, corporate clients, and municipalities across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Petroleum Storage Tank Compliance Testing

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Process Safety & Relief Systems (Flare Systems, PRVs, Explosion Protection) (IMAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Underground storage tank testing
• Petroleum compliance services
• Leak detection testing
• Cathodic protection services
• Fuel polishing cleaning

Headquarters

HQ city

Saukville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Compliance Testing Services: Recurring compliance testing services including containment testing, ATG certification, vapor recovery testing, monthly/annual inspections, and overfill device testing for underground storage tanks.
2. Tank, Line & Leak Detector Testing: Volumetric tank tests, precision line tests using Petro-Tite equipment, leak detector testing at multiple sensitivity thresholds (3 gal/h, 0.2 gal/h, 0.1 gal/h), and troubleshooting services using helium pinpointing.
3. Cathodic Protection Services: Testing, construction, repairs, and troubleshooting for impressed and sacrificial anode cathodic protection systems, including rectifier monitoring.
4. Fuel Polishing & Tank Cleaning: Fuel polishing services using specialized equipment to circulate, filter, and purify fuel, removing particulate matter and water to maintain fuel quality.
5. Construction Services: Construction and repair services for cathodic protection systems and other petroleum industry infrastructure.
6. Product Sales: Sales of complementary products including MyTankGauge monitoring systems, FUELSTAT microbial contamination test kits, and Fuel Right fuel treatment additives.
7. Operator Training: Partnership with UST Training to provide online Class A/B and C UST operator training for customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Protanic is a specialized field-services company that performs EPA-mandated compliance testing and maintenance for underground storage tanks (USTs) at fuel stations, corporate accounts, and municipal facilities. Its core work includes containment testing, ATG certification, vapor recovery testing, monthly/annual inspections, volumetric and line leak detection using Petro-Tite equipment, helium pinpointing, cathodic protection, and fuel polishing, supplemented by related products such as MyTankGauge, FUELSTAT test kits, and Fuel Right additives.

Product overview

Protanic offers a portfolio of testing services and complementary products for the petroleum industry. The core service offering includes EPA compliance testing (containment, ATG/sensor, vapor recovery, inspections, overfill prevention), tank and line leak detection testing (using Petro-Tite equipment and helium pinpointing), cathodic protection services, and fuel polishing/tank cleaning. This service suite is complemented by three product offerings: MyTankGauge (web-based ATG inventory monitoring), FUELSTAT Microbial Contamination Test Kit (fuel quality testing in partnership with Conidia Bioscience), and Fuel Right (ULSD fuel treatment). The company also provides UST operator training through a partnership with UST Training. Protanic positions itself as a one-stop-shop for regulatory testing, service/repair, and construction services across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Compliance Testing Services EPA-mandated compliance testing including containment testing, ATG/sensor testing, vapor recovery/NESHAP testing, monthly and annual inspections, and overfill prevention device inspection. Targeted at fuel stations, corporate clients, and municipalities operating underground storage tanks.
• Tank, Line & Leak Detector Testing Volumetric tank testing (ullage and liquid area portions), precision line testing using Petro-Tite equipment, leak detector testing at multiple thresholds (3 gal/h, 0.2 gal/h, 0.1 gal/h), and helium pinpointing troubleshooting. Targeted at fuel retailers and industrial facilities needing leak detection.
• Cathodic Protection Services Testing, construction, repairs, and troubleshooting for Impressed and Sacrificial Anode cathodic protection systems, including rectifier monitoring. Targeted at UST owners needing corrosion control for buried tanks and piping.
• Fuel Polishing/Tank Cleaning Specialized fuel polishing process using dedicated equipment to circulate, filter, and purify stored fuel, removing particulate matter and water to maintain fuel quality. Targeted at operators of fuel storage tanks seeking fuel quality maintenance.
• MyTankGauge Web-based inventory and compliance monitoring solution that provides electronic access to Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG) data with a rolling 12-month history. Targeted at fuel station operators and corporate fuel accounts needing remote tank monitoring.
• FUELSTAT Microbial Contamination Test Kit Quick-response test kit for detecting microbial contamination in diesel fuel, offered in partnership with Conidia Bioscience. Targeted at fuel storage operators needing fast on-site microbial testing.
• Fuel Right Fuel treatment additive formulated for Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) blends that dissolves existing sludge, prevents new sludge growth, protects against corrosion, and prevents fuel line freeze-ups. Targeted at diesel storage operators.
• UST Operator Training Online Class A/B and C UST operator training programs delivered through a partnership with UST Training. Targeted at fuel station staff requiring federally mandated operator certification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Helium pinpointing locates leaks within inches, saving $20k-$100k in excavation costs compared to digging up entire stations

