OfCurrent Importance

Volume 3, Issue 1
Clean room skills power battery plant projects.
In today’s business world, the competition is
fierce, and a popular mantra suggests that
a company “zig when the others zag.” That
sounds good in theory, but the bottom line
is that when you are building and equipping
your manufacturing plant, you go with the
best, most trustworthy partners for your most
critical systems. And for three competitors in
the advanced technology battery industry, that
means relying upon the same company for
those systems: Feyen Zylstra.
In recent months, our client Johnson
Controls has selected Feyen Zylstra to
complete major projects independently at two
battery plants in the Holland, Michigan area
and one in Midland. The main factor in our
selection, in addition to a very positive track
record in our work for Johnson Controls, was
our unique expertise in the area of emerging
battery technology and specifically in the area
of “clean rooms.”
Clean room protocols aren’t
merely challenging – they are absolutes:
contamination can’t merely be reduced – it
must be eliminated. Every piece of equipment,
cabling, etc., must be carefully cleaned
and brought in with extreme care – and its
installation and mounting require demanding
attention to air tight seals. Every hole drilled
has to be filled to maintain low humidity and
the clean room environment – and those
standards typically become even stricter as
projects progress and the rooms approach
operational status.
The battery manufacturers and work
involved for each included:
• LG Chem – the installation of HVAC
control systems, process boiler controls, and
In This Issue
MANUFACTURING CLIENTS POINT
THE WAY TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY 1
FEYEN ZYLSTRA’S EXPERIENCE
WITH FOOD MANUFACTURING 1
THE PUMPKIN∏ EXPERIENCE
BY ROGER TJOELKER
2
NEWS, NOTES, AND MORE
2
MAKING STRIDES BREAST CANCER
WALK: MAY 5, 2012 3
210 Front Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616-224-7707
Fax 616-224-7799
4
2969 Keystone Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49686
231-486-8800
Fax 231-486-8882
1-800-748-0180 • www.feyenzylstra.com
• JCI/SAFT (now JCI) – the design and
installation of several systems; building
management, security (with cameras), and gas
detection, all as part of a building remodel plus
additions. The design and construction of the
gas detection system was handled by Feyen
Zylstra’s System Engineering group, with the
Energy Management Systems group handling
all of the system installations.
• Dow Kokam – systems for building
management, fire alarm, outdoor cameras and
card access.
Two of the projects were completed in January,
with some additional work continuing in
related areas. The second project is nearing
completion of its second phase.
Several other aspects of Feyen Zylstra’s Power
of Knowledge have come into play in the
course of handling these projects.
Adaptability. Feyen Zylstra’s expertise
allowed it to perform smoothly under
potentially stressful changes in schedule,
equipment requirements and adjustments,
and other factors, all understandable in an
emerging industry that is, itself, learning as
it gains experience. Pre-planning helped us
foresee and prepare for some changes, and
our training and background allowed us to
react quickly in other cases.
Resources. Our multi-discipline capabilities
allowed us to call upon other Feyen Zylstra
departments as necessary to apply the most
relevant and valuable expertise. In addition,
our available manpower allowed us to maintain
timelines that would likely have caused other
companies to struggle. In one project, the
onsite mechanical contractor asked us to
handle some additional electrical work not a
part of the original project scope; we were able
to accommodate that request without losing
time or focus.
Safety Awareness. While still a part of
Feyen Zylstra’s overall expertise, it is worth
pointing out safety considerations. One
project’s deadlines called for virtually all trades
to be on site at the same time, working in
confined spaces. This greatly ratcheted up
safety concerns. With our awareness of and
adherence to all critical protocols, we were
able to complete the work safely within the
timelines.
Client satisfaction with our work is very high,
citing our expertise and technical skills as well
as our adaptability, all leading to flawless, ontime startups. We hope to do additional work
for these battery plants in the future, and our
performance on the projects cited here will be
a major factor in earning that opportunity.
We are also gratified on a larger scale.
