Family business with 90 years of tradition

Today, the brand stands for intelligent network solutions that are used wherever maximum reliability is required, for example in factory and process automation, in transportation or in security technology and smart city applications.

The product range includes fiber optic systems for fieldbuses and Ethernet switches as well as systems for the transmission of audio and video signals. In addition, eks supports users with a wide range of services, from customer-specific hardware and software developments to the planning and implementation of customized infrastructures for data communication.

From repair store to a high-tech company

In the initial phase the founder Albert Engel mainly repaired electric motors. Under the leadership of Günter Engel, who succeeded his father in 1962, eks increasingly concentrated on electrical installations for building services. In addition, the company wired control cabinets and also began to develop electronic assemblies for various applications such as welding equipment or access control systems.

In 1986, eks was approached by a customer looking for a solution to network controls via fiber optics. Just one year later, the company launched its first optical system for industrial applications, a robust media converter for the RS232 interface. That was the initial spark. Subsequently, the know-how was expanded step by step, the employees were trained extensively and the sales department was realigned.

Technological milestones

After Ralph Engel took over the management of eks in 1994, the company gradually developed into a specialist for optical data transmission. Technological milestones include fieldbus converters with approval for hazardous areas, industrial Ethernet switches with optical interface and field-compatible splice boxes.

Other innovations "made by eks" included the FiberView fiber optic monitoring system. an industry-standard optical bypass that allows networks to remain functional even if more than one subscriber fails, and a modular software platform for Ethernet switches. The latest technological milestone is fully pre-terminated active and passive fiber optic systems that can be used to upgrade light poles into nodes of urban networks for smart city applications.

Over the past 90 years, eks has undergone a remarkable development. Managing Director Ralph Engel comments: "Of course, we have also been lucky at times. But, as we all know, only the brave have that. You could say that my family has always been under power, in two senses. On the one hand, we were involved in electrical engineering from the very beginning, and on the other hand, we always recognized and took advantage of opportunities. That's how we've been able to steadily develop the company with the active support of our employees." The company philosophy, on the other hand, has always remained the same since 1931. Quality, flexibility and a direct line to the customer are still very important to eks.