PT&P History: The First Thirty-Five Years

Index | Acknowledgements | Milestones | Introduction | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Read More

Chapter 6: Leading the Industry Into the Next Century

"What we put in here is astounding and we have a good reason to be proud of it," said Larry Altshuler. "We are the best there is in the industry." Piping Technology & Products has accomplished a lot during the last twenty years of its history and looking back, there are many reasons for the firm to be proud. Over the years, the people of PT&P have continued to demonstrate the versatility, innovation, and determination that helped them build the firm into a thriving manufacturing business. The company survived strong competition and an industry slump to establish it's own niche and become one of the world leaders in the manufacture of pipe supports and other piping products. PT&P developed new manufacturing procedures and customized designs that enabled the company to lower costs, improve its products, and compete with better-established rivals. By 1997, PT&P had an impressive record on which to build as the company prepared for an era of international business in the 21st century.

ACQUISITION OF U.S. BELLOWS, INC.

Throughout the company's history, PT&P has continued to find new ways to diversify its product line. During July 1997, the company further expanded its expansion joints and bellows manufacturing capability through a major equipment acquisition from the Bird Machine Company. PT&P purchased the companies Ketema-US Bellows Division which had been based in Santee, California. The acquisition included the right to use the US Bellows name and ownership of the company's expansion joint and bellows manufacturing equipment. This included all of the bellows-making machinery, tools, physical assets, and inventory, designs, technical software, historical files, and purchase orders. Also part of the deal were associated copyrights, patents, and licenses, data, catalogues, artwork, customer files, and the marketing materials PT&P would need to provide service to Ketema-US Bellows customers.

PT&P products destined for the Pacific Rim including a large
constant for a power plant in China.

Special designed Big Ton for the Yukong FCC Project in
Ulkong, South Korea.

In 1995, PT&P had acquired expansion joint manufacturing equipment and know-how from RM Engineered Products. In 1997, the U.S.-Bellows acquisition increased PT&P's bellows capabilities and also enabled the company to diversify into a new field, the manufacturing of aluminium bellows. Thus, as Piping Technology prepares to begin its second twenty years in the piping industry, the company continues to find new markets in which to compete through a strategy of "intelligent diversification," that is, expansion into compatible areas of manufacturing.