Corporate History

In 1982, Advance Tank and Construction was founded in Cheyenne, Wyoming by Scott and Spence Van Alsburg. Shortly thereafter Advance Tank moved its corporate headquarters to the Front Range of Northern Colorado. Scott Van Alsburg worked under his father Spence Van Alsburg from the age of thirteen when Spence started Prairie Tank. Spence had gained years of tank and vessel experience while working as a domestic and international site engineer for Chicago Bridge & Iron and the General Manager of Construction for GATX.

1968-1978

Opening its doors in 1968, Prairie Tank’s business consisted of the new construction and repair of tanks and plate structures in the refineries,chemical plants, and industrial infrastructure of the Midwest and Gulf Coast. Clients included Shell, Mobil, Exxon, Texaco, BP, Dow Chemical, and Proctor and Gamble. Prairie Tank was also one of the premier municipal tank builders in the Midwest.

1978-1988

Between 1968 and 1980, Prairie Tank and Construction grew rapidly and added offices in Beaumont, Texas – Pell City, Alabama – Perris, California – and Denver, CO. Then in the 1980’s, when there was a decrease in union work Spence Van Alsburg saw an opening for a merit shop operation and moved Scott out to the West to begin Advance Tank and Construction Company.

1988-1998

From 1982 until today, Advance Tank has continued to serve the needs of Industrial Clients in the lower 48 states and Alaska. Today we operate out of three offices, two fabrication facilities and maintain field crews throughout the country. Advance Tank has developed four distinct divisions; Industrial Services, Maintenance and Repair, Hydro Construction, and Manufacturing.

1998-Present

Through both the boom and bust cycles of the last 50 years, Advance Tank and its subsidiary Prairie Tank have maintained the same family ownership and leadership because they are built on good business practices, exceptional customer services, and the ability to adapt to the changing market place. Today we remain as one of the oldest Tank companies in the United States and are recognized as one of the “premier tank builders” in the United States.