Company Overview
Fluid Equipment Development Company, LLC or FEDCO is a global industry leader in the design and manufacture of innovative fluid machinery solutions. Founded in 1997, we developed the next level energy recovery turbochargers and centrifugal high-pressure feed pumps to lower the cost of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination. Today, we are an independent, privately held company focused on innovation, quality and cost-effective solutions with a large portfolio of intellectual property. FEDCO is headquartered in Monroe, Michigan USA with sales and service offices located in Dubai, UAE and Singapore. We have developed and continuously refine an integrated manufacturing operation complete with full testing and quality control capabilities meeting the highest safety and environmental standards. Customers know us as a trusted partner with customer service that exceeds their expectations.
Innovation is a culture that we live and breathe at FEDCO.
Engineered from concept to production faster than an off-the-shelf product.
We utilize the latest advanced manufacturing technology.
About Our Founder
In the early 1980’s Eli Oklejas was chief R&D hydraulic designer and head of the R&D lab at Union Pump Company. He was assigned the task of testing a piston-type RO energy recovery device. After dealing with several failures and becoming frustrated with the overall system complexity, he proposed development of a turbocharger device that boosts the feed pressure booster by using brine hydraulic energy. Eli left Union Pump to co-found Pump Engineering, Inc. where he served as president and led the effort to develop turbochargers for RO applications until his departure in 1996.
He founded Fluid Equipment Development Company in 1997 to develop enhanced turbocharger units and high-pressure SWRO pumps. This effort culminated with the introduction of the Hydraulic Pressure Booster (HPB) turbocharger product line, several series of high-pressure feed pumps, motorized turbochargers and novel RO system designs and control concepts. Eli has been awarded numerous patents in pump design and RO system optimization and control.
Eli continues to serve as president of FEDCO with a focus on developing a creative team of design engineers, business process experts, manufacturing specialists and sales engineers to continue development of innovative and sustainable technologies.
Our Core Values
Our values are foundational to everything we do. Our core values investing in people, innovation, respect, integrity, and teamwork permeate our organization to help build the basis for the ways in which we operate.
FEDCO Company History
FEDCO Founded
Fluid Equipment Development Company began as an off-site research and development team partnership with Osmonics, Inc. It’s first office space is located on Washington Street, in Monroe, Michigan U.S.A. By the end of the year, a new facility with manufacturing space became the new home of FEDCO on on Huber Drive in Monroe.
First MSP Pump
FEDCO readied its first product, a water-bearing model MSP centrifugal pump for commercial sale with only five employees.
First Turbocharger
FEDCO sells first three Hydraulic Pressure Boosters series HPB turbochargers for export to Egypt.
General Electric Becomes New Partner
General Electric purchases Osmonics, Inc. and FEDCO sees growth, increasing staff to twelve employees.
New Manufacturing Plant
FEDCO inaugurates a new manufacturing facility in an industrial park at Ternes Drive in the city of Monroe, owned entirely by FEDCO. The 20,000 sq. ft. building employed 18 people.
FEDCO Becomes Independent
FEDCO becomes independently owned by its founder Eli Oklejas. GE and FEDCO end the partnership although GE remains one of FEDCO’s largest customers. FEDCO develops the first integrated pump-ERD HEMI and control system for reverse osmosis systems.”
#90 on Inc’s Top Companies
FEDCO was ranked #90 on Inc’s Top Companies in the Manufacturing Industry’s 5,000 list of independent, privately help and American-based companies.
Expansion of Assembly and Testing Facility
First Expansion at Ternes Drive Facility, expanded space for prototype assembly and testing with R&D area.
HPB Exceeds 80% Efficiency
FEDCO makes history with the first turbocharger to break the 80% efficiency barrier. The industry milestone was developed for the 240,000 m3/d Jeddah III desalination plant in Saudi Arabia.
FEDCO establishes a sales office in Dubai, UAE to increase presence in Middle East and Africa.
FEDCO becomes ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 registered for its quality management and environmental protection systems.
Singapore Office Opens
Singapore’s renown PUB WaterHub houses a new FEDCO overseas sales office, co-located with Torishima Pump Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
New Partnership Formed
With a mutual commitment to innovation, quality and efficiency, a new partnership was created with Japan’s Torishima Pump Manufacturing Company to further grow FEDCO’s presence world-wide with new technologies and advanced manufacturing and service capabilities. A Dubai, UAE Sales and Service office was established co-located with Torishima at the Jebel Ali South Technopark in Dubai.
New HQ is Environmentally Friendly
A second expansion at Ternes Drive facility, increased FEDCO’s world headquarters with 75,000 sq. ft. of environmentally-friendly corporate office and manufacturing space.
Partnership Dissolved
FEDCO ownership reverts back to founder, Eli Oklejas. Torishima Pump Mfg. Co. Ltd. and FEDCO are no longer formal partners, but will maintain a close working relationship and cooperate for the benefit of both organizations. FEDCO maintains presence in Dubai and Singapore office locations.
Multi-Stage Multi-Turbo SWRO System Introduced
Multi-Stage Multi-Turbo (MSMT) high recovery SWRO system concept is introduced at the American Membrane Technology Conference (AMTA) Membrane Technology Conference. The first MSMT was piloted with the support of Water Technologies de Mexico and installed at a resort in Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico.
Growth Continues
With a staff of almost 100 employees, a solid safety record and continued sales growth, FEDCO continues to add critical positions in engineering, sales and manufacturing to keep pace with our growing offerings.
The success of the MSMT pilot is presented at the IDA World Congress in Dubai.