A year of planning and strategizing for a power upgrade at Brainard Rivet in Girard came down to a six-hour window of critically timed electrical work. CR Electric calls it an intense project to tackle.
Brainard Rivet needed to change over from an 800-amp service to 2,000 amps. The company manufactures fasteners, rivets and pins for the agricultural, energy, furniture, health care, mining, railroad, transportation and general metalworking industries.
New substation part of power upgrade
“They came to us needing new equipment, and that required engineering a new substation and whole new electrical service,” said Jason Rubin, president of CR Electric.
The plan was designed around Brainard Rivet’s aging equipment – as some of which has been around for more than 100 years.
“It all went smoothly. The entire project was built out before we scheduled the shutdown to transfer service from the old substation to the new one. Then, we fired everything up and didn’t have one issue – not one,” he said.
A well-executed plan
First Energy also assisted CR Electric with the changeover. After six hours, 12 bucket trucks and a 14-person crew, Brainard Rivet was back to business as usual.
“I am blessed, as an owner, to have amazing NECA-IBEW Electricians. I love my employees. I have the best employees. My customers are great as well. I am appreciative of everything,” Rubin said.
It’s also noteworthy that Rubin’s dad, Marc, was instrumental in designing the project. He turned 80 at the end of 2023 and remains the in-house engineer. CR Electric has been doing work for Brainard Rivet for the last eight years.
CR Electric is a member contractor of NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.