Our Story: The Adventure Behind Enercon

How Enercon Engineering Began
In 1975, inside a small garage in Chillicothe, Illinois, five men — Ed Tangel, Bill Rogers, Bill Steele, Bill Phelps, and Diz Small — took a bold leap. Sensing uncertainty at their former company, they united with a shared vision: to build a future centered around helping others through the world of secure power solutions. With the support of their families, they founded Enercon Engineering — a company built on passion, commitment, and the belief that enjoying your work leads to doing it exceptionally well.

Their goal was simple but powerful: to create a workplace fueled by purpose and camaraderie, where success was measured not just by financial gain, but by the joy of collaboration and achievement. Today, nearly five decades later, Enercon continues to thrive as a company where people are passionate, energized, and committed to building a better future — together.

From a Family Business to a Business of Families
Enercon’s beginnings were rooted in family — the Tangels, the Rogers, and countless friends and lifelong acquaintances. Over time, it evolved into what CEO Larry Tangel describes as a "business of families" — a place where strong business practices and a deep commitment to supporting employee families go hand-in-hand. “We think of ourselves as a business of families because we want to stay connected to our WHY: caring for our families by actualizing our skills, serving our customers, and delivering secure, reliable power solutions.” — Larry Tangel, CEO

At Enercon, success is measured by creating highly valued solutions that support the well-being and prosperity of every family connected to the company.

Global Vision from the Start
From the very beginning, Ed and Bill set their sights beyond U.S. borders. Within three years, over 50% of Enercon’s products were being exported to growing international markets — a major differentiator at a time when most U.S. switchgear suppliers focused solely on domestic sales. This early commitment to global business not only expanded Enercon’s reach but also fortified its position as an industry leader in power system controls and paralleling switchgear.

Another pivotal milestone was Enercon’s selection by Caterpillar as their outsourced switchgear partner. From 1977 to 1995, Enercon designed and built Caterpillar-branded paralleling switchgear at its East Peoria facility. Caterpillar’s endorsement — often telling dealers, “We use Enercon!” — was invaluable to Enercon’s rapid growth and reputation for quality.

Culture and Resilience
Enercon’s success was never built on technical expertise alone. A culture of commitment, customer focus, and fun made all the difference. During the 1982–83 recession, while many businesses struggled, Enercon expanded — acquiring Custom Engineering, a packaging company whose customers, staff, and family ties aligned perfectly with Enercon’s mission and markets.

This strategic move allowed Enercon to offer customers a complete solution, combining paralleling switchgear with custom genset packaging — strengthening its position as a full-service provider for critical power applications.

The Adventure Continues
Today, Enercon operates under the leadership of Ed and Larry Tangel and is structured into three specialized business units:

Integrated Energy Solutions (IES) – Supporting industrial and commercial energy needs
Integrated Defense Solutions (IDS) – Delivering secure power for military and defense applications
Engineered Systems (ES) – Specializing in industrial control panels, mobile packages, and custom engineering

To sharpen operations and alignment, Enercon implemented the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) — a proven model helping organizations clarify their vision, strengthen teamwork, and drive consistent results.

With major successes like the THAAD Prime Power Unit in defense, a resurgence in paralleling switchgear solutions, and rapid growth in custom control panels, Enercon’s future is brighter than ever.

Customers for Life
Whether the project calls for custom-engineered solutions or standardized power products, Enercon’s core mission remains unchanged: building Customers for Life. It’s this relentless focus on service, quality, and relationships that has powered Enercon’s growth for nearly half a century — and will continue to fuel the company into the future.

In 2025, Enercon Engineering proudly celebrates its 50th year of delivering secure and reliable power solutions worldwide.