KTA-Tator history

In 1954, the company moved from the basement of the Tator residence to a nearby house, converting it to office space.

In 1961, the company pioneered the concept of independent coatings inspection services, primarily in chemical plants.

In 1962, KTA started selling coatings inspection instruments – primarily two different types of dry film thickness gages.

Although Ken Tator had worked with his father during the summers as a teenager, it wasn’t until a few months earlier (in October 1968) that he had come to KTA full time.

Later in 1969, following in his father’s footsteps and example for innovation, Ken entered the training business, providing KTA’s first coatings education courses.

In 1971, KTA expanded the inspection services into nuclear construction.

In 1973, the physical testing laboratory expanded into analytical chemistry work with the purchase of a microscope, an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and an Infrared Spectrometer.

In 1978, the company was incorporated as KTA-Tator, Associates, Inc.

The company outgrew the house and in 1981 moved into a new 2-story, 12,000 square foot office building at our current location in the RIDC Park West, not far from the Pittsburgh International Airport.

In 1986, the concepts for the KTA CAPP® System (Coating Assessment and Painting Priority System) were formalized when working on a state-wide bridge coating condition assessment contract.

Industrial Lead Paint Removal Handbook In 1988, in response to Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) regulations for abrasive blast cleaning, KTA began providing high volume ambient air monitoring services.

The division expanded considerably in 1994 as described later.

Employed with KTA since 2006, she is heavily involved in coating failure investigation and comparative coating testing services.

Previously, various groups within the company had operated under their own programs, such as nuclear inspection and laboratory services, but it was time to consolidate existing programs into a global QMS. After nearly 2 years of development, our companywide QMS was initiated on January 1, 2009.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Mercyhurst University, has had several articles published in JPCL and was featured inJPCL’s 2015 annual bonus edition, “Coatings Professionals: The Next Generation.”