The growth of these plants and this entire
advanced battery industry signals growth in
a very important area for the state and the
region. These efforts all create jobs – good
ones – that will help further energize Michigan’s
employment outlook for years to come.
The Power of Knowledge sounds like a “big
picture” concept; but it can have important
effects for many hard-working individuals in our
area.
Of
Current Importance
Success on the menu for Feyen
Zylstra’s food customers.
Feyen Zylstra has a long list of clients, from heavy manufacturing to
sensitive data centers and future-forward renewable energy concerns.
But there’s one area in which our customers’ products are “up close and
personal” with millions of regular folk throughout the US: FOOD!
Feyen Zylstra customers involved in food production have enjoyed a tasty
business boom recently, and we've been thrilled to help them upgrade
power and communication systems to handle it.
Michigan Turkey Producers. About 13 years ago, we worked with them
to retrofit a building taken over from a potato processor! Through the
years, our electrical construction and service groups have worked with
them on several facilities in Grand Rapids, addressing every stage of
the operation from raw meat acquisition, cutting and processing, and
packaging. Separation of these activities is an FDA requirement, and
we’ve been there to assist the company in complying with maximum
production efficiency. We even provide an in-plant service technician to
handle all electrical maintenance for their many locations.
New work scheduled includes lighting, chillers, steel and insulation on
building exteriors, and other equipment-related tasks.
Pearson Foods. Think green here! Pearson grows sprouts and veggies,
marketing them locally in prepackaged containers. Feyen Zylstra has
helped them with primary electrical service and bringing new equipment
on line for more than five years. We’ve installed new lighting throughout
their entire facility, and our service department is on call for any
emergency needs.
Butterball Farms. You won’t find a better butter! (Sorry, we just had to
say that.) We’ve handled several projects for the company, integrating
several machines to work together for an efficient production process.
Recently we have also installed controls designed to streamline the
process of making cinnamon and other flavored butters. The company
markets quality butter products under their own brand and handles
contract manufacturing for well-known national brands.
JBS Packerland. A relatively new client for Feyen Zylstra, this company
handles the complete spectrum of beef processing. Our service group
has done considerable work on equipment hookups for wash and brine
systems and other expansions. Recently, our system engineering and
electrical construction groups have been selected to do programming
and pipe wire and install, respectively, for a new conveyor system for
the company's Arizona facility. It's been an interesting process, requiring
training and certification in food sanitation and extreme vigilance and
training for safety-related issues, due to the heavy machinery involved.
Yoplait. Feyen Zylstra’s relationship with Yoplait goes a long way! In the
last three-plus years, we have done work for the General Mills company
as far away as Germany (for pre-wiring equipment before shipping here)
and California, in many cases using the same crews at each facility. We
are currently at work for Yoplait installing new production facilities in
Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
210 Front Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
BATTERY PLANT PROJECTS critical temperature/humidity/particle counter
monitoring; the original plan called for more
than 6,000 man hours of labor in just 90 days!
A quarterly publication from
Feyen Zylstra clients gear up as economic
clouds begin to clear up
In recent months, positive signs have finally
shown up for our economy here in Michigan. Tax
revenues have increased to the point that the
state has a budget surplus. The unemployment
rate has dropped from 12.6% at the worst of the
recession to 9.3% today.
And how do things look for the manufacturing
sector, which alone accounts for 20% of the
state’s economy? According to Robert Dye,
Chief Economist for Comerica Bank, as quoted
in February on ABC News Radio “…we’ve seen
manufacturing stabilize and start to come back.”
At Feyen Zylstra, we’ve seen some encouraging
signs of our own, as many of our manufacturing
clients have embarked on projects that promise
to expand capacity or improve their processes.
Let’s look at a few of them!
Amway Corporation. We mentioned a positive
note at Amway in our last newsletter. The
company is relocating a major nutritional facility
from California to Ada, Michigan. New equipment
was purchased, and existing equipment in the
Ada facility was upgraded for this change. So
Michigan benefits from capital investment and the
likely addition of a number of new jobs.
