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Our Story
30+ years of building America's environmental infrastructure.
Heritage
EFI USA was founded in 1993 in Gaston, South Carolina. What started as Environmental Fabrics Inc, a regional geosynthetic liner installation company, grew over three decades into the nation's largest installer of covered lagoon anaerobic digesters.
Today, EFI holds an estimated 82% share of the US covered lagoon market with 500+ CLD systems installed across 25+ states. The company's 15,000 SF fabrication facility in Gaston produces custom-engineered HDPE, LLDPE, and RPP covers and liners, while field crews deploy from three regional hubs to serve projects nationwide.
EFI is now expanding beyond its core installation business into methane destruction at scale, carbon credit generation, and CO2 recovery. The company's cap-and-flare model addresses 17,500 unmitigated methane sites across the United States at zero cost to waste generators.
Milestones
Dennis Shanklin establishes Environmental Fabrics Inc, specializing in geosynthetic liner installation for agricultural and industrial applications.
EFI expands into biogas capture and covered lagoon digesters, becoming the go-to installer for farms and food processors across the Southeast.
Reaches 500+ covered lagoon digester installations with nationwide operations spanning 25+ states, solidifying market dominance.
Selected to install geosynthetic liner systems at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, demonstrating capability for the most demanding engineering requirements.
EFI USA enters a new chapter with fresh investment and a vision for scaling methane destruction nationwide through the cap-and-flare initiative.
Dennis Shanklin receives the American Biogas Council Lifetime Achievement Award. Perdue Farms Lewiston project wins the US Poultry Association Clean Water Award.
Launches cap-and-flare initiative to address 17,500 unmitigated methane sites. Begins CO2 recovery operations.
Operations
15,000 SF climate-controlled fabrication facility, corporate offices, and QA laboratory. The hub for engineering, design, and quality control operations.
Southern and Central US operations center. Serves the Gulf Coast, Texas, Oklahoma, and surrounding states with rapid crew deployment.
West Coast operations center with a focus on Central Valley dairy operations. Serves California, the Pacific Northwest, and Western states.
Recognition
International Association of Geosynthetic Installers — Approved Installation Contractor (AIC) since 2007. CWT certified welding technicians.
Dennis Shanklin recognized by the American Biogas Council for 30+ years of industry leadership.
Perdue Farms Lewiston project honored for outstanding environmental performance in poultry processing wastewater treatment.
International Geosynthetics Society — North America. Active member since 2018, contributing to geosynthetic engineering standards.
Agricultural Energy Consumers Association — supporting agricultural energy policy and sustainable farming practices.
Leadership
President
Vice President of Production
Vice President of Development
Director of Finance
Director of Preconstruction
Director of Operations
Director of Safety and Quality
Director of Process Engineering
Founder & Chairman of the Board
Dennis has over 30 years of experience solving some of the most complex environmental challenges. He is also a veteran of the US Navy. Shanklin founded EFI in 1993, and built extensive expertise in civil engineering, environmental construction and product manufacturing.
Owner & Board Member
Entrepreneur and investor with 25 years of experience in building, scaling, and aggregating energy, industrial and infrastructure platforms. Founder of GreenGasUSA and CleanCycleCarbon. Has held global leadership roles with Bayer AG.
LinkedIn
Board Member
Oversees all aspects of EFI's financial operations and acquisition strategies. Former PricewaterhouseCoopers auditor and Arcadia Publishing partner. Previously CFO at GreenGas USA.
Trusted by Industry Leaders
“I am always pleased when you are the successful bidder on our cover projects because I know that the projects are completed on time and in a professional manner.”
W. James Wells
Technical Director, Food Industry, HDR Engineering
“The job was performed on very short notice. They put in a long day and worked well into the night to complete the job. The timely repairs allowed us to start up the following day.”
Michael Guertin
MeadWestvaco
“As skeptical as we have been, we are now believers through our very own experience that your cover system does work. There is simply no odor that I or my staff can detect from this lagoon.”
