Press Releases

EPCO Commemorates 35th Year of Leadership in Ground Bonding PigTails with New Polycarbonate Tube Packaging
Replacing plastic bags improves access and ease of use for installers, supports sustainability, enhances Distributors' merchandising

MINNEAPOLIS, August 1, 2010
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a Minnetonka, Minn.-based supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced today that the company is now packaging its most popular product—Ground Bonding PigTails™—in polycarbonate tubes with the addition of inserts that indicate the applications and usage for the specific product configuration contents.

According to President Jack Schuster, “EPCO has always tried to make life easier for contractors, installers and our distributors, so this was a perfect way to commemorate 35 years of manufacturing our very first product. The new tube package not only better protects the pigtails, but is also more consistent with our quality standards. Contractors and installers will identify at a glance what they need. Installers can more easily locate the tubes in their toolkits—visually and tactilely—and can use the pigtails more efficiently without having to fumble around for a plastic bag. Plus, empty tubes are great for storing fishing lures and golf balls. Our new display enhances our distributors’ merchandising efforts.”
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EPCO Expands Line of Energy-Efficient Lighting Fixtures that Qualify for Utility Rebates and EPAct Tax Deductions
Easy-to-install and maintain ProSeries GU24 Utility Light is the only single-lamp CFL fixture designed for applications in damp and wet locations

MINNEAPOLIS, November 20, 2009
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a Minnetonka, Minn.-based supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced today that it is expanding its line of energy-efficient lighting fixtures with the modular, maintenance-free ProSeries™ GU24 Utility Light that can generate annual savings of approximately $30 per fixture compared to incandescent lighting fixtures. Rising electricity costs, more rigorous state and local building energy codes, and environmental initiatives are making fluorescent lighting ‘retrofit’ projects very attractive for building owners and facility managers who want to reduce energy costs. According to EPCO President Jack Schuster, “Our new fixture not only offers up to 75 percent energy savings, but it also saves installation time and maintenance costs. It is the only one-piece GU24 single-lamp compact fluorescent fixture specifically designed to withstand the rigors of applications in damp and wet locations.”
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EPCO to Leverage New ERP Technology for Supporting Growth and Expansion of In-House Manufacturing
Company’s profits undeterred by economy

MINNEAPOLIS, September 28, 2009
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a Minnetonka, Minn.-based supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced today that the company will be installing a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that will generate an estimated annual savings of nearly $300,000 and a 7 percent increase in work force efficiency and productivity. According to EPCO President Jack Schuster, “The new ERP system and supporting technology will provide better inventory management and visibility. In addition, as we continue to expand our in-house manufacturing, purchased material cost savings and scrap obsolescence reduction have become more important.
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Construction of New Minnesota Twins Stadium Progresses under EPCO’s TIGER Temp Lights
Unique handles for product and package make installation easy

MINNEAPOLIS, August, 26, 2009
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring consumable products for electrical contractors, announced today that over 100 of its TIGERTM 400 HID Temp Lights have been illuminating construction of the new 45,000-seat baseball stadium where the Minnesota Twins will kick off their 2010 season next April. The temp lights, which were installed 18 months ago by the project’s electrical contractor Gephart Electric and supplied by Viking Electric, will be gone by the end of the year as the one-million-plus square-foot project nears completion.
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Noble Conservation Solutions Chooses EPCO’s Fluorescent Fixtures
for Retrofitting Macy's Parking Garage
Nearly $35,000 estimated annual energy savings, plus over $80,000 in rebates and tax credits

MINNEAPOLIS, August 19, 2009
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring consumable products for electrical contractors, announced today that Noble Conservation Solutions, a Twin Cities Energy Conservation Company (ESCO), is currently re-lamping Macy’s Department Store Parking Garage in downtown Minneapolis with nearly 800 EPCO GFF Series™ Linear Fluorescent Lighting Fixtures. The retrofit project also includes adjacent areas, such as stairwells, elevator-waiting areas and more, which will provide an estimated annual energy savings of $34,967. In addition, the project will earn an estimated utility rebate of $35,477 and an estimated EPACT tax credit of $43,973.
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EPCO Moves Headquarters to Accommodate Growth, Meet Distributors' Inventory Needs
Company continues to expand in-house manufacturing

MINNEAPOLIS, January 15, 2008
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring consumable products for contractors, announced today that the company has moved its corporate headquarters to an 87,000-square-foot building in suburban Minneapolis. This move will help meet customers' just-in-time inventory needs in addition to accommodating the company's growth. Commenting on the move, EPCO President Jack Schuster said, "Our new location provides is more than double the size of our previous home, which will help us accommodate the growth we’ve been experiencing over the last 20 years. With more than twice the room we had in our previous location, we now have the space to serve customers even more efficiently, bringing more product manufacturing in house and meeting customers’ just-it-time inventory needs and custom extrusion requests."
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EPCO Introduces Innovative, Easy-to-Install Utility Light that Weathers Extreme Conditions
ProSeries resistant to high impact, corrosion, UV light and high-pressure washing