Dawn Foods. The menu wouldn’t be complete without baked goods!
Feyen Zylstra has earned very positive feedback for its low-voltage work
on the company’s corporate headquarters and laboratory facilities in
Jackson, Michigan. We’re thrilled to work with this international company
that provides retail and foodservice cakes, cookies, donuts, muffins, and
many other such “goodies” to small stores, large chains and institutions
in every state and many countries. And their kind words are, well, icing
on the cake!
Roskam Bakery-Advanced Food Technology. One of our more recent
additions, we are starting work with this Michigan company that makes
flours for breads and other products. (You’ve probably had their croutons
on your salad!) Our work will involve improvements to their batching and
blending operations.
SPI Pharma. Many projects have marked our
seven-year relationship with SPI Pharma; the
Michigan manufacturing facility has undergone a
number of upgrades during that period. Feyen
Zylstra has helped with the activation of new
batching and blending lines, and in helping to
ensure that all new lines and processes are
installed to maximum safety standards.
Our engineering group has recently provided
controls and automation involved in the production
of ingredients for a new pharmaceutical product,
and we anticipate helping with a production
expansion in the near future. Things are moving
forward, and Feyen Zylstra is delighted to be
going along.
Esco. Esco makes chemical coatings for thermal
and other specialty papers. They are currently
upgrading their production processes with new
equipment, installed with the assistance of our
service department in running power and installing
control systems.
The project was an interesting and beneficial one
for us, as well – ALL of the five Feyen Zylstra
work groups were involved in the project. Our
ability to plan and execute seamlessly was a huge
advantage.
ADAC Automotive. The automotive industry is
helping to lead the manufacturing recovery; car
sales in January were up 11% over the previous
year. And the impact can be felt through any
number of West Michigan automotive suppliers.
ADAC Automotive, supplier of exterior auto
components like door handles, mirror and
antennae hardware, and lighting assemblies, has
been a valued Feyen Zylstra client for more than
20 years. We have done a great deal of controls
and wiring projects, and are currently working with
them to upgrade the performance of machinery in
their Muskegon, Michigan plant. In addition, we
designed and built testing equipment for them to
export to a company with whom they partner in
China.
The Power of Knowledge has been essential in our efforts for Yoplait,
helping us to not only be more competitive, but to offer more creative
and productive solutions for a better operational process. They’re very
happy with our work, and we’re very happy that we are able to service
them throughout the US.
Gerber. Feyen Zylstra is excited to be working with this respected
company that produces baby food and other related products. We have
recently begun work on an extensive expansion project. The work involves
food processing areas with many stainless steel assemblies, requiring
advanced sanitation training and procedures. It’s early, but the client is
already pleased with our start-up efforts and thorough communication.
"Baby steps" – but very good ones!
An Electrical Services Firm
Benteler Automotive. Another prominent auto
supplier, Benteler Automotive, has chosen Feyen
Zylstra for projects at several of its facilities.
Our system engineering and service groups are
performing the following work:
•T
he installation of new machinery and controls
equipment to upgrade weld cells and leak
testing capabilities on the company’s automotive
exhaust system lines.
•A
n upgrade to the robotic welding center at
another of the company’s facilities with new
equipment and control systems.
•A
t a third Benteler facility, the addition of
new equipment and controls for lines used in
manufacturing suspension components for
Ford Motor Company vehicles including the
Focus, the Fusion, and the electric car.
Whirlpool. One Fortune 500 company wasn’t
content to wait for evidence of the recovery
choosing instead to help create it. Whirlpool’s
corporate stature makes it a frequent target for
many states wishing to lure its large corporate
headquarters. The company made the dramatic
decision to build its new corporate headquarters
at its Benton Harbor, Michigan location. This was
very welcome news in an area that has long been
challenged economically, but stands to benefit
greatly from the investment and confidence
Whirlpool is placing in it.