Named customers12 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UST TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtanic has partnered with UST Training, a nationally recognized underground storage tank training provider, to offer online Class A/B and C UST operator training for Protanic's valued customers. This partnership enables Protanic to provide comprehensive training alongside their testing and compliance services.
• Purpora EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurpora Engineering, co-founded by William Purpora, provides equipment for tank and pipeline testing and training. The company offers My Tank Gauge for inventory monitoring. Protanic and Purpora share historical ties through the Purpora family and were both acquired by Stenstrom in 2021.
• Evora EnergyminorOthersEvora Energy, headquartered in Central Iowa, specializes in Service, Construction, and Compliance for the petroleum industry. Listed as an affiliated company providing prompt, professional solutions for fuel dispensing operations throughout the Midwest.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Patriot Environmental Services: Patriot provides UST/AST compliance testing, fuel system services, and environmental response to retail fuel and commercial customers. Comparable in size and service mix to Protanic.
• Tanknology: Tanknology is the largest UST compliance testing company in North America, offering tank, line, and leak detector testing plus vapor recovery services to retail fuel and industrial customers. It is the most direct nationwide competitor to Protanic's core service line.
• SWS Environmental Services: SWS Environmental Services provides UST/AST testing, cathodic protection, and environmental compliance services to fuel retailers and industrial operators. It overlaps directly with Protanic's compliance testing and cathodic protection offerings.
• United States Compliance Companies (USCC): USCC specializes in regulatory compliance testing for underground storage tanks, including line leak detection, cathodic protection, and ATG certification. Its service portfolio and target customer base align closely with Protanic's.
• AEG Environmental Services: AEG provides UST compliance testing, leak detection, and tank services to retail fuel and industrial accounts. Its core service line mirrors Protanic's tank, line, and leak detector testing business.

Regional players

• Northeast Petroleum Industries: Northeast Petroleum provides UST compliance, fuel system installation, and service to retail fuel customers primarily across the Northeastern US. Comparable services to Protanic but a different geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Nalco Water (Ecolab): Nalco Water, an Ecolab division, provides industrial water and fuel treatment services including microbial contamination control for fuel systems. It is a broad incumbent with adjacent (and partly overlapping) fuel quality and additive offerings to Protanic's FUELSTAT and Fuel Right product lines.
• Franklin Fueling Systems: Franklin Fueling is a major manufacturer of fuel dispensing and tank monitoring equipment, including ATGs and line leak detectors. It is a broad incumbent whose installed base Protanic services and tests, making it both a supplier ecosystem member and an indirect competitor in compliance monitoring.

Others

• Stenstrom Petroleum Services Group: Stenstrom is Protanic's parent company and provides construction, excavation, and real estate services to the petroleum industry. As a sister/parent entity, it is a strategic ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but a key channel for cross-sell.
• Conidia Bioscience: Conidia Bioscience manufactures the FUELSTAT microbial contamination test kit, which Protanic resells. As a technology partner, Conidia is an ecosystem participant enabling Protanic's product revenue stream.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protanic-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Protanic