MD’s Folcomer Equipment Caters to Both Large and Small Contractors

At first glance, Folcomer Equipment of Aberdeen, MD, may not look like a catering business, but it is. It caters to the needs of its customers by supplying construction equipment that they need to get the job done.Surveying its customers about which type of equipment they need and then providing it is just one way that Folcomer caters to its clientele. &#8220;We have recently increased our rental fleet to make sure customers are happy,&#8221; said Dave Folcomer, president of Folcomer Equipment. &#8220;We have added the Case 845 motorgraders and the CX240 long-reach excavator as well as compaction equipment from Case to make us a full line Case dealer.&#8221;After interviewing many of its customers, Folcomer expanded its product lines. &#8220;We wanted to continue what we already do and fill a niche. We have gone through the years with just a skid loader and backhoe [Case] that our smaller customers wanted. They have grown into larger contractors and [now] we will provide them with what they need in the larger market type of equipment.&#8221; Folcomer&#8217;s current lines include Takeuchi, Interstate trailers, Eager Beaver trailers and Vibromax compaction equipment. The Takeuchi equipment was added in October 2002 and since then the company has sold 35 crawler loaders. One reason for this success was the very wet spring that produced muddy conditions on job sites and the Takeuchi TL130 and 150 tracked loader&#8217;s ability to work in mud. &#8220;We also have success with the mini-excavators. They have zero tail-swing. The TB053 is a true zero front-swing and rear-swing,&#8221; said Folcomer.In addition to supplying equipment needs, Folcomer Equipment&#8217;s more than 15 experienced mechanics keep units running and in top shape. The company also has nine salespeople in the field.Folcomer not only looks after its customers, but it also looks after its employees. &#8220;We like to say that honesty is what we are known for and proud of,&#8221; said Folcomer. &#8220;We have retained all our employees and have not had any layoffs no matter how [slow] things have gotten. We have benefited from that because we have plenty of experience. Our product support always has been in getting the customer back on its feet, no matter what.&#8221; Folcomer&#8217;s way of doing business has enabled it to expand from a single location in 1994 to its present four, full-service locations. In addition to its Aberdeen site, Folcomer can be found in Greenwood, DE, Upper Marlboro and Baltimore, MD. The company now covers Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware as well as the entire Baltimore-Washington, D.C. areas. For more information, call 800/737-0049 or visit www.folcomer.com. This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.