Facts on Epoke’s history

The groundwork of the company Epoke, today one of the leading manufacturers worldwide of machinery for icy roads control, was laid at the beginning of the 1930s, when Alfred Thomsen established a small business selling “Grab” drain cleaners and other relatively simple, yet efficient tools.

1930s

Ole Christian Thomsen, who was a district engineer with the road authorities of Ribe, Denmark, invented the drain cleaner Grab as well as a grit spreader featuring a spreading disc.

In 1936 production of the “real” Grab was started in the small town of Hejls. Since then approx. 400 000 Grab drain cleaners have been sold. (At the end of the 1980s, the production was relocated to Askov at Vejen, Denmark.

1950s

In the 1950s production of the “real” Epoke sand and salt spreaders featuring the Epoke principle invented by Alfred Thomsen was started in Vejen.

In 1956 the first sole distribution agreement outside Denmark was made with C. Grindvold A/S, Norway, still the sole distributor of Epoke products in Norway.

In 1957 the premises in the center of Vejen became too small, and the present factory in Askov was established.

1960s

In the 1960s export trade was expanded to all of Europe, North America, etc. with distributors in 23 countries. At the same time production was expanded to include grass mowers, sweepers, asphalt machinery and other equipment as well.

1990s- today

Epoke now owned by the 3rd generation.

With subsidiary companies in Germany and Poland and the as well as dealers in Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and USA Epoke is the most export oriented manufacturer of machinery for icy and slippery roads control.

Epoke now has approximately 200 employees in Denmark and 30 employees with foreign subsidiaries.

The Epoke product range includes sand and salt spreaders, liquid spreaders, combination spreaders, airport spreaders as well as sweepers, snow plows and professional grass mowers for tractors and trucks. Even today Alfred Thomsen’s invention of the Epoke principle in 1955 forms the basis of the Epoke spreaders and is still considered to be the best principle for the spreading of sand and salt.

More than 100 000 Epoke machines in operation worldwide.

As part of our efforts to maintain high product quality, Epoke is ISO 9001 certified.

Member of EUnited - European Association of Municipal Equipment Manufacturers.