MINNEAPOLIS, February 2009
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions that offers terms that optimize distributor cash flow and profit margins, has introduced an exceptionally rugged utility light that is easily installed with only a screwdriver. According to EPCO President Jack Schuster, "Our new UL listed ProSeries™ Utility Light is perfect for wet locations. It doesn’t flinch from reliable, maintenance-free performance in high-pressure wash-down applications. Besides being UV, high-impact and corrosion resistant, it’s easy to mount and assemble—important for saving contractors time and labor."
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EPCO Now Providing Distributors Only Direct Source for Tube Guards
Headquarters now manufacturing T5, T8 and T12 Tube Guards

MINNEAPOLIS, February 26, 2009
On the heels of last year’s addition of a Polycarbonate T5 Tube Guard to EPCO’s T8 and T12 family of tube guards, the company announced that it has begun manufacturing all of its tube guards in its Minneapolis facility. Explaining the move, EPCO President Jack Schuster says, “We’re now the only tube guard manufacturer that markets direct to the electrical supply industry, so distributors have a direct source. By bringing our manufacturing in house, we taken another step to becoming the dominant manufacturer for specialty lighting and lighting accessories.”

Schuster added that while EPCO has not had quality and stock outage issues, manufacturing their own products provides the company greater control over both quality and meeting customers’ just-it-time inventory needs and custom extrusion requests. Tube Guards will continue to be sold in 24-unit case cartons.
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New EPCO Web Site Provides Real-time Information for Distributors

MINNEAPOLIS, January 2009
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring consumable products for contractors, announced today that the company has revamped its website to offer distributors greater convenience and provide immediate answers to inquiries. Commenting on the new advantages offered by www.engproducts.com, EPCO President Jack Schuster said, “The website’s new intuitive interface and significantly improved navigation structure reflects our efforts to provide even greater value to our electrical distributors and their contractor customers, and make it as easy as possible to do business with EPCO. Distributors can complete a simple on-line registration form to access our intranet and acquire real-time information about EPCO products and services, basically a 360-degree view of their relationship with us.”

The enhanced website includes easy-to-use time saving features for distributors such as: product inventory query, product quotes, sales history review, order status, order acknowledgements, shipping / tracking notices, and all distributor support correspondence.
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EPCO Unveils New GFF Series Linear Fluorescent Lighting Fixtures that Meet Standards for Performance in Wet Locations
Four- and Eight-Foot Fluorescent Fixtures for T5 and T8 Lamps Extend Domestically Manufactured GFF Series Product Line

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA August 2008
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, has introduced the GFF Series™ Fluorescent Lighting Fixtures that have been certified by NSF International and have a NEMA 6P and IP67 Enclosure Rating. According to EPCO President Jack Schuster, "The rating of these dust- and moisture-resistant fluorescent fixtures makes them ideal for use in wet locations. They provide a high degree of protection to the fixture's internal components, which is especially advantageous where wash-down is required. Plus, the acrylic diffuser withstands breakage typically caused by high-power pressure washers to reduce replacement and maintenance costs."
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EPCO Rounds out Tube Guard Product Line with New Polycarbonate T5 Model
Models now include T5, T8 and T12

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., June 19, 2008
Following up on this year’s introduction of several new products, including medium and heavy-duty value-priced extension cords and a 19-cubic-inch phenolic junction box with four (4) .75-inch knockouts, Engineered Products Company (EPCO), has introduced a Polycarbonate T5 Tube Guard. The new T5 Tube Guard, which fits all four-foot F54 lamps, rounds out the specialty lighting and wiring solutions supplier’s T8 and T12 family of tube guards and is available for immediate shipment. EPCO T5 Tube Guards are sold only in 24-unit case cartons.
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EPCO Introduces 19-CI Junction Box in Response to Distributors and Contractors Requests
Four .75 inch knockouts accommodate multiple circuit applications to save contractors up to 85 percent in labor and material costs

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., June 4, 2008
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, has introduced a 19-cubic-inch Phenolic Junction Box. According to EPCO President Jack Schuster, "Our distributors and their contractor customers have been asking us to bring this product back since we stopped offering it five years ago. We’re not only reintroducing it, but we’ve made it better. The increased capacity of this junction box combined with four (4) .75-inch knockouts allows for multiple circuit applications."
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EPCO Recognizes Most Successful Representatives
Winners’ Exceptional Performance in Sales and Service Categorized by Sales Volume