Feyen Zylstra is already playing a role on Phase
1 of the corporate office project. In only three
months, our electrical construction group installed
all new power, a new UPS system and A/V
rough-ins. The general rough-in of the facility was
also challenge, as a demanding schedule required
us to accomplish the planning, construction and
installation of all rough-in requirements for above
ceilings and walls in only three weeks.
We also installed a sophisticated lighting system
throughout the facility. It includes efficient lighting
(including LED, cathode and custom) all operated
through a complex control system. That system
integrates scheduled, occupancy and daylightharvesting control technology – and is synced to
work seamlessly with the A/V system within major
conference rooms.
The economic downturn has impacted a great
many companies in recent years. And we’re proud
of our clients, in manufacturing and every other
sector, for working hard to weather the storm
and emerge into the sunnier climate we hope and
believe lies just ahead.
Community Spotlight
The Leading Edge
Want to take on breast cancer?
Perspectives from the leadership team at Feyen Zylstra
The Pumpkin∏ Experience.
In July 2011 my wife and I adopted a pit-bull/
terrier, now known as Pumpkin∏, from the local
Humane Society. Pumpkin∏ is our first dog, and
had you asked me a year prior, I would have said
that this would never happen. I have an early
childhood memory of walking around the corner
of our neighbor’s house only to be knocked over
and bitten by their dog. I was probably around 4
years old at the time. Growing up on a dairy farm
in the Pacific Northwest we always had dogs and
cats around outside, but I never really connected
with them. The concept of a dog as “Man’s Best
Friend” was lost on me, and I’ve always been
very uncomfortable with the idea of having a dog
in the house - particularly a pit-bull. Last year I
stepped out of my comfort zone, making possible
the meeting of Pumpkin∏. She is a beautiful dog,
kind, gentle, and really wonderful to have around.
Clearly, she has enriched our lives!
This Pumpkin∏ story reminds me of poet David
Whyte’s thoughts about going to the edge, when
he says: “In our personal pilgrimages there are
constant edges that we are asked to go to. And
if you shy away from these pioneering edges
because you feel that they lead through doorways
that are too difficult, you stay in a kind of bland
middle… There is no human being who can stay
at the edge all the time and you shouldn’t try and
force yourself to the edge... But, if you don’t spend
any time at all in places where you are being broken
open, where you are being enlarged, where you are
being humiliated, where you’re being re-tooled for
a larger world, then you stay in your old life and can
become haunted by it.”
Think about this concept as it relates to developing
your talent at work. Studies show that the most
important factors in talent development are work
assignments (50%), elective and core experiences
(35%), and applied learning and
coaching (15%). Those work
assignments and experiences
that take people to their “edge”
have a significant impact on talent
development.
I think that this idea of enrichment
and growth through experiences
that push you applies to
organizations as well. Feyen Zylstra
has a rich tradition of going to the edge, embracing
difficulty, and emerging as a stronger company,
re-tooled for a larger future. Our company was
started in 1980, a time of terrible economic
conditions when interest rates were over 20%, with
inflation and unemployment both over 10%. Bob
Zylstra and Marlin Feyen tell stories of growing the
company by taking on difficult projects that other
electrical contractors didn’t want. Fast forward to
2011 where we saw:
• Revenue growth in a period of recession in the
construction industry
• FZ employees travelling around the United States
to work on challenging projects
• A Japanese team meeting with a Feyen Zylstra
team in Grand Rapids to work through the details
of a project at the Misawa Air Base in Japan
(neither team speaks the other’s language)
• The start-up of a Robotics Group
• FZ teaching and certifying Arc Flash and Arc Fault
Awareness to over 150 South Koreans (again
neither team speaks the other’s language)
Time to walk the walk!
Roger Tjoelker with Pumpkin∏
• FZ employees committing to a safety standard
resulting in a .55 EMR and 2.0 incident rate
I sense that our tradition of visiting the edge also
involves taking on the possibility of the impossible.
