Why Did Acrylic Tank Manufacturing Close?

Acrylic Tank Manufacturing was the king brand of all aquarium tanks in the early 70’s. This company was on top of its game. Many foreign and domestic competitors envied as it become the leading creators of aquariums and other acrylic products. With over 200 projects a year, acrylic tank manufacturing made tanks that ranged from 50 gallons , 200 gallons to even a million gallon capacity. But, this alone could not keep this company a float. So, why did acrylic tank manufacturing close?

Acrylic tank manufacturing closed in 2020 because of the high operating cost, low labor productivity and lack of skilled labor. The company was unable to compete with other manufacturers who produced acrylic tanks at lower cost.

In this article, I will explore the following;

• What happened with this company
• Highlight what we can learn from it as aquarium enthusiasts
• And, provide alternatives for anyone looking to buy acrylic tank in the future

But first, let’s take a close look at a little history of Acrylic Tank Manufacturing.

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Acrylic Tank Manufacturing

Acrylic Tank Manufacturing started operations in 1970 by Wayde King and Brett Raymer. It involved creating aquariums and other types of tanks using acrylic, a type of plastic known for its clarity, strength, and resistance to impact and scratches.

The tanks were molded and shaped into a wide variety of sizes and designs, and were often used for home aquariums, public aquariums, and research facilities. This company became popular as it delivered to clients worldwide. However, in 2020, Acrylic Tank Manufacturing Closed its doors and ceased operations.

Reasons Why Acrylic Tank Manufacturing Closed

There are many reasons why Acrylic Tank Manufacturing Closed. Here are some of them:

1. The company was not profitable

Right off the bat were relatively low profits. The company was not profitable enough to stay afloat. The main reason for this is that the price of acrylic sheets has been rising in recent years as a result of increased demand and limited supply. This made this company’s products(ATM) not competitive to survive in an ever competitive market.

Additionally, it was losing money and did not have the funds to pay its creditors and continue operations. This also contributed to acrylic manufacturing having a lot of debt( we all know bad debt is very bad for business) as there was no way for it to pay back its creditors without an influx of cash or an increase in revenue. Apparently, it had to shut down its doors.

Related Reading: Can Cricut Maker Cut Acrylic?

2. Poor Quality Products

Let’s say for example; when you manufacture a product, it is important that you have good quality control procedures in place so that your products do not contain any defects or flaws in them when they leave the factory. It is also important that you have good testing procedures so that you can ensure that the quality of your products remains high throughout the production process.

If this is not done then there is a chance that some of your products will be faulty and therefore unusable by customers. This can lead to loss of revenue as well as bad publicity for your company which could harm its reputation. This is actually what happened to Acrylic tank Manufacturing and tanked owners. According to Orlando Sentinel, Acrylic Manufacturing was slapped with a lawsuit by Oliver Dawoud for not delivering acrylic tank ordered online.

Furthermore, it had been sued for damages by clients who were injured due to the poor quality of their product. This could have also contributed to the fact that they were not profitable and were forced to close down their doors.

3. Poor Management Skills

Poor management is another major contributing factor to the closure of the ATM company. The company’s lack of reputation with customers and poor performance of the sales team is likely to have resulted in a loss of customers. The inability of the sales team to keep customers happy and satisfied, as well as the lack of effective marketing, further exacerbates this problem. This led to a decrease in sales and revenue for the company, making it difficult for the company to sustain itself and stay a float.

4.Lack of Marketing

When you’re a small business owner, you have to wear many hats including marketing skills. If you don’t know how to market your business, your sales will never grow. Acrylic Tank Manufacturing was faced with this issue. They thought they could manufacture their products and then sit back and wait for orders to come in.

This tells us that they did not have enough knowledge about marketing techniques and tactics when it comes to selling their products in the market which resulted in low brand awareness and customer recognition. This alone led to its down fall. If they had marketed their acrylic products enough, maybe they would still be in business now and have more customers.

5. The Company Failed to Deliver on Time

The company promised their customers that they would deliver the products on time. However, they failed to do so, which caused many customers to lose trust in them and cancel incoming orders. (It cited manufacturing delays as the reason for the delay in delivery. However, some customers received their orders after three months in waiting).

In this scenario, the company’s failure to deliver products on time as promised caused significant damage to their reputation with customers. Customers felt misled and betrayed by the company, which can lead to a loss of trust and loyalty. This highly resulted in customers cancelling their orders and choosing to do business with other companies instead.

