Southwest Tank and Steel

What Southwest Tank and Steel does

Southwest Tank and Steel is a privately held, women-owned specialty contractor founded in 1997 and headquartered in Camp Verde, Arizona. The firm provides turnkey services for aboveground storage tanks (ASTs), spanning new construction (field-erected and shop-fabricated to AWWA, API 650, and specialty standards), inspection (STI SP001, API 653, API 570, API 510), maintenance and repair (bottom, shell, and roof work, retrofits, relocations, specialty fabrications), and protective coatings and linings (NACE/SSPC inspectors). It also offers Tank Life Management programs — recurring maintenance, inspection, and coating cycles — and technical piping and systems work such as alarm piping and stilling wells. Technologically, the firm relies on industry-standard engineering practice and certified NDE equipment rather than proprietary platforms, with depth concentrated in in-house inspector credentials and 30+ years of combined team experience.

The company serves three primary verticals: municipal water utilities (AWWA-compliant potable and fire-protection storage), industrial and fuel storage operators (API 650 fuel and industrial liquid tanks), and mining operations (large-capacity tanks for process water, slurry, and fuel reserves); a documented customer reference includes FMI Morenci for mining-related MOL tank construction. The operating footprint covers Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and North Dakota under respective ROC licenses, and sales is a project-based, quote-driven enterprise field-sales motion with no publicly disclosed pricing or SaaS/recurring component beyond maintenance contracts.

The business model is project-based professional services and one-time construction, with no disclosed subscription or recurring managed-service revenue beyond tank life management programs. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company remains founder/management-owned under CEO Vikki Church and President Richard Church, with no outside investors, parent, or M&A activity on record.

Name

Southwest Tank and Steel

Legal name

Southwest Tank & Steel Inc.

Website

https://southwesttank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southwest Tank and Steel is a women-owned specialty contractor founded in 1997 in Camp Verde, Arizona, providing aboveground storage tank construction, inspection, repair, and coating services for municipal water utilities, industrial operators, and mining companies in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and North Dakota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aboveground Storage Tank Services

NAICS

Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction (23712), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711)

akta.pro primary industry

Tank, Vessel & Pipeline Inspection/Cleaning/Repair (API/ASME) (IMAIACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Storage Tank Inspection (AST/UST) (EUAEAHAC), Tank, Pipeline & Marine Coating Services (Lining/Wrapping) (IMAIAKAJ)

Keywords

• Aboveground storage tanks
• Tank inspection services
• Tank construction services
• Protective coatings linings
• Tank repair maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Camp Verde

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. New Tank Construction Services: Field and shop-erected storage tank construction to AWWA, API, and specialty design specifications. Includes full design, detailing, engineering, civil and mechanical work, painting and all tank-related services. Revenue generated through project-based contracts.
2. Tank Inspection & Testing Services: Inspection services using NDE equipment with STI SP001 and API 653 certified inspectors. Includes vacuum testing, weld inspection, and condition evaluations for repair, upgrade, and maintenance decisions.
3. Repair & Rehabilitation Services: Bottom repairs, shell repairs, roof work, retrofits, structural modifications, and life-extension work for tanks in service. Specializes in specialty fabrications and special design engineering work.
4. Protective Coatings & Linings Services: Interior and exterior coating systems, surface preparation, lining application for tanks, vessels, piping and metal structures. Includes multi-coat systems and rehabilitation support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Southwest Tank and Steel provides aboveground storage tank (AST) services including field-erected and shop-fabricated new tank construction to AWWA, API 650, and specialty design standards, certified inspection services using NDE equipment, repair and rehabilitation (bottom, shell, roof, retrofits), and protective coatings and linings applications. The company delivers turnkey project solutions spanning design, engineering, fabrication, civil and mechanical work, painting, and ongoing tank life management programs.