W. A. Murray
Executive Officer, Spectrum Preferred Meats
“Each of these jobs has been satisfactorily completed within the past year. I would, and have, recommend EFI to other facilities when in need of these types of services.”
Damon L. Depew
Environmental Superintendent, Cargill Meat Solutions
“We continue to have interest in using permeable covers for odor control and emissions reduction from our lagoons. The data confirms the promise in this technology.”
David A. Townsend, P.E.
VP Environmental Affairs, Premium Standard Farms
“We have been happy with the quality of their product, professionalism and customer relations. I would not hesitate to recommend EFI to prospective customers.”
Angelle Aldridge
Director of Marketing Support Services, Environmental Credit Corp
“I have manufactured Water and Wastewater Biological Treatment Systems for over forty years. Now that I have used the Permeable Foam Covers, I am convinced that EFI has the best-engineered cover in the business.”
John Hinde
President, Air Diffusion Systems
“We have had an excellent relationship with Environmental Fabrics and find that they are well equipped, well managed and financially stable. Their bonding capacity is in excess of $1,000,000.”
C. Wayne McCartha
President, McCartha, Cobb & Associates
“We were pleased with the work that EFI did installing the permeable floating cover at the Iola Wastewater Treatment Plant. The installation went smooth and was completed on time and in a professional manner.”
Kristy Beatty
Project Manager, BRB Contractors, Inc.
“The project was on a very tight schedule and EFI came in with a skilled installation crew and completed the project on time — despite the weather delays associated with a winter installation. Zero safety accidents or violations.”
Dale Robertson
Project Director, MC Industrial
“We have worked with EFI for almost five years and have had an extremely successful track record. The attention that EFI gives to the final product while meeting budget and schedule restraints has made EFI top in the industry.”
Kevin F. Strickland, P.E.
President, Strickland Engineering, Inc.
“The floating cover was completed by EFI at a significant savings over other available options. To date the cover has performed exceptionally well and algae growth under the cover has been prevented.”
Pieter K. Scheer, P.E.
Project Manager, G.N. Richardson & Associates, Inc.
“Poly-Flex, Inc. has been a supplier of geosynthetic products to EFI since 1993. During this time Poly-Flex has enjoyed an outstanding working relationship with EFI and considers EFI a customer in very good standing.”
Morris E. Jett
President, Poly-Flex, Inc.
“EFI is one of the largest installers of Agru America's products in the Southeast region and one of our top installers in the United States. EFI has installed over 5,000,000 square feet of HDPE and LLDPE material.”
Paul W. Barker
Technical Director, Agru America, Inc.
“EFI has been a customer of ESP/SKAPS Industries for 10+ years. They are considered to be an excellent customer with an impeccable reputation in this industry.”
Greg Scott
ESP/SKAPS Industries
“The OCS product appears to have capitalized on new design techniques that allow for a better method of venting gases and uniformly insulating the surface. I certify that the products offered by OCS are equal to or superior to the specified modular insulated floating cover.”
Robert P. McCormack, PE
Independent Engineer, Independent (30+ years experience)
“EFI was very professional in their approach to the work, performed their work in accordance with industry standards and addressed any concerns on the part of the Engineer's representative overseeing the construction.”
Robert E. Brossoie, P.G., C.P.G.
Senior Project Manager, Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM)
“EFI has been an excellent partner in the development and implementation of agricultural projects to mitigate greenhouse gases and produce renewable energy. I would not hesitate to recommend EFI to prospective customers.”
Scott Subler, Ph.D.
President & CEO, Environmental Credit Corp
“Your cooperation and professionalism has enabled our company to continue its development on schedule and with minimal interruption. EFI's continued assistance and excellence in workmanship and installation skills are greatly appreciated.”
Ted Hollon
Deployment Manager, PetroAlgae
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