Fluid Equipment Development Company (FEDCO) LLC is in the middle of one of the most significant growth chapters in its recent history, with expansions in both Dubai and the United States.

At FEDCO's headquarters in Monroe, Michigan, the company is adding 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its existing 135,000 square feet facility, an expansion driven largely by explosive growth in demand for BiTurbo™ technology, with completion expected in Q3 2027.

That same momentum has extended overseas. The new 13,000-square-foot Dubai facility marks a strategic move FEDCO leaders describe as a direct response to accelerating market demand and shifting global trade conditions, positioning the company to serve its fastest-growing markets more efficiently while laying the groundwork for diversification beyond its traditional business.

R&D is another major beneficiary of this growth. FEDCO recently opened a state-of-the-art innovation center at its Michigan headquarters, spanning over 20,000 square feet and dedicated to new product development, customer training, product demonstrations, startup support for entrepreneurs, and other community events.

FEDCO is also investing in improved customer communication that includes a new portal built specifically to support BiTurbo™ technology applications, alongside broader marketing investments.

A Trade Landscape That Demanded a New Approach
The push toward an additional Dubai-based operation was accelerated by changing global trade environment which made it clear that relying solely on US-based manufacturing and export routes was no longer the most competitive path for serving international customers, particularly across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and neighboring markets.

Dubai offered an answer. As a centrally located hub connecting global trade routes, it gives FEDCO direct access to raw materials from regional suppliers while shortening the distance to customers. The facility serves as a regional manufacturing, assembly, and service center, maintaining the same standards and engineering excellence established at FEDCO's headquarters in the United States.

The expansion in the UAE will allow FEDCO to:

• Support after-sales service with a full line of spare parts stocked locally.
• Operate a local workshop with technicians conducting both in-house and onsite repairs and support.
• Perform local assembly and manufacturing.
• Stock equipment for projects requiring short lead times.

The initial manufacturing focus will be the production and assembly of FEDCO's MSD product line, supporting immediate regional demand as it establishes scalable manufacturing processes. As operations expand, capabilities will extend to the HPB and SLP product lines, broadening the range of products available in the region.

Why Now, and Why Dubai
For FEDCO leadership, the timing reflects both the size of the market potential and the company's broader strategy of sustainable growth and delivering a world-class customer experience. As Casey Bly, Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Service and Managing Director of FEDCO Global Manufacturing, put it "FEDCO is focused on supporting customers to the best of our ability, providing support and going above and beyond what the market typically offers."

Water scarcity across the region continues to drive strong, sustained demand, so establishing a local presence strengthens supply chain security while positioning FEDCO competitively in the market.

Eli Oklejas, Founder, President & CTO of FEDCO, explained that because MENA is a large and rapidly growing market, Dubai represented the most strategic and competitive location from which to serve the region. Major infrastructure projects currently underway in the region also require close, ongoing support for maintenance and servicing; another key factor that drives the need for local footprint. The Dubai operation is also expected to support the rapid adoption of FEDCO's proprietary BiTurbo™ technology, a solution designed for multi-stage, high-recovery reverse osmosis (RO) systems.

Manufacturing Readiness, Quality, and Customization
Quality remains a cornerstone of all FEDCO operations and the facility in Dubai follows the same manufacturing procedures, inspection protocols, and testing requirements used by FEDCO’s U.S. operations. The company is also working toward ISO 9001 certification for the Dubai facility, with registration targeted for 2028.

With more than 25 years of experience serving the MENA region, FEDCO has a deep understanding of the local operating conditions and customer expectations. Both the Dubai and U.S. teams use the same proprietary engineering software to select, configure, and customize products, ensuring every solution is optimized for project requirements while maintaining the consistency and reliability expected from FEDCO worldwide.

Sustainability in Manufacturing
Sustainability is a key part of FEDCO's growth strategy. At the US headquarters, the facility is designed to meet green building standards, incorporating geothermal heating and cooling along with LED lighting throughout. For Dubai, the facility was developed with a focus on operational efficiency and responsible resource management. Because performance testing of pumping equipment requires significant volumes of water, the test facility includes a water reclamation and recycling system that recovers and reuses water during testing, reducing overall consumption while still meeting FEDCO's rigorous testing standards.

What This Means for Customers
FEDCO products manufactured and assembled in Dubai will have shorter lead time and benefit from UAE and GCC country-of-origin advantages, allowing customers to take advantage of regional trade agreements and, in many cases, reduce duty rates. Together, these benefits mean faster and more cost-effective products for customers with the continued performance, reliability, and dedicated technical support they expect from FEDCO.

What Sets FEDCO Apart
FEDCO's manufacturing capabilities, extensive product lines, custom solutions, technical expertise, and global footprint give the company the ability to deliver strong customer experience, dedicated support, and build long-lasting partnerships.

Eli Oklejas summed up the philosophy behind the investment simply as "Our expansion demonstrates FEDCO's commitment to its customers by going where our customers are." The expansion isn't just about manufacturing efficiency or trade strategy; it's about introducing new technologies that expand desalination and, ultimately, bring clean, fresh water to more people around the world.

According to Greg Thomas, VP of Global Operations “The opening of our Dubai manufacturing facility is a significant milestone in FEDCO's global growth strategy. It combines the advantages of local manufacturing with the same engineering, quality standards, and technical expertise that have defined FEDCO for decades. Most importantly, this investment demonstrates our long-term commitment to the MENA region and positions FEDCO to support the growing demand for innovative water and industrial solutions both regionally and around the world.“

Looking Ahead
FEDCO is investing in the future. The company’s long-term vision centers on building a strong management team and workforce committed to the company's core values and continuing to develop and introduce new technologies driven by innovation, market demand, and technological advancement. As the company scales its operations globally, the combination of local presence, manufacturing capability, and sustained R&D investment are intended to ensure FEDCO's continuity and growth for years to come.

Contact

Onyanta Adama, Marketing Manager
For more information, please contact us at oadama@fedco-usa.com