EPC Development History

In the 1960s, Bill Watt, a native of Idaho, noticed motion feedback while working as an electrical engineer in Southern California

One issue with the application is that motion feedback applications are shifting towards using modern (at the time) counters and programmable logic controllers (known as PLCs),

But at that time, the encoder solutions on the market did not provide direct input to the output of these devices.

So Bill Watt invented one.

This innovative style of encoder is called the 'cube encoder' and has now become the industry standard. This is the first product of Bill's new company established in 1969, which he called Encoder Products Company (EPC). The first encoder of EPC, model 711 Cube encoder, has an electronic device specifically developed for powering electronic counters, as it offers multiple installation options that allow mounting holes to be placed on three different flat surfaces of the cube, providing excellent versatility for encoder installation. It can be customized according to the application. Bill Watt's invention completely changed the world of encoders.

Left: The first sketch of a cube encoder drawn by Bill Watt in 1969. Right: 711 cube of EPC.

In the first few years, Bill ran a new business in his garage in Orange County, California, selling Accu Coder brand cube encoders to companies across the United States. More than fifty years later, EPC's global headquarters are located in a 100000 square foot factory in Sagar, Idaho, with approximately 150 employees. EPC also has a European subsidiary in the UK, a factory in China, and a partnership with an encoder manufacturer in India. We operate from a suburban garage

The single person store has come a long way.

Of course, this did not happen overnight. About three years after founding EPC, Bill and his wife Fern realized that their business had grown beyond the speed of a family garage. So they decided to go home. As a native of Thunder Point, Idaho, Bill knows that Idaho is a great place to live and run a business.

Downtown Sandepoint, Idaho.

We know that the Sanders Point community has a good work ethic - all of these people come from hardworking farm families - and a high quality of life, 'Bill explained. My wife and I want to move our family back home and raise our children here

In 1972, EPC rented some office space next to the historic Panida Theatre in the center of Sandport, while also in the town

A new building has been constructed on the west side. EPC moved into the newly built factory in 1973. However, within six years, the scale of EPC had already exceeded the size of this building. The other building is approximately four times its size and was built on adjacent real estate. EPC was established in 1979

I moved into a new building in the year.

By 1985, even the new building was insufficient to accommodate all of EPC's production. EPC purchased land south of Sandpoint, not far from Lake Cocolalla, and built the mechanical workshop that we still use today. The production of the EPC cube encoder series has also moved to this location to make room for our new products in the city.

But this is not the only way for EPC to grow. In 1987, British Encoder Products was established in the UK and sold our products throughout Europe. In 1994, EPC established a factory in China to produce and sell encoders nationwide. In 1997, EPC began collaborating with Jayashree Encoders in Pune, India to apply our technology to encoders sold in the country.

Over the years, EPC's talented engineers have continuously innovated and developed new encoders to meet the ever-changing demands of the motion control industry

Requirement. We have added dozens of encoders to our product line, including compact encoders of various sizes and configurations, heavy-duty encoders

Device, through-hole encoder, shaft encoder, programmable and absolute encoder.

Our encoder series now includes many products, such as:

Our innovative Tru Trac ® The linear measurement solution series is an integrated solution that combines an encoder, measuring wheel, and spring-loaded torsion arm in a compact unit

Incremental encoders for through-hole and motor installation

Heavy duty shaft encoder

Magnetic encoder module

Accu CoderPro @ programmable encoder with SSI, CANopen, EtherCAT ®、 EtherNet/IP ™ And PROFINET ® More absolute encoders for communication protocols are currently under development.

Because we focus on encoders, we have created many 'firsts' in encoder innovation:

▪ The first design of a cubic encoder has now become an industry standard.

▪ Take the lead in solving installation problems by providing a flexible installation system.

▪ First to adopt Opto ASIC technology.

▪ The first to provide an encoder that can operate at 120 ° C.

▪ The first one provides 30000 CPR in a 1.5-inch diameter encoder.

▪ Being the first to offer a 3-year standard warranty demonstrates our pride in supporting the reliability of every product.

In the autumn of 2002, EPC reached a milestone: that year, we delivered to Ground Force, a customer also located in Idaho

Sold the one millionth encoder. Our one millionth encoder also happens to be a bit retro: it is a cube encoder located in a heavy-duty casing.

Our sustained growth means that by 2002, our building scale had once again exceeded our own. EPC plan in Sage

The factory is expanding its mechanical workshop. In 2003, the expansion project of the original building was completed, and we moved into a factory covering an area of 100000 square feet. This allows us to transfer all personnel to one building. Every department, including the mechanical workshop, production, engineering, maintenance, sales and marketing, IT, and accounting, has moved to the new building. Now, everyone is working together at our global headquarters, located in the pristine environment north of Lake Kecolala in the beautiful northern part of Idaho.

Bill Watt passed away in February 2020, but he remained actively involved in the company's work until the end and arranged for leaders to continue his work. For over 50 years, EPC has been manufacturing reliable and high-quality encoders, so you can rest assured that we will continue to meet your motion feedback sensor needs.