EPCOS Capacitors — Full TDK Electronics Range Available

The EPCOS to TDK Transition

EPCOS AG was founded in 1999 as a spin-off from Siemens AG's passive components division, headquartered in Munich, Germany. The name “EPCOS” stood for Electronic Parts and COmponentS. EPCOS quickly became one of Europe's largest manufacturers of film capacitors, aluminum electrolytic capacitors, power factor correction systems, and ceramic components.

In 2009, TDK Corporation acquired EPCOS for approximately €1.3 billion. Since then, EPCOS products have been gradually rebranded as TDK Electronics. However, many products in the field — and in procurement databases — still carry EPCOS part numbers and branding, creating a cross-reference challenge for maintenance and procurement teams.

EPCOS / TDK Part Number Cross-Reference

EPCOS part numbers typically start with a B prefix followed by a 5-digit series code. When transitioning to TDK, most products retained their EPCOS part numbers as secondary identifiers. Here are the most common series:

Common EPCOS Sourcing Challenges

• Part number confusion — The same physical capacitor may appear as an EPCOS part in an existing BOM but only be orderable under its TDK part number from major distributors.
• Discontinued EPCOS-only series — Some older EPCOS product lines were discontinued during the TDK integration and have no direct TDK equivalent, requiring cross-reference to alternative manufacturers.
• Long lead times — During supply chain disruptions, TDK/EPCOS film and electrolytic capacitors can go on allocation with 26-52 week lead times. Specap's independent sourcing network can often locate available inventory faster.
• Legacy Siemens parts — Some very old installations reference “Siemens” capacitor part numbers that predated the EPCOS spin-off. These require an additional cross-reference step that our team can handle.

Frequently Asked Questions