I have a Chinese proverb hanging in my office
which states “The person who says it cannot be
done should not interrupt the person doing it”. This
view requires a high level of confidence - believing
that we can do the seemingly impossible, and
a great deal of humility - realizing that a sincere
collaboration with others may hold the keys to
doing it.
It is exciting and rewarding to be part of an
organization that visits the edge and encourages
people to create new paths to that frontier. Some
of these paths produce profit; others are an
investment – in either case employees and the
company are being enlarged and re-tooled for the
future. I’ll leave you with part of a poem written by
Antonio Machado in 1912:
Pathmaker there is no path
You make the path by walking
By walking you make the path.
• 75 FZ employees involved in completing a project
with 77,000 man hours
There’s a lot of talk about breast cancer these
days, and that’s great. But doing something
about it is even better. And here’s an excellent
opportunity to do just that!
decided to make a difference by walking and
raising money as a team in our local American
Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer event.
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012
Location: Rosa Parks Circle
Registration Opens: 8am
Walk Begins: 9am
Walk Length: Approx. 3 miles
Feyen Zylstra is proud to be a major sponsor of
the event - and we would like you to be a part
of our efforts! If you’re in the West Michigan
area, why not join us for the walk? We are
inviting all of our friends, partners and clients to
walk with us, or volunteer at the event! All ages
are welcome to participate.
Almost everyone knows someone who has
been affected by breast cancer: a family
member, a close friend, or a neighbor or coworker. On Saturday, May 5, Feyen Zylstra
employees will join lots of other people who are
putting their feet where their hearts are to raise
money to battle this dreaded disease. It’s the
annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
walk, hosted by the American Cancer Society.
The 3-mile walk kicks off at 9 a.m. at the Rosa
Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is more
than just the name of a walk; it describes the
progress we’re making together to end breast
cancer. However, nothing can describe the hope
inspired by walking with hundreds or thousands
of others who share a passion for ending this
disease. Because nearly everyone has been
touched by breast cancer in some way, we’ve
There are other ways to participate as well!
Sponsor a Feyen Zylstra employee for their
participation in the walk as they put their best
foot forward. Donations are welcome too!
They can be sent to our office or dropped off.
All checks should be made out to: American
Cancer Society. If you are willing to volunteer,
donate or you just want more information,
contact Kendra Holtrop at
[email protected].
• There are more than 200 Making Strides
events held across the country each year.
• Participants are encouraged to raise money
online or collect donations to turn in on the
day of the event. Most of these events have
no registration fee or “minimum” amount you
need to raise.
• Nearly 6 million walkers across the U.S. have
raised more than $400 million to help fight
breast cancer through Making Strides events;
more than $60 million in 2009 alone.
Learn more about the organization and the
event at: makingstrides.acsevents.org. Search
for Team Feyen Zylstra where you can watch
our donations grow and track our progress!
Saving lives from breast cancer starts one team,
one walker, and one dollar at a time. Join us on
May 5th and together we can all take real steps
in the right direction in the fight against breast
cancer!
A few quick and encouraging facts:
• The American Cancer Society Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer celebrates people
who have battled breast cancer, educates
people about ways to reduce their risk, and
empowers communities to join the fight.
News, Notes and More...
Higher ed projects call for Feyen
Zylstra’s “best in class” talents.
Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech
to study a precious Michigan resource.
Fresh water is important to every living thing. And
of the usable fresh water resources in the entire
world, about 20% is in our own Great Lakes. So
Feyen Zylstra is excited to be involved in a project
that will help scientists and researches study and
protect that important natural resource with the
construction of the Great Lakes Research Center.
The center is located in Houghton, Michigan at
Michigan Tech University; Michigan Tech is one
of only six universities with capital outlay projects
being funded by the state. When completed, the
Great Lakes Research Center will include aquatic
laboratories, a hydraulics lab and coastal research
instrumentation. It will also house boathouse
facilities, offices and conference rooms.
