PST is it going under (No, they aren't)

[ReeseTD]

Just go done with my Nitrox class and the instructor/own of the dive shop was talking about how PST might go under. He was saying that PST had a contract with... I think it was GMC or one of the big 3. Thy had a contract to make tanks for a new Hybred car and thy put alot of money into that line to make the first shippment. I guess thy missed the shipment and lost the contract. Now thy are having to eat the money thy spent on the contract.
Dos any one have more info... i realy hope this was just BS talk. I realy like PST tank and wish that i was in the place to be able to own a few. If its true i do hope that thy can still make it work!!

 

[OneBrightGator]

Sounds like a tall tale to me, but I suppose you never know. Thier new e-series tanks are about the best out there and are very popular, although I don't know if it'd be enough by itself to keep the company afloat.

Ben

 

[d33ps1x]

That would be a sad day. I'll have to buy a few more.

 

[drbill]

I hope not. However, I write to the owner (Mr. Darling) and directly asked the question whether PST would be financially sound. Never got an answer from him, but I'm sure he has much more important things to concern himself. However I'm not buying a PST tank until I hear where this goes.

Tivey, head of their SCUBA tank operations, is on the board. Hopefully he will give some clarification of the situation.

Dr. Bill

 

[Genesis]

That would be ugly.

The E9791 exemption has to be renewed every 2 years or the hydros expire on their next 5 year anniversary and cannot be re-done.

While someone may pick it up in this case, there is no guarantee that it would be picked up - and if it is not, then all the E9791 tanks would turn into pumpkins after their hydros run out.

If this happened to PST that would be the end of exempt tank sales. I suspect divers (and shops!) would demand only 3AA or 3AL tanks from then on, as that's the only way to protect against that kind of thing.

 

[Dryglove]

This would happen right after i went out and bought a set of pst E7 100 double tanks. Hopefully its just all a bad dream.

 

[Genesis]

I have several E9791 tanks, and I would be EXTREMELY unhappy if they turn out to be 5-year wonders.

PST had some funny stuff going on in West Allis (near Milwaukee) at one of their plants a while back - I don't know exactly what the story was, and some business associates I have in the general area were unable to run it down, but the rumor mill was going hog-wild for a bit - then it all settled down. Some kind of dispute with the city (zoning or code enforcement, or something similar)

I only hope that there isn't a problem with them as a "long term" player in this game - they've been around for an awfully long time maknig compressed gas cylinders of various kinds, and for them to get killed now would be really un-good, as they're the only steel scuba tank maker worth a damn for use in salt water, as they're the only ones with a hot-dip galvanized process.

 

[Bob3]

Yahey, West Allis was indeed after the lads to shut their plant down, they thought the old factory looked too "shabby" or whatever.
This was this past spring though, so I suppose some of the city fathers may have gotten over their cranial-rectal inversion.
You want I should ask my sister to see what the outcome was?

 

[Arnaud]

PST makes tanks for GM and Ford.

 

[Bob3]

Articles in the Milwaukee Journal, here's the 1st one regarding the RAZE order: http://www.jsonline.com/news/Metro/jan03/108961.asp

And then PST fighting back: http://www.jsonline.com/news/Metro/jan03/110754.asp

West Allis comes back with: http://www.jsonline.com/news/Metro/feb03/117475.asp

They're still there a year & a half later, here's a mention of layoffs: http://www.jsonline.com/bym/career/aug03/163640.asp

PST's allegations of the city trying to force them out of the building to keep from having to buy them out at fair market value are very typical of the way the city does "business".

Off hand I'd say reports of PST's pending "demise" are just unfounded scuttlebutt.