The ZI-58 is unique because normal incremental encoders only have fixed disk outputs that supply a stated number of steps or pulses. This might be a maximum of 1024, 512, 256 etc.. The TR ZI-58 has a maximum of 132,072 steps (32,768 pulses) which can be software programmed to almost any level up to its maximum, even while the encoder is physically installed on a machine on site. This is of tremendous use to designers of machinery because they can make "tweaking" adjustments after everything is up and running.
In addition, with the TR ZI-58 you only need to hold one encoder as a spare part instead of one of each of all the fixed disk types.