Manufacturer Introduction: ETC(Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc) Manufacturer

Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. (ETC)  is a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of lighting and rigging solutions that are normally used for entertainment and architectural applications. Established in 1975 as a college project, it has matured into a fully-fledged company that supplies its products worldwide. Its first headquarters was in Madison, Wisconsin. Currently, its headquarters is in Middleton Wisconsin. It has operational offices in the United States and even beyond the borders.

 Other locations include Orlando, Hollywood, Mazomanie (Wisconsin), New York, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Rome, London, Berlin, Ede(Netherlands), and Holzkirchen in Germany. 

Beyond the physical expansion, the company has also grown its workforce. It has up to a total of 900 employees worldwide. These workers are drawn from different areas of expertise. Some are in the administrative division while others are in the technical division that specializes in the production of the company’s products.

 For the many years that it has been in business, ETC has earned a reputation for delivering quality products and services. The distribution of product units in different locations around the world helps to maximize the manufacturing and distribution of the company’s products.  For instance, some production units are located near their raw materials. This helps to cut down on the cost of production.

Many service centers around the world enhance the levels of customer services and support from ETC. Customers can easily walk to the company’s service center near them and get the help that they need. All these centers are run and managed by qualified technicians. 

History of ETC

 It all began in 1975 when brothers Fred and Bill Foster, together with their friends, began working on a prototype lighting console.  The project was named Mega Cue and is considered to be the origin of ETC. This is because it was from that project that they had an idea of building a business.

In 1982, the first ETC-branded lighting console was launched. A variation of this console was used by Disney to control its parade lighting.

 In 1990,  ETC made its first major acquisition. It acquired Lighting Methods Inc. This was a New York-based manufacturer of dimming solutions. The acquisition made ETC to be the largest manufacturer of entertainment lighting control systems in North America.

In 1992, ETC launched the Source Four ellipsoidal spotlight to the market. More than 3 million of these products were sold. 

Aggressive expansion moves commenced in 1995 when ETC started reaching out to the Asian market. Other than geographical expansion, ETC also started focusing on the architectural market segment. I started producing lighting solutions that were used for architectural applications.

From 1995, most of the activities in the company were focused on expansion. While ETC was striving to expand its market size, it was also introducing new products into the market One of the expansion moves entailed acquiring other companies that produced related products. For example, in 2018, ETC acquired Echoflex Solutions, a manufacturer of wireless products for commercial lights.

ETC Products

 As we have already mentioned, ETC specializes in lighting products mainly for entertainment and architectural applications.  Here are some of the specific products that you are likely to find from the company:

· LED lighting: Under this, the company produces white, GB lime, Tunable white, RGI, and LED ellipsoidal

· Architectural lighting and control: Under this product category, the company produces data track, echo touch,  paradigm light sensor, dual tech vacancy sensor, mosaic show controller

· Lighting control consoles

· Lighting fixture  accessories

· Architectural lighting

· Automated lighting

· Lamps, bulbs, and sockets

· Data network devices 

· Lighting tools and software

These products are used in different application areas. They include restaurants, theaters, nightclubs, casinos, television studios, opera houses, theme parks, religious buildings, performing arts centers, among others. As long as an application requires special lighting systems and effects,  you can consider using ETC.  The fact that the company has different categories of products means that you are free to choose one that will meet your needs.

 Employee ownership

To enhance productivity and build a friendly working environment, ETC came up with the idea of employee ownership. This plan was conceptualized in 2015 and it entailed giving employees one-third of the company’s ownership.

 In this plan, the company would award shares of the ETC stock to its employees in the form of  ESOP (employee stock ownership plan). While this was a form of expansion plan, it also played a big role in boosting the morale and workmanship of the employees. It is also a key ingredient in building a healthy culture that can be passed from one generation to another.

Dominating lighting technology for over 40 years

Founded in 1975, ETC has been in the electronic business for over 40 years. Throughout this period, the company has managed to establish itself as a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and distributing lighting solutions.

With approximately 1000 employees and 15 corporate offices around the world,  ETC has proven to be capable of delivering the best products and services. This is further enhanced by its 300 service centers around the world. This has greatly improved the company’s accessibility whereby all types of customers can access its products and even services.

ETC boasts of having the best employees who are fully committed to delivering the best. This is backed by a healthy working environment in the company.

ICRFQ: Global distributor of ETC lighting products

With the good reputation that ETC has in the world of electronics, there is a high chance that you would like to use some of their products for your lighting application. 

The first step will entail making the right selection of products. Since there are many different types of lighting solutions, you need to choose one that is suitable for your application area.

 The second step will entail choosing where to buy ETC lighting solutions. Ensure that you buy from the best sources; authorized suppliers and distributors.  This is where ICRFQ comes in.

ICRFQ is an authorized distributor of ETC products. We supply the company’s lighting products that are used for different applications. The fact that we are authorized means that you will find original products from us.  Contact us directly for the bulk purchase of original ETC lighting solutions.