The Great Lakes Research Center will provide
a home at Michigan Tech for significant
interdisciplinary research and education related
to the Great Lakes. It will also be the official
home of a research and educational partnership
between Michigan Tech and the US Army Corps
of Engineers' Research and Development
Center Environmental Laboratory in Vicksburg,
Mississippi. (The Vicksburg lab is the Corps of
Engineers' water resources research facility.)
Feyen Zylstra’s electrical construction group is
providing wiring for the facility from the ground
(or in some cases the water) up! Much of the
branch wiring and many feeders were placed
underground. And thanks to strong preplanning
between the foreman and Feyen Zylstra’s project
manager, significant prefabrication was used for
in-wall sections.
maintain the switchgear’s UL Listing.
The general contractor is pleased with Feyen
Zylstra’s performance on the project. And for
our part, we’re very pleased to be a part of such
an important new facility which will serve as a
focal point for many scientific collaborations and
intensive future research and study on water. And
for those of us who live in Michigan or throughout
the Great Lakes region, there is no other resource
more worthy of protecting.
In the end, the Feyen Zylstra team was able to
smoothly manage the short time frame shutdown
and complete the necessary switchgear upgrades.
The project was completed under budget and
within the tight time constraints. The client was
extremely pleased, and sent a note of thanks for
our efficiency and professionalism in helping WMU
through a difficult situation.
Feyen Zylstra stands tall when WMU power
system comes up short.
A recent switchgear malfunction caused
problems for Western Michigan University at its
Engineering Campus Paper Coating Pilot Plant
and Power House. Feyen Zylstra was called in to
lead a project team that also included Manning
Enterprises, Havel Bros and WMU engineers
to address the situation caused by the faulty
equipment.
Since the work would require a partial campus
electrical shutdown, it had to be completed,
regardless of weather, during the university’s
holiday recess. Pre-shutdown planning and
cooperation between sub-contractors was very
important to the project’s overall success.
But the timing was only one of the challenges
involved. Another was the fact that the work
involved higher voltages, which required that all
personnel had received special safety training and
the ability to work comfortably and quickly with
primary or medium voltage distribution switchgear.
Our Kalamazoo service group provided custom
equipment design and fabrication on new heating
and venting equipment for the existing primary
switchgear, which still awaited approval from the
original switchgear manufacturer to meet and
New MSU dining facility anything but “spartan.”
January marked the completion of a renovation
and new dining facility at Michigan State
University’s Case Hall. Feyen Zylstra’s electrical
construction and low voltage work groups
coordinated efforts to play a big role in the project,
installing power, lighting and lighting controls, data
and security systems for the building.
While the project included renovations to living
units, academic and public areas in the building,
the most eye-opening – better make that mouthwatering – element of the project is the new
Southe Pointe dining facility. It features five brand
new food venues, including one - Great Lakes
Plate - that features entrees from Michigan and the
Midwest region, and another – Bliss – that includes
crepes made-to-order every day.
The facility has the capacity to seat 650 students,
important given MSU’s constantly growing student
population. A new kitchen and dining room, along
with the largest “Sparty’s” convenience store on
campus, were also part of the project.
Work was completed while students occupied the
building and classes were in session. Strategic
work schedules were designed to minimize
distraction and disruption. Drilling was limited
to a two-hour period each day. Switchgear
was upgraded to meet the increased and more
complex power demands of the new dining facility.
The attachment points for more than 150 high-end
lighting fixtures were digitally surveyed and wired
into a wooden deck ceiling months before the
ceiling area was finished and seating brought in.
The positions had been determined perfectly and
the fixtures installed with no problems.
Students are very pleased with the new dining
facility, and say the end results are well worth the
construction noise and detours!
Grad housing project at CMU a “model” of
efficiency. In January, Feyen Zylstra’s electrical
construction group began work on two new
graduate housing buildings at Central Michigan
University in Mount Pleasant. The spacious units
will provide graduate student couples and families
with a convenient and attractive on-campus
housing option.
