Geotech Environmental Equipment Inc.

• Author: Lewis, David
• Position: MANUFACTURING

GEOTECH ENVIRONMENTAL EQUIPMENT INC.WON its Top Company 2012 recognition in the manufacturing category, and is we all know any business that manufactures in the United States deserves an award of some kind.

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"We're excited there's still a manufacturing category," jokes CEO Jeff Popiel, who might not he joking. "So when we got the award, I said, 'Gosh, thanks for having a manufacturing category. We still do this.' "

Denver-based Geotech started 56 years ago, in 1956, so the manufacturer has done a lot of surviving for a long time. To make it, Geotech Environmental needed to be smart and nimble in the beginning, lucky and canny in the middle, and pretty near brilliant throughout.

The lucky part happened because in 1978 U.S. Geological Survey at the Federal Center invited Geotech's predecessor business, a tool and die maker, to make parts for equipment for the new U.S. Trace Metals Analysis Program.

"At that time my dad and uncle were like, 'Gosh, we have, ideas to make you a better pump. Can we just sell you an assembled pump as a finished product vs. all the individual parts?' "says Popiel, son of co-founder and chairman Jerry Popiel.

The USGS agreed. The products...