PDC has delivered automation engineering and electrical system design/build services for industrial production facilities for nearly 50 years, working across discrete, process, and mixed-use manufacturing environments.
BY THE NUMBERS
Manufacturing facilities run complex, high-voltage systems where electrical failures directly stop production. The numbers below reflect why design accuracy, safety compliance, and experienced contractors matter on the plant floor.
Injury Rate Reduction
~10–20%
in facilities increasing automation intensity
Annual Downtime Cost Exposure
~$50B+
lost annually in the U.S. due to unplanned downtime
Downtime Reduction
~20–40%
with predictive maintenance technologies
Manufacturing facilities run high-voltage systems where motor-driven equipment accounts for the majority of electrical load, automation controls govern production directly, and an unplanned outage stops output immediately. Electrical and automation work in these environments require accurate load calculations, proper integration of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and variable frequency drives (VFDs) with existing equipment, and compliance with both NEC Article 670 for industrial machinery and NFPA 70E electrical safety standards. Getting that work right the first time is not optional when the cost of downtime is measured in lost production.
Motor control center (MCC) design, fabrication, and installation
PLC and HMI programming for production line automation
Electrical system design for new construction and facility expansions
Conveyor, material handling, and robotic integration wiring
Preventative maintenance, thermal imaging, and field service
VFD installation with harmonic analysis and mitigation
Backup power and redundant feed design
Electrical troubleshooting and fault diagnosis
Low-voltage systems: fire alarm, security, voice/data
Manufacturing projects rarely arrive with complete documentation, and PDC starts by verifying what is actually installed before committing to scope. Work gets planned around production schedules, not the other way around, with phased outages coordinated in advance so every window is used efficiently. Because PDC handles electrical contracting, automation engineering, and UL 508A control panel fabrication under one contract, installation and programming can move simultaneously without gaps between trades. After commissioning, PDC stays involved, and technicians who built the system are the ones who service it.
Our Commitment
PDC brings electrical contracting, automation engineering, and in-house fabrication to manufacturing projects that require all three to work together.
After a controls system is commissioned or an electrical installation is complete, PDC remains the point of contact when something needs attention. In manufacturing environments, that matters because production equipment gets modified, processes change, and control programs sometimes need revision months after startup.
PDC works under NEC Article 670 for industrial machinery installations and coordinates with NFPA 70E requirements for arc flash assessments and lockout/tagout program support.
When a facility adds a new production cell or installs an additional MCC, the upstream infrastructure is already positioned to support it, which reduces the cost and disruption of future work.
As a single point of coordination, PDC handles electrical contracting, automation engineering, and controls fabrication under one contract. That matters in manufacturing environments where electrical installation and controls programming have to proceed in parallel. When the contractor pulling wire and the engineer writing PLC code are the same organization, there is less room for scope to fall between trades.
PROJECT EXPERIENCE
PDC has completed electrical and automation projects in manufacturing facilities ranging from control system replacements and equipment additions to full-facility electrical builds. Work has included motor control center installations, VFD retrofits, production line automation, and power distribution upgrades across both discrete and process manufacturing operations throughout our service area.
Electrical Contracting/Agriculture
PDC served as the electrical contractor for a massive multi-year expansion of Grande Cheese's Juda, Wisconsin, facility—doubling production capacity across the cheese plant, whey plant, and wastewater systems.
Electrical & Automation/Cheese Production
PDC Electrical Contractors provided electrical engineering and installation for a fully automated, state-of-the-art system requiring removal of existing equipment and demolition of legacy electrical and control systems. A 10-day plant shutdown was scheduled for summer 2020 to complete the transition.
Electrical Contracting/Industrial
Brewster Cheese Plant and Summit Ridge Energy partnered to develop 22.66 acres of renewable energy across two adjacent solar arrays—a Distributed Generation (DG) field serving the cheese plant directly and a Community Solar field exporting to the ComEd utility grid.
Electrical Contracting/Agriculture
Premier Co-op completed construction of a feed mill, where PDC Electrical Contractors assisted with the design and installation of the electrical system.
Connect with PDC
Looking for comprehensive automation and electrical solutions that can jumpstart your business? Or are you searching for expert advice on the latest equipment? Contact our team today to discuss your needs, ask questions, and begin a trusted partnership that supports your long-term success.
