Congratulations to Tank Connection’s 2023 Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award

Presented annually by the State of Kansas, the Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award is the highest honor given to Kansas exporters. The 2023 award was presented to Tank Connection during the Kansas Department of Commerce’s To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards banquet in October. 

Located in Parsons, Tank Connection is an employee-owned company with 350 employees worldwide. It exports to 64 foreign countries across six continents. Tank Connection is the global leader in dry bulk and liquid storage systems, providing a complete performance for various industries. In addition to the world’s tallest bolted steel storage silos located in Maryland that hold sugar, Tank Connection also built the world’s largest, bolted potable water tank and dome in Mexico City that provides about 13 million gallons of drinking water to more than 7 million people. Tank Connection also was there in a small community in Sri Lanka to build its first water treatment tank.

“As Exporter of the Year, Tank Connection is showing the world what separates Kansas from the pack!” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Its impressive global reach was a major contributor to our state’s 2023 record high of $14-plus billion in exports. Congratulations to Tank Connection on this outstanding recognition.” 

To win the award, Tank Connection went through a stringent six-month selection process that included competing with 16 other companies to become one of the three finalists. As a finalist, Tank Connection hosted a two-hour site visit for judges and later came to Topeka to make presentation to the entire judging committee.

“Tank Connection proudly extends the reach of Kansas-designed and manufactured products across the globe within the storage tank and aluminum covers industries,” Tank Connection General Manager Dennis Banning said. “Being named the 2023 Governor’s Exporter of the Year was a distinct honor.  We are excited to participate in the continued success of Kansas-based companies through our involvement with the Kansas Department of Commerce and KITCC.”

Along with its major steel tank offerings, Tank Connection also has become a premier provider of aluminum dome covers and composite pedestal storage designs. Their expert industrial designers and shop technicians with decades of experience in manufacturing tanks have provided Tank Connection industry-leading quality ratings with customer testimonials and reviews to support each product.

“Tank Connection’s export business success serves as yet another reminder that Kansas is the advanced manufacturing center of the world,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Tank Connection deserves this prestigious honor for its substantial contributions to Kansas’ record-breaking economy – and exemplifies our state’s solid reputation as a place where innovation thrives.”

Norag International in Johnson County and Lubrication Engineers in Sedgwick County were the other finalists for the 2023 Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award.