The company’s explanation of manufacturing delays as the reason for the delay was seen as an excuse, rather than a valid reason, by customers who have been waiting for months for their orders. Additionally, the long wait time for delivery also led to frustration.

In order to regain the trust of customers and mitigate the damage to their reputation, acrylic tank manufacturing should have addressed the issues causing the delays and make a sincere effort to improve communication and transparency with their customers.

6. Bad Reputation With Customers

Acrylic tank manufacturing companies are known to have a bad reputation with customers. They had received numerous complaints about their products and services and did nothing about it. A bad reputation with customers had significant negative effects on a business. It led to a decrease in customer trust and loyalty, which resulted in a loss of sales and revenue. Negative word-of-mouth and online reviews also made it more difficult for this company to attract new customers. This was another one big major hit on ATM.

Why Acrylic Tank Manufacturing Closed In Summary

• Lack of demand
• Increased competition: As the market becomes more saturated with manufacturers, it can become increasingly difficult for this company to compete and remain profitable.
• Difficulty obtaining raw materials: If the price of acrylic increases or the supply becomes scarce, it can become more difficult and expensive for manufacturers to produce their tanks.
• Financial mismanagement
• Technological advancement: With the advent of new technology, ATM manufacturers found it hard to upgrade their facilities, equipment and processes, leading to closure.
• Government regulations: Government regulations and taxation also played a role in the closure of an acrylic tank manufacturing company. If the company is not able to comply with new regulations or the cost of compliance becomes too high, they may have to close.

The Impact of the Closure of Acrylic Tank Manufacturing

The closure of Acrylic Tank Manufacturing has led to an increase in demand for used acrylic tanks. The company was one of the largest manufacturers of acrylic tanks in the United States, producing close to 100,000 tanks per year. The company closed its doors after a lengthy legal dispute with its main supplier of raw materials over alleged patent infringements. The lawsuit was settled out of court, but the damage had already been done.

Acrylic Tank Manufacturing employed roughly 200 people at its facility in California. It’s estimated that thousands of American workers lost their jobs when the company closed its doors permanently earlier this year.

The impact on the industry has been significant: some customers have reported having difficulty finding replacement parts or repairs for their existing tanks while others have found themselves unable to order new ones.

This shortage has led many companies to seek out used acrylic tanks as replacements for their broken equipment or as temporary solutions until they can find a new supplier that meets their needs.

Acrylic Tank Manufacturing New Location

Before they closed shop, ATM was based in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Acrylic Tank Manufacturing have not been able to re-open after they shut down in 2020. It is uncertain whether the company will return to making acrylic products or if customers will have to seek alternative options for acrylic tank needs. I have listed down major acrylic tanks alternatives below.

What Are Some Alternatives to Acrylic Tanks?

The acrylic aquarium is a staple in the fishkeeping community. It’s commonly used in both freshwater and saltwater tanks, and the material has a wide range of benefits.

However, there are certain situations where you might not want to use an acrylic tank. For example, you might be looking for something sturdier or cheaper than acrylic. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available. Here are some options you should consider;

Related Post: TOP 10 Best Acrylic Tanks in 2023, Mod Podge Formula Review

1.Glass Aquariums

Glass tanks are extremely durable and shatterproof. They can be used as both freshwater and saltwater aquariums but they will need to be treated differently depending on their intended use. Glass tanks come in a variety of sizes ranging from 5 gallons all the way up to 300 gallons! According to Sprucepets, you can build your own glass aquarium at home with Betta Fish Tank Glass 5 Gallon Self Cleaning Small Aquarium Starter Kits.

However, if you want to order an already put together glass aquarium, I recommend Glofish 10 Gallon Aquarium Fish Tank. This is a great, affordable way to add color and beauty to your home. Complete with an LED lighting system, tetra whisper internal filter, water conditioner and sample food, this starter kit is perfect for novice fish enthusiasts.

2.Ceramic Aquariums

Ceramic tanks are very similar in appearance to glass but they don’t break if dropped onto hard surfaces like concrete or tile floors! Ceramic tiles are made from clay which has been fired in molds at high temperatures (1000 degrees Fahrenheit). This results in a dense material that is extremely strong yet lightweight enough for easy handling by one person!

