I am ordering a piece of equipment manufactured in another state.  It has a definite lead time so a deposit and payment schedule has been made with final invoice on delivery.  Under normal circumstances, a third party would be used for transportation and no sales tax would be incurred.

Say on the day of shipment, I were to arrive at the company dock and take posession of the article.  Would I then be liable for the tax even if the article was fully paid for?

Why you ask?  I really want a tour of the factory.