Epic Enterprises: More Than Parts

Manufacturing a complete line of high-use replacement parts for European-manufactured textile heat-set and twisting machinery, Epic has dedicated more than 30 years to supplying industry solutions.

Textile World Asia Special Report

T extile manufacturers face countless challenges in today's textile industry. At a time when high-quality, efficient manufacturing is essential to competing on a global scale, attention to detail in plant maintenance and engineering means less downtime, less waste and meeting or exceeding quality specifications.

In some cases, like maintaining a twisting operation, proper maintenance can translate into a significant reduction in broken ends, reduced yarn hairiness, increased strength and elongation, and moderate energy savings. It sounds like an easy decision, but even with the best of intentions, maintenance programs can be difficult to administer.

Plant maintenance can be made easier by identifying a parts and service provider that has depth of knowledge in what can go wrong with an operation, that has the right parts on hand to meet your needs and offers service that gets parts in your hands when you need them. One example of such a supplier is Southern Pines, N.C.-based Epic Enterprises Inc.

Thirty Years And Counting

A little more than 30 years ago, in 1977 to be precise, Edward Crenshaw established Epic Co. and began what became a thriving business manufacturing spare parts to meet the industry's demand for quality spares delivered with a high level of customer service.

Known today as Epic Enterprises Inc., the company's story is interesting from a business standpoint, as an entrepreneur's journey, as well as in terms of how a third-party supplier can establish a niche and fill a real industry need. As stated by company representatives during Epic's 30th anniversary celebration, Crenshaw's first office was in his apartment, and his closet was his warehouse. Through 30 years of growth, Epic has established a strong US and global presence serving more than 800 clients. Epic went global more than 20 years ago, but in the last 10 years, it has had a real initiative to build international business - most recently in Turkey, China and the Pacific Rim. Today, Epic is servicing more than 36 countries.

"We have really established Epic as a twisting specialty parts and service supplier," Crenshaw said. "Twisters are often overlooked, whether it is carpet or fine-count, cabling or two-for-one. For Epic, it's been a successful niche. We established a second facility in Dalton, Ga., to get us closer to the customers in the carpet business, and I hope we will continue to prove ourselves as supportive partners to their operations."

As a source for replacement parts and rebuild services for yarn-preparation, twisting and cabling machines, Epic manufactures a complete line of the high-use replacement parts for European-manufactured textile heat-set and twisting machinery. The firm also offers the industry twisting rings, ring assemblies, tension devices, yarn and fabric markers, and other related key items.

As an industry resource, however, it is Epic's knowledge-based staff, many with long company tenures and field experience, that make a significant difference in the speed and quality of service delivered to the industry. "We take pride in our staff's ability to solve problems," Crenshaw said. "There is a great focus in the industry on the quality of a single ply of yarn, and often it is the twister that really makes the difference. In plants where twisting is a big part of the plant operation, maintenance is typically performed more regularly. In operations where the machine is idled or not in common use, we try to explain that keeping the machine up to par is just as important. You can ruin a lot of perfectly good single-ply yarn on a poorly maintained twister. Our staff can help companies get the performance they need and at a price they can afford."


Plant and Facilities

A walk through Epic's 37,500-square-foot facility in Southern Pines reveals much more than an extensive parts warehouse. Broken up into sections and work stations, departments range from what one would expect to see in a high-level machine tool manufacturer through specialized assembly and remanufacturing areas. Epic's spindle rebuild room, for example, features all of the specialized tools and balancing machinery necessary for a quality rebuild. The rebuild room also serves as a training area where Epic's staff train industry plant maintenance personnel in proper rebuild procedures.

"Having the capability to make and repair parts and assemblies is critical to our operation," Crenshaw said. "We have staff here that are trained and experienced - they make us perform at a level that is really competitive. In rebuilding and refurbishing parts, they understand what is necessary, and there is very little they haven't seen before. If we weren't able to do that, there is no way we could be as successful globally as we are. We participate in many of the international exhibitions, and that helps us meet customers and explain our services face-to-face. The Internet has also opened up markets to us that we really didn't dream of 10, let alone 30, years ago."

The Future

"I am really grateful we've come as far as we have in 30 years," Crenshaw continued. "We've all strived to make this a company based on real quality and service focused on a part of the industry that can really be impacted by that kind of attention. Our customers know if we are performing, and we will continue to make that happen."
Epic continues to look to the future, adding staff and capabilities to focus on quality within its business niche on a global scale.

