News > Energizing Innovation: Berkon Industries in Holdingford Takes Steps Toward Innovative Growth

Energizing Innovation: Berkon Industries in Holdingford Takes Steps Toward Innovative Growth

February 22, 2024

Not too big, not too small – Berkon Industries out of Holdingford aims to be “just right.” 

Eric Berscheid started Berkon Docks in 2001 after arriving back in Minnesota following a stint at college out of state. He knew a person who did dock installations and started making docks for him while attending St. Cloud State University. Berscheid started working on fish houses in the off-season and in 2007 Berkon Outdoors was created.

Today, Berkon Outdoors continues to build bulk ice fish house trailers, mainly for Ice Castle Fish Houses. The company also completes specialty projects as time allows, but according to Berscheid, over the years they have been too busy to keep up with many other items. With updates made to the business over the last year though, he hopes to diversify his business offerings even more.

“The most challenging part of owning and operating my own business is that I don’t want to get too big or too small,” Berscheid explained. “When we lose one or two people, we don’t get projects out the door. We want to be small enough to offer flexibility for our workforce, but big enough to get things done.”

That aim for “just right” hasn’t prohibited Berscheid from taking some major steps toward innovation and growth over the years. In 2015, Berkon Industries added an addition to keep production of their ice fish house trailers completely in-house. A second addition was completed in 2023. The most recent addition added space to house the largest power coating space in Central Minnesota, the largest tube laser of its kind in the country and a new flat laser that can cut up to two-inch thick aluminum and stainless steel.

“The most recent addition and installation of the power coating space and lasers were added for future business growth,” he explained. “Business is growing, but at a slow pace so we can keep up. We hope with the new technology we can diversify our business and partner with additional companies and industries.”

As you might imagine, these innovative technologies rely on electricity. – “We can’t do much without electricity – that’s for sure!” Berscheid reiterated.

And that’s where Stearns Electric Association comes in.

“My favorite part of my job is assisting our members with the energy solutions they need – whether it’s for their home, business or farm,” John Pantzke, Manager of Energy Services, shared. “When Eric reached out to me about their expansion project, I was able to work closely with him to find rebates for his new electrical equipment that he qualified for.”

“I also worked with him to get Berkon Industries enrolled in our Interruptible Program for farms and commercial accounts, which ensures their back-up generator kicks in if there is ever an outage. That way, business can continue as normal, even if the power goes out.”

Enrolling in the Interruptible Program also means Berkon Industries receives a lower energy rate in return for participating in a demand response program.

“When the demand or price for electricity gets high in our region, our wholesale power provider, Great River Energy, can call on Interruptible Program members to shed their electrical loads,” Pantzke explained. “This means that their back-up generator will automatically kick in for a certain amount of time to help curtail the electricity demand at their business – and throughout the region – and instead power their business during this time with fuel. Demand response programs like this are beneficial to all of our members and all consumers throughout the Midwest as they help keep the price of electricity affordable for everyone.”

“I have always had an eye on efficiency and how it pays off in the long run,” Berscheid concluded. “These projects are up-front costs to the business, but in the long run, they are good long-term energy and money-saving solutions.”