Marketplace

For the past 40 years, Echo, Inc. has been a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of professional-grade, hand-held outdoor power equipment for both the commercial and homeowner markets. Today it sells its products in North America through 10 distributors managing 6,600 independent dealers. Echo products can be found in Home Depot stores in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, while an additional 24 Latin American distributors sell products through a variety of store channels. The company prides itself on setting the industry standard with its dedication to new technology, quality products and its strong distribution infrastructure. From establishing technological advancements in premium tools for landscaping and arborist professionals, to expanding its capabilities to meet industrial and consumer demand, Echo has a heritage rich of accomplishment.

Echo was founded in Northbrook, Ill., in 1972 as Kioritz Corporation of America and was officially established under its present name in 1978. The company originally was an importer of high-performance two-cycle engines and hand-held products manufactured by Kioritz Corporation of Japan. In 1979, Echo shifted its focus to engineering and manufacturing and began initial production and assembly operations in Wheeling, Ill. The first lawn care product it produced for the U.S. market was the curved shaft GT-200 grass trimmer. Soon after, Echo broadened its product offerings to include chain saws, straight shaft grass trimmers, brushcutters, backpack and hand-held blowers and hedge trimmers.