Stainless Tank & Equipment history

1946: The company is incorporated.

To support its growing business Mueller built a new 23,720-square-foot manufacturing plant in Springfield in 1950.

In 1960 the company began manufacturing stainless steel storage tanks.

Over the years, Mueller spawned a number of stainless steel fabricating companies, making Springfield in the eyes of some "Tank Town United StatesA." One of Paul Mueller's first employees, Milo Letsch, launched his own stainless steel company, Letsch Corp., in 1968.

Mueller went public in 1969, fueling further growth.

The energy squeeze of the 1970's allowed Winbco to further it's experience and capabilities by engineering and manufacturing to meet alternative fuel mandates.

Apache was founded in 1975, and stainless tanks were among the first products manufactured, The Large ASME tank group produces industrial tanks manufactured from stainless and other high alloys to exact customer specifications.

Art Rude, who worked for both Paul Mueller and Letsch, along with a pair of Letsch employees, launched Custom Metal Craft in 1976.

In 1978, Winbco manufactured Continuous Steep Tanks for the 1st Commercial Anhydrous Alcohol plant in the country.

In April 1982 Lawrence Mueller resigned, citing personal reasons, and was replaced on an interim basis by Daniel C. Manna, vice-president of engineering.

Two Paul Mueller employees then bought Letsch in 1984, and renamed it Precision Stainless Inc. to compete with Mueller in the custom stainless steel business.

In January 1987 the company acquired a water purification product line.

Owning 90 shares of stock, the union, with support from an institutional investor, attempted to elect a dissident member to the company's board of directors. It also attempted to have a shareholder rights plan, a "poison-pill provision" adopted in 1991, put to a vote.

Net income during this period bottomed out at $2.2 million in 1993.

In addition, in 1994 Mueller extended a license agreement with a Dutch company to manufacture and sell its dairy farm equipment in Europe.

A strike was launched in July 1995, with a varying number of workers out on strike at any particular time, as the union chose not to prevent nonstriking employees from working.

In February 1997 Mueller acquired property in downtown Springfield to build a microbrewery and brewpub, which opened in December of that year as the Springfield Brewing Company.

Launching Field Operations in 1998

The Contract Manufacturing group was created in 1999 to address customized fabrication needs for regional customers.

In 2000 the company was once again at odds with the Sheet Metal Workers union.

In 2001 the company finally reached a new agreement with the Sheet Metal Workers union, but because of a number of factors the company suffered a setback.

In 2003 the industrial equipment segment again led the way, with sales for the year approaching $92 million, a significant improvement over the $78.2 million recorded the prior year.

2006 – The existing plasma burner was replaced with a CNC Plasma Burn Table and a Haas Precision CNC Lathe was purchased.

2010 – A large capacity Omax Jet Machining Center was purchased allowing for improved processes and efficiencies.

2013 – Cost-savings and efficiencies were improved with the addition of a crane and yard truck with a 40’ trailer allowing large tanks to be moved around the facility without bringing in an outside vendor.

2015 – Our 1,800 square foot multipurpose building was completed, housing Quality Control, the Field Operations Manager, Maintenance Manager, Safety Manager and Marketing.

2016 – Fabrication equipment was purchased including a new Seam Welder and a Vertical CNC Machining Center.

2017 – Overhead crane installed in machine shop to service CNC machining center, CNC lathe and other equipment.

2020 - Sand blast room upgraded with a highly efficient reclaiming system.