Made in Frederick: Equipment Development Company (EDCO)

By Bobby Baumler
Photography By Melissa Dryman, Hood College Intern

In The City of Frederick, many local businesses make and manufacture their own products. From distilled spirits to dog treats, many businesses are choosing Frederick as a place to make their products and do business.  

Made in Frederick is a feature that showcases these businesses and their products.

Made in Frederick: Equipment Development Company (EDCO)

Located on Thomas Johnson Drive, among medical offices and surgical centers, EDCO has been producing its American made machines in Frederick since 1978. EDCO's floor grinders, saws, and other tools set the standard in the construction rental industry. Marketing Director Jason Stanczyk answered a few questions about EDCO and let us have a behind-the-scenes tour of how their products are made.

A view of the loading dock area where assembled machines are placed in shipping crates prior to being sent to customers around the world.

How long has your company been in business?

EDCO has been in business since 1959. The company started in Sliver Spring, MD and relocated to Frederick in 1978. 

What is your product/products?

We have two businesses:  EDCO Inc. and EDCO Fabrication.

EDCO Inc: We manufacture and sell a complete line of surface preparation, removal, & professional sawing equipment. The product families include, floor grinders, surface planers, tile removers, street saws, hardscape saws, and tile saws. These products are sold world-wide.

EDCO Fabrication: EDCO Fabrication is a full service fabrication provider specializing in laser cutting, forming and welding. We also offer finishing capabilities that include powder coating, wet painting and assembly. We can fabricate, weld, and finish large runs of various parts and products for all kinds of manufacturing companies. This services regional manufacturers.

What makes your product different?

The laser cutting machine reads computer-aided design
files to create custom metal pieces for both EDCO
machines and for EDCO Fabrication clients.

EDCO Inc:  What separates EDCO from competitors is product life span. Every product we manufacture is designed to be over-built and long-lasting.  The vast majority of EDCO products are sold into the rental industry, companies who buy product to rent to end users. Product life-span is crucial to rental success. The longer a rental item lasts, the more profit the item will produce. While competitors manufacture overseas, EDCO manufactures everything in America.  Raw steel enters our Frederick facility and leaves as finished products.

EDCO Fabrication:  Attention to detail and customer service separates us from competitors.  We have staff dedicated to assisting, quoting, following up, and delivering fabricated products to other manufacturers.  Staff takes customer specs and turns them into the item customers expect.

Beginning with a sheet of metal, the pieces are laser cut and welded together.  The pieces are then sent to the paint booth for a powder coat and then baked in the oven.  Following this process, the machines are assembled and tested prior to being packaged and shipped out to customers.

What do you want your customers to know about your product?

EDCO wants customers to know that when they invest in EDCO products or EDCO Fabrication that they have superior customer service. That's what our company is built on.  One of our company values reads like this: "Customer Dependent:  EDCO does not pay our salaries, the customer does. We remember that in everything we do. We are nothing without the customer." EDCO owes its customers the best service and product training.

Why are you located in Frederick?

We've been located in Frederick since 1978. EDCO originally moved to Frederick because 1) the company founders needed affordable manufacturing space for their growing company and 2) they liked the quiet living of 1970s Frederick.

Since EDCO's move from Sliver Spring, it has occupied an existing Frederick facility, built a new facility, and then added a massive space extension. EDCO's growth was never met with resistance.  Frederick's proximity to shipping lanes, Washington & Baltimore, and international airports make it a convenient area to ship product nationally and worldwide. We hire local employees directly out of Frederick County Public Schools - many who received specific manufacturing-related training from the Career and Technology Center.

Frederick has grown since 1978. EDCO is a family company with multiple generations involved. Frederick is a safe and vibrant place to raise our families. EDCO is proud its corporate headquarters is here.

What does Frederick offer a company like yours?

Frederick offers opportunity - professionally and personally.

Professionally - The area has good people.  We have employees who have been with EDCO for decades. The region houses many other manufacturing companies that are customers of EDCO Fabrication.

Personally - Frederick City is a vibrant, safe, and fun place to live. The area offers many opportunities for personal growth.

Connect with EDCO

Website
Facebook
Twitter

Inspiring Office: Blue Pillar grows into its Downtown Frederick office

In The City of Frederick, business spaces go beyond basics. Here, unique offices allow businesses to cultivate creativity, express their company's culture, and create a work environment that inspires. From industrial to classic, artsy to funky, historic to high tech, spaces abound to meet a variety of needs.  

