Western Pacific Products Inc, Sacramento CA, an international distributor of tank and truck parts, will immediately begin selling Heil Trailer International semi tanks, tank trucks/pull trailer combinations, and pumper trucks, according to General Manager Michael Darby.
Steve Bishop will begin selling new and used tanks in Northern California (Fresno to the Oregon border) starting June 1, 2009. He will work closely with Randy Miller, West Coast regional sales manager for Heil.
Bishop has been with Western Pacific Products Inc since 1993 and has worked in multiple positions for the company over the years, including outside parts sales, purchasing agent, and branch manager.
Founded in 1985, Western Pacific Products distributes a wide variety of tank, truck, and trailer parts. The company also sells new and used pneumatic, petroleum, chemical, and vacuum tank-trucks.
Western Pacific operates parts warehouses in West Sacramento CA; Portland OR; Signal Hill (Los Angeles) CA; Dallas-Fort Worth TX; and Chico CA. The California and Texas locations sell new and used tanks from Heil, Stephens Pneumatic, Troxell Trailer Manufacturing, Viking Guppie’s, and Amthor International.
"Robert M Darby, our founder, has always wanted Western Pacific to become a one-stop shop for the tank-truck industry, and this is another step in that direction," Michael Darby said. "In addition, we have our “R” Stamp certification for our repair facility in West Sacramento and a full truck and trailer repair facility in Chico. This expanded combination of services allows us to serve our customers from start to finish."
Western Pacific will mount tanks on any type of chassis that clients choose. The company will either purchase the desired chassis from a manufacturer, or clients can deliver it to Western Pacific. Stock tanks will be kept at our West Sacramento location ready for assembly.
Western Pacific has four drive-through bays at the West Sacramento facility for the new assembly division and has hired additional employees. More workers will be hired as demand for equipment and repair grows, Darby said.
A family-owned business, Western Pacific was founded by Robert M Darby in a small town outside Salem OR. Before starting the company, Darby, who serves as company president, worked for one of the West Coast’s leading tank manufacturers, first as the purchasing agent and then as general manager. Realizing there was a need for a warehouse that stocked parts for the tank industry, he discussed the idea with family members. They ultimately decided to invest their savings in the start-up, and Darby began developing contracts and agreements with some major manufacturers of tank truck parts.
The company’s first location was the family garage and home. While Darby began calling on petroleum transport companies, the rest of the family took care of the books, answered telephones and dealt with walk-in customers. Today Western Pacific Products has five parts warehouses that stock more than 36,000 parts and has 35,000 square feet of warehouse space and two repair facilities.