Life after military service is taking shape in NECA’s Veteran Recruitment Program (VRP) which is finding a place for veterans in the electrical industry, according to Electrical Contractor magazine. It recently spotlighted NECA contractor ArchKey Solutions efforts to engage the skills of veterans via VRP. In the article, Leslie Borgmeyer, talent acquisition director at ArchKey Solutions, St. Louis notes “we’ve worked hard to get in front of the next generation, but we also need to broaden the pipeline beyond the traditional sources, which is why programs like this are so exciting.” From her experience, Borgmeyer said military veterans make ideal additions to the electrical contracting industry’s workforce. She said they bring a mission-driven mindset that aligns with the teamwork and accountability needed on project sites. Learn more.

NECA contractor MidStates Energy’s latest blog has a word of caution for facility managers who might assume enclosed critical bus ducts are free from contamination. “In reality, dust, humidity, corrosion, and even pests can find their way inside.” “Bus ducts carry high levels of electrical power throughout a building or industrial plant. They are compact, efficient, and easier to install than cable systems, but they don’t maintain themselves. Over time, heat cycles, vibration, and environmental conditions create weaknesses that can lead to shorts, arc flashes, or complete power loss. A single failure in a bus duct run can shut down a production line, stall a data center, or damage sensitive equipment. This is why consistent maintenance isn’t optional—it’s a critical layer of protection for your electrical infrastructure.” Learn more.

One of the strengths of our NECA contractors is prefabrication, which delivers greater precision, safety and efficiency in installations. And its application is virtually limitless. Schaeffer Electric and its IBEW workforce recently demonstrated that with a new prefab Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) rack. A VFD rack is used to control the speed of the electric motors and the feed pumps that are used in various industrial facilities. The one Schaeffer prefabbed and installed features four VFDs from 1.8 kVA up to 37.4 kVA. Note the large tan control cabinet which was mounted and prewired in Schaeffer’s prefab shop. The prefab work allowed Schaeffer’s workforce to stay out of a congested area with the other trades and get a large amount of work done in a short period of time. Overall, Schaeffer noted that “Prefabricated assemblies like this are a huge win for efficiency, quality, and smooth installation in the field.”