Product overview

Southwest Tank and Steel provides a comprehensive suite of aboveground storage tank services organized around five core offerings: New Tank Construction (field and shop-erected tanks meeting AWWA, API 650, and specialty standards), Inspection Services (NDE equipment with STI SP001 and API 653 certified inspectors), Maintenance & Repairs (bottom/shell/roof repairs, relocation, specialty fabrications), Protective Coatings & Linings (industrial coating applications with certified inspectors), and Tank Life Management (ongoing maintenance programs). Technical Piping & Systems services including alarm piping and stilling wells complement the construction and repair offerings. The company operates as a single integrated service provider rather than a modular software platform, delivering turnkey solutions from design through construction, inspection, coating, and ongoing maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Tank Construction Field-erected and shop-fabricated aboveground storage tank construction meeting AWWA, API 650, and specialty design specifications. Includes full design, detailing, engineering, civil and mechanical work, painting, and all tank-related services. Target customers include municipal water utilities, industrial and fuel storage operators, and mining operations.
• Inspection Services Aboveground storage tank inspections using the latest NDE equipment, conducted by fully qualified STI SP001 and API 653 certified inspectors. Includes engineering evaluations per API 653 (tank inspection), API 570 (piping inspection), and API 510 (pressure vessel inspection), as well as vacuum testing, weld inspection, and condition evaluations supporting repair, upgrade, and maintenance decisions.
• Maintenance & Repairs Tank repair and maintenance services covering bottom replacements, shell repairs, roof repairs and replacements, tank relocation, fittings and appurtenances, special design and engineering work, specialty fabrications, retrofits, structural modifications, and life-extension work for tanks already in service.
• Protective Coatings & Linings Interior and exterior coating systems, surface preparation, lining application, and rehabilitation support for tanks, vessels, piping, and related steel assets. Multi-coat systems are applied and inspected by NACE and SSPC certified inspectors experienced in selecting appropriate coating systems for various service environments.
• Tank Life Management Comprehensive tank maintenance programs bundling maintenance planning, cleaning, inspections, repair, testing, and coatings services designed to meet specific facility needs and extend tank operational life.
• Technical Piping & Systems Installation of alarm piping, appurtenance piping, technical support systems, and related tank components including stilling wells and high/low alarm pipe systems, delivered as part of complete facility scope for aboveground storage tanks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Excellent EMR (Experience Modification Rate) rating indicating superior safety performance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• NACE InternationalminorOthersCorporate membership in NACE International (National Association of Corrosion Engineers). Access to corrosion engineering resources, standards, and certified inspector training programs. Company employs NACE-certified inspectors for coating inspection services.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)minorOthersMember organization supporting AWWA standards for water storage tank design and construction. Company specializes in AWWA-compliant water storage tank installations and repairs.
• SSPC (The Society for Protective Coatings)minorOthersSSPC Corporate Member with certified SSPC inspectors on staff for industrial coating and surface preparation services. Company maintains SSPC standards compliance for coating applications.
• STI SPFA (Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association)minorOthersMember organization providing access to STI standards, training, and certification programs. Company employs STI SP001 certified inspectors for aboveground storage tank inspections.
• AMPP (Association for Materials Protection and Performance)minorOthersCorporate member of AMPP supporting materials protection and performance standards. Access to industry guidelines for coating and lining applications on storage tanks and vessels.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Matrix Service Company: Public, much larger industrial services contractor (MTRX) with a dedicated storage-solutions business covering new AST construction, inspection, repair, and tank products. Comparable as a direct service-line peer; relevant to Southwest Tank for competitive benchmarking on larger bid opportunities.
• CB&I (Chicago Bridge & Iron / McDermott storage solutions): Historically the dominant global builder of large welded storage tanks for oil & gas and terminals. Represents the upper-scale competitive threat on large-diameter AST projects; relevant for understanding the competitive ceiling Southwest Tank faces.

Direct peers

• Caldwell Tanks: Mid-sized U.S. tank constructor specializing in AWWA-compliant elevated and ground-storage water tanks. Direct peer to Southwest Tank's municipal water storage tank construction and repair line, with overlapping customer base (municipal water utilities).
• Fisher Tank Company: U.S. steel tank fabricator and field erector with new construction, repair, and relocation services for ASTs. Comparable in scale, service mix, and customer profile (industrial, municipal, mining).
• Tank Connection: Designer, manufacturer, and erector of bolted and welded storage tanks serving industrial, energy, and water markets. Comparable in product breadth (bolted RTP, field-weld, shop-fab) and end-market exposure.
• Superior Tank & Steel: Regional tank fabricator and erector offering shop- and field-built steel storage tanks plus repair and modification services. Closely matches Southwest Tank's combined new-construction and field-service offering for industrial and municipal customers.
• Pioneer Tank & Steel: Regional tank services contractor offering field-erected steel tank construction, repair, and modification. Closely matches Southwest Tank's size, regional scope, and service mix.
• Preferred Tank & Tower: Privately held tank and tower services company providing new construction, modification, inspection, and maintenance of water storage tanks. Direct peer on municipal water tank work with overlapping service scope.

Emerging players

• DN Tanks: Specialty prestressed concrete tank builder focused on water and wastewater storage. Adjacent peer in the municipal water storage market; competes for the same AWWA water utility capex dollars on larger-diameter jobs.

Regional players

• Pittsburgh Tank & Tower: Multi-state tank services company providing new construction, inspection, maintenance, and coatings of water storage tanks. Comparable on the inspection and coatings service lines, primarily serving markets east of the Mississippi.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthwestTankAndSteelInc

Compliance4 records

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 Southwest Tank and Steel