United Electric Controls (UEC) Celebrates 90-Year Anniversary

United Electric Controls (UEC) designs and manufactures industrial safety and control solutions for alarming and emergency shutdown of process equipment.

UEC recently celebrated 90 years in business at its headquarters in Watertown, Massachusetts, USA.

Surviving the great depression

The company was incorporated in the Boston area in 1931, after combining two then-recent inventions, the metal bellows and a snap-acting switch to create a control for oil burners. 

United Electric Controls survived the Great Depression by providing thermostatic controls for chicken brooders, after which came World War II and UEC provided pressure switches for fuel tank warning systems on Navy carriers and minesweepers.

Modern innovations 

UEC remains a valued supplier to heavy industries oil & gas refining, chemical, power, water & wastewater

From those humble beginnings through to UEC’s modern-day innovations like the first 2-wire electronic switch, the first Safety Integrity Level (SIL-2) switch, and the first 5-year battery-operated wireless HART gas detector, UEC remains a valued supplier to heavy industries oil & gas refining, chemical, power, water & wastewater.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for equipment including fire suppression, pump systems, burner systems, and many others also rely on the value and reliability of UEC products.

reliable, value-added solutions

“Providing reliable, value-added solutions and earning the trust of the companies we work with has always been the key to our longevity in this business,” said Dave Wilbur, United Electric Controls’ General Manager, adding “We listen to our customers and continuously update and innovate our products to meet ever-changing industry requirements.”

Just-in-time system

United Electric Controls was an early adopter of the just-in-time, continuous improvement production system

The innovation does not stop at the product solution level either. United Electric Controls was an early adopter of the just-in-time, continuous improvement production system pioneered by Dr. Shigeo Shingo at Toyota.

Shortly after beginning their lean manufacturing journey, UEC won the award named in Dr. Shingo’s honor, the prestigious North American Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence.

Action Centers

It was an affirmation of providing customers with the shortest lead times, lowest cost, and increased quality via waste elimination and mistake-proofing (poka-yoke) methods.

More importantly, all United Electric Controls employees were encouraged and empowered to launch and participate in ‘Action Centers’ and improve processes around UEC. This philosophy remains a strong component of UEC’s work culture in place till today.

English as a Second Language (ESL) program

Since UEC employed a multicultural workforce, all employees needed to have a voice

This coincided with UE’s extensive involvement in education and literacy, particularly the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Since UE employed a multicultural workforce, all employees needed to have a voice if the new continuous improvement system were to succeed.

It was a rewarding endeavor as employees learned the skills required to communicate continuous improvement ideas that ultimately benefited the customers we served. As a further testament, a visit to UEC by former Massachusetts Governor William Weld and the late, former First Lady Barbara Bush who championed adult literacy, showed UEC as a model for workplace literacy.

Chairman's comment

United Electric Controls' Chairman of the Board, Dave Reis summed it up best in a statement to employees regarding the company’s ninetieth anniversary, “We have a lot to celebrate. Ninety years and going stronger than ever. Thank you again for making UEC such a wonderful company. You succeed many other great employees who came before you going back to 1931 and carry on a proud tradition and legacy.”