Since 1971, production of this cylinder has been consistent and substantial. A long-term business relationship resulted, and other sized pressure cylinders were added to the mix.

During the mid ’90s, the customer’s marketing department became aware of several issues with the cylinder:

• The seams between the top and bottom halves and the foot stand allowed a crevice where rust could form, shortening the life of the product.
• The foot stand was of a lighter gauge steel, which dented easily if dropped, compromising the stability of the cylinder.
• A cavity between the foot stand and the bottom of the pressure cylinder could trap water, causing hidden rust problems and failure of the product.
• The cylinder was originally designed to meet the D.O.T. pressure certification that was lower than other certifications. Fire extinguisher testers and re-fillers had to acquire an additional license to service these cyclinders, which affected the product’s appeal and limited marketing opportunities.

To increase the product’s marketability, the customer needed to:

• Upgrade the pressure rating to meet the requirements of Underwriter’s Laboratories.
• Keep the cylinder the same size as the existing product to insure that existing hardware or installations would not have to be redesigned.
• Maintain the existing selling price.

The customer brought these needs to Larson Tool early in 1997 and asked for help in redesigning the existing product

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