User:GJeffSnyder/sandbox

The Snyder Tank Corporation was a USA steel and aluminum manufacturer of fuel tanks for trucks, from 1938 to 2002. Founded by the Mahlon "Mike" Snyder, it was once the largest independent manufacturer or fuel tanks for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the world. The company operated on Lake Shore Road in Hamburg, New York a suburb of Buffalo, New York with about 150 employees, plus plants in Springfield, Ohio and Chester, S.C. At the time of acquisition, the company had annual revenues of $45 million.

Founding and early years
Mike Snyder was a welder who worked for Buffalo Tank, a manufacturer of large, underground storage tanks. He was said to have developed a type of coated welding rod for a faster cleaner weld. After building some fuel tanks for himself and friends to extend the range of his truck he decided to start his own metal fabrication business. Snyder tank corporation primary business was building fuel tanks, compressed air tanks and bleachers.

Growth years
In 1961, after the death of Mahlon Snyder, the company was lead by his sons Gerald J. "Jerry" Snyder as president and T. James "Jimmy" Snyder as vice president. The company focused its efforts on Fuel Tanks for medium- and heavy-duty trucks that were becoming more regulated for explosion and fire safety. Their primary customers were truck manufacturers that did not build their own fuel tanks, International Harvester, Volvo, White Trucks and others.

Recession and Recovery
After posting its best years in 1973 and 1974 the industry was hit with a faltering economy, new regulations, and labor disputes. The company laid off employees and operated at 50% capacity for a year and a half. John Coleman was hired as General Manager. By 1977 with 220 employees and annual sales of close to $10 million, the company and industry recovered, rehiring laid off employees and running at 80% capacity.

Subsidiary Plants
Snyder Tank has operated sattelite sites in
 * Chester, South Carolina
 * Springfield, Ohio
 * Galeton, Pennsylvania (bleacher fabrication, 16 employees in 1977)
 * Sparks, Nevada (8 employees in 1977)

In addition to Fuel tanks and mounting hangers other products produced by Snyder Tank Corporation:


 * bleachers mostly for local high schools.
 * tanks for liquefied natural gas fuel systems. cryogenic tanks for liquefied natural gas for commercial vehicles.
 * compressed air tanks
 * military fuel tanks
 * Fifth-wheel coupling
 * Snow blower in 1947
 * heavy duty wheel sanders for trucks to use in the winter for good traction going uphill

Acquisition
On 17 November 1997 Snyder Tank Corporation was purchased by Kuhlman LLC, now part of BorgWarner, Inc. to be merged with its former competitor Kysor Michigan Fleet of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to become the industry's largest truck fuel tank manufacturer. Operations continued until 2002.