Summer 2008

 

Epic Enterprises企业:不只提供配件

在当今的纺织业中，纺织品生产商面对数不胜数的挑战。当高质量、高效率的生产成为全

球范围内的核心竞争力时，对于工厂设备保养与工程细节上的注重，意味着更短的停工

期，更少的浪费以及达到或超过质量标准。

 

在一些情况下 －－ 例如，维护捻线的运行 －－ 恰当的保养可以变为低坏头率与纱线多毛

率，以及延展度的增加和一定程度上的能源节约。这听起来是一个简单的决定，但是即使予最大程度上的关注，保养项目仍然难以执行。

 

如果拥有一个有足够知识辨别运行中的零件与服务错误，并能及时提供符合要求的备用零

件和相关服务，那么工厂设备保养无疑会变得简单。而符合这一要求的供应商之一就是位

于美国北卡罗来纳州Southern Pines的Epic公司。

 

30年与计算

 

在30多年前，确切的说是1977年，Edward Crenshaw建立了Epic公司，致力于一项新兴行

业，即生产符合产业需要的高质量零配件并提供相关的服务。

 

作为发展到今天的Epic企业有限公司，从业务的角度来看，该公司无论是从企业家的历

程，还是第三方供应商如何建立一方天地，满足事业需求，都有一个动人的故事。就

像Epic公司30周年纪念时公司代表说的那样，Crenshaw的第一个办公室在他的公寓中，而

他的壁橱就是他的仓库。经过30年的历程，Epic已经在美国和全球范围内拥有超过800个

客户，为其提供优质服务。尽管Epic早在20多年前已经走向世界，但最近十年来，它才真正

开始致力于国际业务的营造 －－ 最近一段时期致力于发展土耳其、中国和太平洋沿岸国

家。今日，Epic公司已经在超过36个国家开展业务。

 

"我们已经将Epic打造成一个专营捻线零配件与服务的供应商，"Crenshaw说。"捻线商常

常会被忽视，不论是地毯或是细支，或是二合一。对于Epic而言，这是一个成功的生意。我

们在乔治亚州的Dalton建立了第二个工厂，使我们与地毯业务的客户关系更近了一步。同

时，我们也将会继续证明自身对客户的支持能力。"

 

作为为纱线准备、捻线和搓绳机提供零配件和重建服务的生产商，Epic为欧洲产纺织品热

定型和捻线机械提供全套高效零配件。同时，公司也提供工业捻线环、环锭组合、张力装

置、纱线和纤维标记器以及其他相关主要部件。

 

然而，作为产业资源，Epic的员工具备丰富的知识储备，许多人在专业领域中具备丰富的经

验，为该产业提供高质量、迅速的服务。"我们为员工解决问题的能力而感到自

豪，"Crenshaw说道。"一些工厂和设备都十分重视单层纱线的质量，而真正成为分水岭的

则是捻线。在工厂设备中，捻线是一个重要的组成部分，对其的保养工作则更为频繁。在

运作中处于闲置、或使用频率较低的机器，我们试图证明，使其保持标准状态是同样重要

的。在保养工作很差的捻线机你会毁掉很多极佳的单层纱线。我们的员工可以为公司提

供所需帮助，同时只收取合理的费用。"

 

企业及设备

 

参观过在Southern Pines的Epic公司37500平方米的工厂设备，你会发现它不仅仅是一个

密集的零配件仓库。工厂分为不同区域与工作点，其中也有我们在高级机器工具制造商处

此能见到的部门分类，从特别装配部门到改制部门，一应俱全。例如，Epic的锭子改制车间

具备所有的专业工具和在完成改制中所需要的一切平衡机械。改制车间同样辟出了一块

培训区，Epic公司的员工就在此处进行关于产业设备保养人员使用恰当的重建工序的培训。

 

"对我们的运作而言，有能力成功制造和维修配件和组件是至关重要的，"Crenshaw说道。

"我们的员工均经过培训，经验丰富 －－ 他们的表现极具竞争力。在改制和再磨光零配件

方面，他们知识丰富、见多识广，可以说他们很少会碰见自己没有见过的事。如果我们无

法完成的话，那么我们就一定无法达到今天在全球的地位。我们参加了很多国际展览，这

有助于我们认识客户，并可以面对面向他们推介我们的服务。网络也帮助我们打开了市

场，这是我们在10年前都未曾想到的，遑论30年前。"

 

未来

 

"对于我们30年可以一路走来，我们感到十分庆幸，" Crenshaw接着说。"我们一直致力于

将公司打造成立足于为部分行业提供高质量产品和服务的企业，希望我们的专注能够产生

一定影响力。我们的客户知道我们的执行力，而我们也将始终致力于保持这种高品质的产

品生产与服务。"

 

Epic公司将会在未来增加员工数量，并提高自身能力，通过全球眼光，着重发展范围内产品

与服务的质量。

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