Inspiring Offices is a feature that highlights some of the creative and unique office spaces in Frederick.

Blue Pillar

IT company Blue Pillar is an energy management solutions firm that moved its headquarters to Frederick, Maryland in 2015. Originally launching in Maryland at FITCI, Frederick’s high tech business incubator, the company grew into a space in the heart of Downtown Frederick. Their third level office provides stunning views of the Square Corner, high ceilings, wood floors, and custom elements that give the space character. 

Blue Pillar's light-filled meeting room overlooks Downtown Frederick's Square Corner.  The lights and custom table add unique design elements.

This high top table provides a collaboration space in their open office environment.

Comfortable gathering spaces welcome visitors. Note the actual "blue pillar" in the background.

Blue Pillar's space provide rooms with some of the best views in town. 

A glass jar of candy in the reception area helps satisfy a sweet tooth.

Light filled offices have both historic and modern elements.

Blue Pillar is on the third floor of this iconic Downtown Frederick building. From dining to the arts, employees at Blue Pillar are steps from the city's best amenities.

Find Your Own Inspiring Office

If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own inspiring office space so you can build your dream. 

If YOU know of any interesting office spaces, let us know and we will put them on our list to feature.
 

Michelle Kershner is the Business Development Specialist for the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development. 

3 Tools for Small Businesses at the Library

Did you know businesses have free access to specialized databases and resources from the Frederick County Public Library (FCPL) Business Library?  Whether a start-up business working on your first business plan or an established business researching new business opportunities, the data and tools available from the library will assist with your research.  Read on to learn about three tools for small businesses.

1. Reference USA - The Reference USA database is available free of charge to businesses and provides a directory of businesses locally and nationally. Users can refine their search by industry, size, location, etc. for conducting market research, sending direct mail, etc. You can access the database by visiting the FCPL website. Click on "Resources Guide" on the top right. Next, click on "Business" on the left side of the screen, and finally click on the "Reference USA" link at the top of the page to access the database from your home or office. A library card is required in order to access this database remotely.

2. Business Reference eBooks - The Business Reference eBook feature provides businesses with multiple reference materials including business term encyclopedias, social media management, and business plan handbooks. The handbooks provide sample business plans for several industries, including restaurants, retail, services, and manufacturing. You can access the database by visiting the FCPL website. Click on "Resources Guide" on the top right. Next, click on "Business" on the left side of the screen, and finally click on the "Business Reference eBooks" link at the top of the page to access the database from your home or office. A library card is required in order to access this database remotely.

3. Print Resources - The C Burr Artz Library in Downtown Frederick features numerous reference print materials with specialized business and industry data that can be reviewed in-person at the branch. Industry data includes information and financial data for comparatives to competitors and other similarly-sized companies.

Questions & Additional Information
For more information on the resources available to businesses through FCPL or for assistance, please contact Terri Klco at the C Burr Artz Library at tklco@frederickcountymd.gov or call 301-600-1630.

For more information on starting a business, contact the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development.

Brewing Up Business: Frederick Changes Code to Allow Breweries to Host Food Trucks, Vendors, and Events

The craft brewing industry contributes $55.7 billion to the U.S. economy and Frederick is well-positioned to attract and support this rapidly expanding industry. On August 4, 2016, The City of Frederick amended City code to allow breweries, farm breweries, and wineries to hold special events, including the ability to host events with food trucks and vendors. This newest legislation proactively addresses the changing nature of breweries and wineries, and allows them to host complementary activities for visitors such as festivals, concerts, and special events.

The legislative changes have the potential to expand and diversify the City's economy by opening up additional opportunities for this industry. Frederick continues to receive national and international recognition for its thriving brewing industry, including an accolade from Matador naming Frederick among 17 of the Worlds' Best Cities for Craft Beer (#16) and inclusion in Livability.com's listing of the 99 Best Beers in 99 Best Beer Cities (#35).

Brewery patrons frequently visit the surrounding area, leading to increased spending at local restaurants, shops, and hotels. New breweries will further bolster Frederick County's 1.7 million annual visitors and related $380.5 million in visitor spending (2014 Tourism Council of Frederick County study).

The brewery/winery legislation is the latest example of the City's proactive approach to supporting manufacturing, and specifically, the craft beverage industry. In 2014, the City adopted legislation to allow craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries to locate in Downtown Frederick. Additionally, the City of Frederick enacted a 10-year phase-out of the business personal property tax, including a 100% tax credit for manufacturers.  

For more information on starting a business in Frederick, contact the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development.

