MG Electric amps up energy in Steelite warehouse project
From the first underground runs to the finishing touches, MG Electric smoothly handled Steelite International’s new 325,000-square-foot warehouse distribution center in New Castle.
The project gives the company a major new hub for its global distribution operation, which includes products for restaurants, casinos, hotels and other hospitality customers.
“From the ground up, it was really interesting,” said Mark Gentile, vice president at MG Electric. “There was a lot of excavation involved just to get the building there, and for us, it was a large service and just a little bit of everything electrical.”
Scale, speed and extra hands
The job began around June 2025 and electricians were substantially finished in May. With the size of the project, MG Electric was able to get manpower support through IBEW Local 712 in western Pennsylvania.
“It was super-fast-paced. At one point, we had more than 20 electricians going.”
Steelite is also no stranger to MG Electric.
“A couple of years ago, we did their showroom and corporate headquarters in Youngstown, so the relationship was already there,” Gentile said.
For the new warehouse, MG Electric supplied a 4,000-amp service for the building and provisions for a possible future addition.
“It’s substantial. If the addition happens, that would be another 325,000 square feet.”
Getting power to the building required a long run from the main service at the road to the new facility.
“It was more than half a mile of pipe we had to run for Penn Power to feed the building, so that was another adventure,” he said.
MG Electric illuminates craftsmanship
Inside the warehouse, the energy-efficient lighting package supports a large distribution operation where inventory is received, stored and prepared for shipment.
“There are more than 1,000 high bay lights. For a building that size, the lighting was a big part of the job.”
Much of the work carried through the winter months while the building was still open to the elements.
“It was a cold winter, and the building was wide open,” Gentile said. “It was tough, but the guys fired through all that and did a great job.”
As the work wrapped up, electricians assisted with the final signage around the property. Being at the warehouse shows that MG Electric has the ability to meet the demands of large-scale construction.
“It was a bigger job for us, but it’s been a good one. Merus gave us the opportunity to be part of this impressive project, and it was a great partnership,” Gentile said.
MG Electric is a member contractor of NECA-IBEW Electricians, an association consisting of IBEW Local 64 in Youngstown, IBEW Local 573 in Warren and signatory electrical contractors throughout the Mahoning Valley.
