Fox Equipment: A Growing Workforce Built on Skill and Integrity
“Be ready to work. Work hard. Work longer. Work smarter than everyone else. That is how you succeed.”
— Eric Fox, Founder & CEO, Fox Equipment
A Born Entrepreneur Who Saw an Opening and Took It
Eric Fox never had an “aha moment” that pushed him into entrepreneurship. It was simply who he was. From college onward, he owned multiple businesses, always gravitating toward building things, solving industrial problems, and charting his own path.
By 2003, he had the experience, technical knowledge, and industry understanding he needed but the company he worked for was turning down every project he brought in. They did not want the risk.
Eric did. So, he founded Fox Equipment, determined to stop making money for other people and instead build a company that would engineer industrial equipment the right way: heavy-duty, long-lasting, reliable, and designed as if he owned the plant it was going into.
What Fox Equipment Does and Why Clients Trust It
Fox Equipment specializes in fabricating flow-control, exhaust, and support systems used around pollution-control equipment for some of the most demanding industrial environments in the world. Their products are built around one philosophy: design and engineer as if you will own it for 30 years.
Customers trust Fox Equipment because they deliver heavier, stronger, more reliable systems than competitors, not the cheapest solutions, but the most economical over the lifecycle of the equipment. Every damper, stack, silencer, and flow control system is designed so it can be serviced, maintained, and repaired instead of replaced prematurely.
It is an ownership-mindset approach uncommon in their industry and one that keeps clients returning decade after decade.
A Growing Workforce Built on Skill and Integrity
Fox Equipment employs a fully full-time workforce, supplemented by a few retired experts who assist part-time. Their employees work across Florida and West Virginia, with the team expanding each year as demand grows. Engineers remain critical to the business, but the company’s most urgent need and biggest hiring challenge is blue-collar labor: welders, fabricators, and skilled trades.
The company has also added remote engineering talent from the Philippines, helping maintain capacity as U.S. labor shortages intensify. Over the next three years, Fox Equipment expects to add around ten new employees, particularly welders and engineers who can support expanding fabrication operations.
A Growth Story Built on Engineering Discipline and Industry Trust
Fox Equipment’s growth has accelerated sharply over the last several years. Annual revenue has climbed to approximately $22 million, with year-over-year increases of 30–40%. The company anticipates a temporary flat year due to tariff-related project delays, but demand remains strong.
Next year, the company projects revenue rising to nearly $29 million, driven by major industrial projects and increased fabrication capacity.
Even prestigious universities, MIT, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Florida, and Florida State use Fox Equipment components in their boiler systems. Their reach is national, and their reputation continues to grow.
A Culture Transformed by Faith and Purpose
In recent years, the company’s culture has shifted significantly. Eric intentionally refocused the business on Christian values, bringing faith into leadership, decision-making, and daily operations. The result: morale increased, unity strengthened, and the organization gained a renewed sense of mission.
Eric now leads with a commitment to long-term personal and professional growth for his employees, not just financial performance.
A Name That Allows Room to Grow
Fox Equipment was named with intention. By pairing his last name with a broad descriptor “Equipment” Eric created a brand capable of expanding into new product lines.
Over the years, the company has added stacks, silencers, industrial doors, new damper technologies, and two additional product lines launched just this year.
The name still fits a company that continues to evolve.
A Competitive Edge Rooted in Heavy-Duty Design
Fox Equipment stands apart by engineering heavier, stronger, more maintenance-friendly solutions. Competitors may offer lower upfront costs, but Fox designs for reliability, lifecycle value, and long-term performance.
Their advantage comes from thinking like an owner building the system they would want installed in their own steel mill, refinery, or power plant.
Committed to Florida and Growing Here
Fox Equipment was founded in Florida and will remain headquartered in Florida. While they operate satellite facilities outside the state, Florida is home, and the company’s leadership expects future management, growth, and expansion to center here.
The state’s tax environment, engineering talent pipeline, lifestyle benefits, and business climate make it ideal for long-term stability and recruitment.
The Biggest Barriers: Blue-Collar Labor and Capital Equipment
Two challenges define Fox Equipment’s journey:
- Skilled Trades Shortages
Finding welders, fabricators, and painters is increasingly difficult not only in Florida but nationwide.
- Building Capital Infrastructure
Banks often struggle to understand the company’s need to invest in million-dollar machines. Scaling from a small engineering shop to a fabrication heavy operation required years of reinvestment and persistence.
Today, Fox Equipment operates a 50,000-square-foot fabrication facility with millions of dollars of equipment a long way from the early days of two engineers and a CAD machine.
Looking ahead, the biggest challenge remains the same: finding welders and skilled blue-collar labor.
Innovation on the Horizon: Carbon Capture
A major shift is coming to the power industry, and Fox Equipment is positioned for it. Carbon-capture technologies are still developing, but rapidly accelerating will require extensive industrial equipment infrastructure.
Eric expects Fox Equipment’s products to be widely incorporated into these next-generation systems once the market matures, creating significant large-scale project opportunities.
A Company That Gives Back
Fox Equipment invests meaningfully in its community by supporting:
- Seamark Ranch
- City Rescue Mission
- Local blood drives
- Multiple food banks
They also run internal training programs for engineers and are developing an internal welding school to train the next generation of skilled trades addressing their biggest hiring challenge by growing talent from within.
Core Values That Shape Leadership
Eric leads through four guiding principles:
Honesty. Reliability. Innovation. Selflessness.
Selflessness, he notes, is the hardest to teach, especially in a generation less eager to work late or push through hard seasons. But it is essential to the company’s success and the foundation of its culture.
GrowFL Recognition: A Meaningful Milestone
Being named a GrowFL Company to Watch is a major honor for Fox Equipment. Eric has watched friends receive the award in past years and joining that community feels both validating and inspiring.
His employees are equally energized. After earning regional Fast 50 recognition in Jacksonville, this statewide award affirms that the team’s hard work, craftsmanship, and perseverance matter.
Eric believes the company stood out because manufacturing of this scale is uncommon in Florida. Few companies fabricate to the level Fox Equipment does, and their unique, heavy-duty product offering sets them apart within the state’s business landscape.
Eric would first like to thank God for all he has allowed him to build and his wife, Dee Fox, for her continued support from the beginning. Harold Boyette for nominating the company and to his leadership team, including President Luke Loyd and the CEO Nexus peer group that helped him grow as an entrepreneur.
Advice for Entrepreneurs
Eric keeps it simple and real:
“Be ready to work; harder, longer, and smarter than everyone else.”
Refuse excuses. Stay determined. Show up every day with the willingness to do what others will not.
About GrowFL’s Programs
GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch (FLCTW)
The Florida Companies to Watch program, hosted annually by GrowFL, celebrates top second-stage companies across the state for their impressive growth and entrepreneurial success. This prestigious program recognizes 50 standout businesses each year, chosen from hundreds of nominees. Honorees are celebrated for their innovation, economic impact on Florida’s economy, and the ability to scale effectively. Through FLCTW, GrowFL not only acknowledges these companies’ achievements but also brings them into a spotlight that enhances their visibility in the marketplace. The event offers an extraordinary opportunity for networking, sharing best practices, and gaining exposure to potential investors and partners, making it a cornerstone for fostering business growth and recognition within Florida’s vibrant business community.
