Design of the affordable board-test systems, the main product line, started in 1979, and by the end of that year two systems were already delivered to the first customers. The company was first in using a PC (at that time called microcomputer) for controlling testers. As we have seen, this was probably the right decision at the right time. Back then DEC’s PDP-11 and the legendary VAX and later MicroVAX were the computer standards for controlling such kinds of equipment. Therefore, using a small and cheap microcomputer for that task was revolutionary – and there was also some laughing from competitors, fading away in the course of the next years. The performance of these low-cost board testers was enough to solve most tasks on the shop floor. A major advantage was their easy programming and debugging using tables or forms on the computer screen, further reducing cost of ownership. In fact, this graphical user interface was there before Apple and Microsoft came up with their solutions. Reportedly, this type of programming changed the whole concept and allowed the company to grow steadily. Programming costs, as the company founder underlined, were reduced to a tenth, and allowed the use of board testers for a much wider range of customers, especially in the area of the smaller manufacturers dealing with high-mix/small-batch requirements. “Our test systems cover high production volumes as well as small quantities”, said Peter Reinhardt, as this solution allowed to test production efficiently.
With more than 1,700 test systems, the company claims to be the leading supplier for in-circuit and functional testers in Germany (market share more than 50%) and Switzerland (40%). Also, there are more than 55,000 fixtures delivered to customers. According to Peter Reinhardt, there were only 43 service activities at customers´ sites necessary during these 25 years. The self-financed firm is family-owned and driven.
EPP EUROPE 400