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 28, 2008
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, presented its annual sales rep awards at the NEMRA meeting in February. Recognizing that EPCO’s professional representation is critical to its success and reputation for outstanding service, President Jack Schuster, said, "We know that our products are being represented by the most knowledgeable, professional organizations in the industry," he said.
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EPCO Kicks off 2008 Product Expansion with New Extension Cords
Master Carton Quickly, Easily Converts into POS Display for Convenient Merchandising

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 8, 2008
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced today the first of many new products planned for introduction this year. Expanding its product line of residential accessories, EPCO now offers medium- and heavy-duty value-priced extension cords. EPCO President Jack Schuster explained that the company has packaged the cords to simplify displaying them. "In keeping with our tradition of helping distributors marketing their products, our unique packaging will make it extremely easy to merchandise the cords. In less than a minute, the master carton actually converts into a self-contained point-of-purchase display that’s ideal for the counter or product shelf."
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EPCO Expands Product Line with Temp Light for Low-Bay Environments
Promotion Launches Smaller Version of Popular TIGER 400™

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., December 4, 2007
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), an easy-to-do-business-with supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced today the newest addition to the company’s line of temporary lighting products—TIGERcub 175 HID™ Type-O Temp Light. Primarily suited for use in controlled, low-bay environments that requirevertical and high horizontal illumination, TIGERcub reinforces EPCO’s position as the temporary lighting solutions supplier.
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Electrical Industry Sales Veteran Named New Western Regional Sales Manager for EPCO

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., May 17, 2007
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), an easy-to-do-business-with supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced today that it has named Geoff Turner Western Regional Sales Manager. In making the announcement, President Jack Schuster said, “Geoff’s track record is extremely impressive, having increased sales every year in every position he has held, despite market fluctuations. His extensive experience in both the distribution and manufacturing sides of sales gives him a broad perspective about serving end-users.”
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New EPCO Web Site Provides Real-time Information for Distributors

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., March 26, 2007
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions for contractors, announced today that the company has revamped its website to make it more concise, comprehensive and interactive. Commenting on www.engproducts.com, EPCO President Jack Schuster said, "The website’s new intuitive interface and significantly improved navigation structure reflect our effort to provide even greater value to our electrical distributor and contractor customers, and make it as easy as possible to do business with EPCO. Distributors can complete a simple on-line registration form to access our intranet and acquire real-time information about EPCO products and services, basically a 360-degree view of their relationship with us."
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EPCO Beefs Up Management Team with Industry Expertise
National Sales Manager to Enhance Representation; New Manufacturing Manager to Strengthen Process Flow and Lean Practices

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., March 15, 2007
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced today that it has named Bob Latzke national sales manager for distributor sales and Rob Lowry manufacturing manager. In making the announcement, President Jack Schuster said, "The experience Bob and Rob bring to their respective roles will be tremendous assets in helping EPCO continue to enhance the value that EPCO delivers to its distributors and their customers. Bob’s demonstrated sales management, training, and motivation skills will enhance our representation. And Rob’s rich manufacturing management experience and extensive knowledge of issue resolution, Kaisen, and Six Sigma will be great assets in helping EPCO streamline manufacturing and continuously improve our quality assurance processes."
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EPCO Helps Distributors Deal with New UL Standard for Temporary Lighting Strings
More Attractive Pricing and Greater Availability of Deluxe CordLight™

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., February 12, 2007
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), a supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced that it has increased production and inventory of its Deluxe CordLight™ to ensure sufficient inventory for helping distributors through the post-March 1 UL-mandated discontinuation of insulation piercing lampholder sockets and the use of flat cable for temporary string lights.
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EPCO Adds Five New Firms to Its Network of Sales Reps
Expansion to Strengthen Representation and Service

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., December 7, 2006
Engineered Products Company (EPCO), an easy-to-do-business-with supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, announced that it has engaged five new sales representative firms to its current nationwide sales network. In making the announcement, EPCO President Jack Schuster said, "We continue to upgrade our nationwide representation to ensure that our firms are actively providing customers with current product information and pricing, as well as meeting our high standards of service."
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EPCO Making it Easy to Put TIGERs in Warehouses
New UL listed TIGER™ 400 (HID only) temp light with a handle for easy installation and box with a convenient handhold

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., September 18, 2006
True to its reputation as an easy-to-do-business-with supplier of specialty lighting and wiring solutions, Engineered Products Company (EPCO) has made it exceptionally easy for contractors to hang from a ceiling. The UL listed TIGER™ HID is the
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