History

ETCO Specialty Products, Inc. founded in 1982 as the E. Thompson Company, is a manufacturer of specialty fittings for primarily the utilities industry.

ETCO’s first products were expandable pipe stoppers and clean out plugs for the plumbing and sewer industry. As ETCO grew, so did the markets for the plugs. The telephone and electrical utility industries began using the plugs for plugging vacant ducts. ETCO received its first patent in 1985 on their “T” Cone expandable plug.

In 1986, ETCO began compounding our own urethanes in order to meet the physical properties and environmental requirements needed for our products. At about the same time, ETCO developed a process to bond our urethanes to PVC, steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. This process enabled ETCO to expand the applications for our urethanes and develop new products.

The next major development at ETCO was its “E-Loc” Coupling. The “E-Loc” Coupling is a fitting used predominantly in the electrical and telephone industries to join conduit without solvent, adhesive bonding, fusion welding, or special installation equipment. It is ideal for joining dissimilar materials and can be designed to join different sizes of conduit. ETCO currently manufactures “E-Loc” Coupling to join conduits ranging from 1/2″ to 8″ in diameter. ETCO received a patent on the “E-Loc” Coupling in January of 1993.

As technology and processes evolved, so has ETCO. With the advent of fiber optics and the process of blowing cable through the duct, the requirements of the couplings changed. The system and couplings had to resist 150 psi without leaking and blowing out. To meet the change, ETCO developed the Double “E-Loc” Coupling which can withstand 200 psi and 3000 pound pull out on the 2″ coupling. Currently ETCO has developed approximately 10 different sizes of the Double “E-Loc” Coupling for conduit ranging in size from 1″ to 2″ in diameter. There are no metal parts involved and no tools are required for installation. ETCO received a patent on the Double “E-Loc” November 11, 1998.

In 1996, a major manufacturer of corrugated pipe approached ETCO for help in developing a manhole adapter for their large diameter corrugated pipe. These adapters would be used with precast concrete manholes. In 1997, ETCO successfully developed and began production of these adapters. The process involves bonding cast urethane on the end of corrugated pipe approximately 13′ long. ETCO is currently casting adapters on corrugated pipe ranging in size from 24″ to 36″ in diameter.

ETCO’s most recent expansion is an additional 13,000 square feet with 8,000 square feet dedicated to a fully equipped, modernized injection molding facility. The injection facility, which included four injection presses ranging in size from 55 tons to 240 tons, allows ETCO to have its products molded locally — giving ETCO better control and efficiency in its injection molded products.

ETCO sells most of its products through master distributors and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) throughout the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico. We have exported our products overseas into Europe, China, and the Czech Republic, however, these markets are somewhat limited due to transportation costs.

ETCO’s success and growth can be attributed to its focus on customer service and solving customer problems. ETCO Specialty Products’ recent expansion enables us to be in a better position to continue to meet our customers’ needs and allow for continued growth.