Industrial Electrical, Low-Voltage, Fire Alarm & Security | Marion, IA
Project Facts
- Location: Marion Enterprise Center, Marion, IA
- Size: 30,000 sf
- Timeline: February 2015 – July 2016
- Nelson’s Role: Electrical engineer and contractor
- Owner: ELPLAST America
- General Contractor: Primus
- Services: Design-build electrical, electrical engineering, electrical construction, low-voltage, fire alarm, security cameras
Overview
Brought in through an established relationship with the general contractor, Nelson Electric handled the complete electrical scope for ELPLAST America’s new North American headquarters and production facility, including electrical design, engineering, construction, low-voltage, fire alarm, and security systems. The building was one of the first developments in the Marion Enterprise Center.
Scope of Work
Nelson provided full electrical design and engineering for the 30,000 sf headquarters and manufacturing plant, then built it: a 3,000-amp, 480-volt electrical service, complete power distribution, low-voltage systems, fire alarm, and security cameras. Keeping design, engineering, and field installation within one team was essential on a project with a heavy industrial power load and imported equipment.
The Challenge
ELPLAST’s processing equipment was European, running at 400 volts rather than the 480 volts standard for American equipment—an unusual power requirement that had to be engineered for from the start. The installation also called for a 1,000 kVA dry-type transformer so large it couldn’t be moved through a finished building. On top of that, material and equipment procurement times ran long and had to be planned around.
Nelson’s Solution
Nelson engineered the service to accommodate the European equipment’s 400-volt requirement, alongside the building’s standard 480-volt service. To place the oversized transformer, Nelson coordinated with the construction sequence so walls were left open until the unit was set, then built in around it. Early planning around long procurement lead times kept the installation on schedule despite the specialized equipment.
The Result
The completed facility became ELPLAST America’s North American headquarters and production plant, supporting the Polish company’s aggressive growth plans and allowing them to run production 24/7.