Whether you want to create a natural aquarium or add fish to your living room, ceramic aquariums provide an environmentally-friendly habitat for your aquatic pet. Additionally, you would want to have ceramics inside your aquarium. I strongly suggest you get ALEGI Aquarium Premier Bulk Bio Ceramic Rings.

3.Stainless Steel Aquariums

Stainless steel tanks are virtually indestructible and can even be used outside or anywhere where extreme temperatures may be encountered (such as in your garage during winter). Stainless steel also has many other benefits including its ability to maintain its temperature better than other materials when it comes time to replace water inside.

if you want amore stylish wall acrylic tank, the Aussie Aquariums 2.0 Wall Mounted Aquarium is a classy one. The Aussie Aquariums 2.0 is a refreshing new way to experience and display your fish, without the hassle of traditional aquariums. Each aquarium comes with a fully assembled stand and acrylic panel, as well as a water pump. It’s open at the top, which gives you easy access to feed your fish and clean it.

4.PVC Tanks

PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride, which is another type of plastic that has been used in plumbing since the 1950s due to its resistance to corrosion and low cost compared with other types of plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene. PVC has many uses including pipes for plumbing systems as well as irrigation systems on farms or in gardens where water needs to be delivered from one location to another.

A lot of people prefer PVC tank to glass tanks because of affordability. I recommend the REPTI ZOO 50 Gallon Tempered Glass Reptile Large Terrarium Tank. This Reptile Terrarium is perfect for the beginner reptile owner and an ideal size to place in any home or office. The aquarium will provide your reptile with a healthy environment to live in, meaning you can enjoy watching it all day long.

The History of Acrylic Tank Manufacturing

Wayde King and Brett Raymer are brothers-in-law, best friends, and the highly successful brains behind their company, Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM). They started in 1970 by making tanks for popular celebrities and high profiles. After 10 years, it become the leading acrylic tank manufacturer in America

The pair made their millions in the fish tank business by selling aquariums across America with some orders coming in from Europe and Asia . They also have a television show called Tanked that airs on Animal Planet, which highlights their work in building custom tanks for clients. Below is an interview with Las Vegas Sun

Making Your Own Acrylic Tank at Home?

The most common method for making your own acrylic tank is to buy high quality sheeting and cut it yourself. I have an article on how to cut acrylic with A cricut Maker. ( Highly recommended if you want to know how to cut acrylic sheets etc) I go in depth with a step-to-step guide.

You can get 40 x 80 cm sheets on Amazon or at most hardware stores( which is enough material for many aquarium projects). You’ll also need some glue and silicone sealant( I recommend Henkel Clear Water Proof sealant), unless you want to join pieces together with bolts or nuts through holes drilled in the corners of each piece. The sealant helps keep water out of joints between two pieces of flat sheeting. You can check out this review of the TOP 10 Best Acrylic Tanks in 2023 to help you pick your favorite.

Acrylic Tank Manufacturing New Location

We are sorry to inform you that acrylic manufacturing closed in 2020. They are no longer in business. Acrylic tank manufacturing was a great company that made tanks for aquariums and other uses. Unfortunately, they were forced to close in 2020 when they went bankrupt. Their website is still up, but it’s no longer updated with new information.

We hope they can reopen someday, but until then there are many other companies that sell aquariums at reasonable prices.

Is Acrylic Tank Manufacturing Still In Business in 2023?

The acrylic tank manufacturing business is no longer in business. They closed doors officially in 2020. Since then, this industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn and many of the companies that survived have closed down shop.

The aquarium industry has gone through several cycles over the years, but each time it seems like a new industry leader emerges to take its place. In recent years, however, many industry leaders have all folded under the weight of competition from Chinese manufacturers who can produce tanks at a fraction of the cost.

Recommended TOP 10 Best Acrylic Fish Tanks in 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Thoughts

If you have a desire to enter the wonderful world of fishkeeping, you’ll need to start with some sort of aquarium. There are lots of alternatives that offer the same or better qualities than acrylic tanks at a lower price such as PVC, glass and Ceramic Tanks. The biggest difference between acrylic and other tanks is the cost. If you don’t need the acrylic unique qualities, then consider the above options

The most straightforward option, however, is undoubtedly purchasing one locally or online and setting it up in your home.

Sources

Alibaba: Why Did Acrylic Tank Manufacturing Close

Tanked: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanked

Orlando Sentinel: Federal judge sides with man who claimed ‘Tanked’ aquarium-makers soaked him