5 Office Spaces That Inspire Every Day

Throughout the year, Inspiring Offices showcases unique, beautiful, and collaborative office spaces in Frederick. From standing desks to snack bars, these spaces stretch beyond the imagination to ignite creativity and spark innovation. Frederick's stock of historic and industrial buildings provide opportunities for businesses to express themselves through unique spaces. 

Here are five unique spaces that inspire employees every day in Frederick.

1.  Mosaic Power
Mosaic Power’s office space offers staff flexible space, outdoor retreats, and an industrial vibe. CEO Laurie Vaudreuil wanted the space to feel comfortable, like home.  And it does.  A shared kitchen, couches, and even a hammock allow staff to take a break without leaving the office. 

2.  Welocalize
Welocalize's office is located within the Glass Factory, a 17,000-square-foot structure that was built as a cannery in the early 1900s. It was previously a tailor company and also a window factory. Today, the renovated warehouse space is home to a variety of companies in Downtown Frederick. 

3.  Someone With
Someone With began as an online marketplace for breast cancer products, and expanded to include membership based financial service for those suffering from a chronic condition. The company's mission has inspired its office design. Pink is the classic awareness color for breast cancer, and it can be found infused into all aspects of the office's design. 

4.  En-Net
Located along East Street, En-Net's office served as a former torpedo factory and gym.Today, corrugated metal and bright colors make the space pop, while nooks and crannies create spaces to work and play. 

5.  Warner Commercial and Gallagher Design
These offices share an eclectic and rustic attic space in the heart of Downtown Frederick. On the corner of West Church and North Court Streets, the offices have high ceilings, wooden beams, and natural light.

Find Your Own Inspiring Office

If you are looking to open or expand a business in Frederick, we can help.  Contact us, and let us help you find your own inspiring office space so you can build your dream. 

Grants Give Downtown Businesses a Facelift

In collaboration with The City of Frederick, Downtown Frederick Partnership, and Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), nearly 100 businesses in historic Downtown Frederick have received matching grant funds to enhance their facades since 2004.  The Facade Improvement Program is funded through DHCD's Community Legacy program and is targeted at strengthening the community through commercial revitalization, business retention, and attraction. 

Take a look at some of the most recently completed facade improvement projects within Downtown Frederick:

10 S. Bentz Street 

 

629 N. Market Street

35 N. Market Street

31 West Patrick Street

Interested in Applying?

Business owners along the Patrick Street Corridor may be eligible for a matching grant under the Facade Improvement Program.  The Program is administered jointly by the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development and its partners - the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Golden Mile Alliance, and East Frederick Rising.

Details on each grant opportunity is provided below:
 

Downtown Frederick

• Facade Improvement Program - Eligible businesses may receive a 1:1 match on qualified exterior facade improvements up to $10,000. For details, contact the Downtown Frederick Partnership at 301-698-8118 or download the application.  Applications are accepted on a first-come, first served basis.

East Frederick

• Facade Improvement Program - Eligible businesses may receive a 1:1 match on qualified exterior facade improvements up to $10,000. For details, contact the Department of Economic Development at 301-600-6360 or download the application.  Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Golden Mile

• Facade Improvement Program - Eligible businesses may receive a 1:1 match on qualified exterior facade improvements of up to $22,000. For details, contact the Golden Mile Alliance at goldenmilealliance@gmail.com or download the application.  Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

7 Ways to Participate in the Buy Local Challenge

By Michelle Kershner

The annual Buy Local Challenge encourages participants to make a personal commitment to eat local during Buy Local Week, July 23 - July 31, 2016. It's easy to sign up to take the challenge.   

Residents can easily step up to the challenge any time of the year, not just during the Buy Local Challenge week. Here are some tips to get started.

7 Ways to Participate in the Buy Local Challenge 

Seasonal pick-your-own options at Glade Link Farms.

1.  Shop at one of the 8 Farmers Markets located in The City of Frederick or at a county market.

2.  Sip and sample at a local winery, brewery, or distillery.

3.  Visit a farm and take home some locally grown treats. Hours vary, so verify hours in advance.

4.  Visit one of Frederick County's two creameries, Rocky Point Creamery and South Mountain Creamery, for a farm-fresh treat.

5.  Dine at one of Frederick's many restaurants that source their products locally.
   

6.  Discover what is in season and plan a pick-your-own trip to a local farm.

7.  Visit the new Homegrown Frederick website to learn more about products grown right in your back yard!  

Michelle Kershner is the Business Development Specialist for the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development.