equilibar.com
The Community Outreach Award is presented to the manufacturer that has impacted communities in North Carolina. Selection is based on efforts in community engagement and the measurable impact of those efforts.
Equilibar, LLC was presented with the 2025 NCMEP Community Outreach Award in recognition of its impact on Western North Carolina communities.
Equilibar, LLC, located in Fletcher, North Carolina, provides innovative fluid control technology for some of the world’s most challenging applications. The company’s dome-loaded, multi-orifice technology works in a radically different way, providing solutions for complex fluid control problems in biopharmaceutical, green energy, catalysis, aerospace, and other high-tech industries. Equilibar® back pressure regulator technology offers superior precision and frictionless control, especially for low flow rates, mixed-phase fluids, corrosive media, sanitary requirements, and extreme temperatures.
Equilibar, LLC received the 2025 North Carolina Manufacturing Community Outreach Leadership Award for the company’s dedication to community support and programs that foster employee engagement, conservation, and STEM education through various outreach initiatives.
Equilibar’s corporate giving policy features a two-pronged approach focused on environmental and educational projects. The company also supports team members in their efforts to play a role in projects they find meaningful by matching employee donations and facilitating time off for volunteer work. Several Equilibar employees have contributed to business community outreach, participating in panels, coffee talks, and other learning platforms. One employee is especially active with the North Carolina District Export Council (NCDEC) to mentor small businesses in their export journey, navigate export policies, and provide guidance on best practices.
– Tony Tang, Director of Operations
Since Equilibar is located near multiple forests, wilderness areas, and national parks in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina, land conservation is a natural fit for its environmental giving program. They are actively engaged with the following organizations:
- Friends of DuPont Forest — Equilibar founder Jeff Jennings played an instrumental role in forming DuPont State Recreational Forest and has served on its advisory board and in other roles for decades. Equilibar sponsors the Friends of DuPont Forest website, which provides key information and support for this immensely popular resource.
- Friends of the Smokies — Friends of the Smokies works to protect the natural resources, facilities, and visitors of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located less than an hour from Equilibar. After supporting the Gran Fondo fundraiser for several years, Equilibar became a corporate sponsor of the Classic Hikes Series in 2018. This ongoing program raises money to maintain popular trails in the park.
Equilibar’s educational giving focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in particular as a way to contribute to advancing the next generation of innovators. The company is happy to participate in the following:
- Henderson County Public Schools Robotics — Since 2012, Equilibar has supported the Henderson County Public Schools Robotics Program by sponsoring FRC Team 1225. This group of local high school students learns about science and engineering, teamwork, marketing, and logistics, by building robots for international competition. The team has won several championships and awards in the prestigious FIRST Robotics Competition.
- Fletcher Elementary School — At Thanksgiving, Equilibar’s production team donates a portion of the shipping proceeds to help provide Thanksgiving dinner for underprivileged families at the local elementary school. They use this opportunity to connect with families and express thanks to the educators teaching the future scientists, engineers and technicians in the community.
- West Henderson High School Science Olympiad 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 State Competition — Equilibar helped the West Henderson High School Science Olympiad team reach the state championship after winning regional competitions in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022.
- University of North Carolina at Asheville Lunar Robotics Team — Equilibar supported ambitious UNCA engineering students who entered NASA’s 9th annual Robotic Mining Competition at the Kennedy Space Center in 2020. The group also worked with underserved middle and high school students to expose them to STEM and inspire the next generation of innovators and explorers. The robots were designed to mine simulated lunar ice under harsh conditions, collecting as much material as possible in 15 minutes.
- Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County — In 2024, Equilibar conducted the Equilibar STEM Challenge to match donations supporting the Club’s STEM programs for middle and high school students.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated the Western North Carolina region, Equilibar employees could take paid time off to volunteer for recovery efforts. In addition, their charitable donations were matched. The company also contributed to a fund to support Western North Carolina businesses impacted by the storm.