The project is challenging, as the job site offers
very little space for parking or the staging of
materials. This has placed special importance on
our ability to pre-plan and map out the process
in great detail, coordinating carefully with all
suppliers so that materials are provided “just
in time.” It also has dictated that the electrical
construction of all the living units and a significant
part of the rest of the building will be prefabricated
at another site and brought in for installation.
This project has also provided an excellent
application of our building information modeling
(BIM) system which helps us manage the design/
build process. It uses three-dimensional real-time
modeling software that allows us to increase
productivity during design and construction,
solving challenges before they arrive and
maximizing safety for all concerned along the way.
Fourth of July project calls for a
“firecracker” performance from
Feyen Zylstra.
Bradford White in Middleville is a busy place.
The popular manufacturer of many kinds of water
heaters has been considering having some work
done on its production lines for several years.
Now, with an eye toward future expansion and
increased production capacity, the company has
pulled the trigger. And the resulting “bang” will be
heard in the days surrounding this Fourth of July.
The company selected Feyen Zylstra to do
the work, which includes upgraded control
panels, machine control upgrades, and machine
communication plant networking. We will also
add and update controls for the company’s water
heater punch and shear operation for tank blanks.
The job itself is complex, but it will be made much
more so by the required schedule. All work must
be completed during the company’s nine-day
shutdown around the Fourth of July (including the
holiday weekend itself.) And to make things even
more interesting, a number of other contractors
will be working in the same space at the same
time, facing the same deadline pressure for their
contributions. So we must get in, do a great deal
of work efficiently, and work around other people
with maximum safety as we do it. That water
heater plant will feel more like a pressure cooker!
Fortunately, this type of situation is a Feyen
Zylstra strength. The Power of Knowledge calls
for extensive preplanning, which will help greatly
in coordinating our efforts with other trades and
avoiding conflicts.
This project is important for the area and for
Michigan. It will likely lead to a plant expansion
at Bradford White, lifting production from 7,000
units per day to 12,000 units per day. This client
has appreciated the quality of our work in the past,
which is a major reason we were chosen for this
project. And we hope that our performance on this
project will lead to our involvement in any future
expansion.
Making way for wireless upgrade
at Amway Grand.
Feyen Zylstra’s low voltage cabling group has
spent the past year helping the Amway Grand
Hotel in Grand Rapids upgrade the quality of
its wireless Internet access for hotel guests.
New access points and cabling were installed in
102 locations throughout the hotel, including is
Pantlind Wing, Tower, lobby and both commercial
concourses.
The work provides more reliable and faster
wireless services for customers. But was no
small task to retrofit the legendary hotel with this
infrastructure. Pathways were almost non-existent;
field techs had to crawl into extremely tight spaces
in the ceilings to create paths, and install wiremold
raceways to connect access points.
The Power of Knowledge made a difference;
extensive pre-planning was invaluable, but so
was Feyen Zylstra’s flexibility to adapt “on the fly”
when situations arose – often the case in such a
classic structure as the Amway Grand, which first
opened in 1913, and by 1925 was ranked as “one
of the ten finest hotels in America!” The client
is extremely happy with the results – and so are
Amway Grand guests and visitors who enjoy stateof-the-art Internet in luxurious surroundings.
Community Spotlight
The Leading Edge
Want to take on breast cancer?
Perspectives from the leadership team at Feyen Zylstra
The Pumpkin∏ Experience.
In July 2011 my wife and I adopted a pit-bull/
terrier, now known as Pumpkin∏, from the local
Humane Society. Pumpkin∏ is our first dog, and
had you asked me a year prior, I would have said
that this would never happen. I have an early
childhood memory of walking around the corner
of our neighbor’s house only to be knocked over
and bitten by their dog. I was probably around 4
years old at the time. Growing up on a dairy farm
in the Pacific Northwest we always had dogs and
cats around outside, but I never really connected
with them. The concept of a dog as “Man’s Best
Friend” was lost on me, and I’ve always been
very uncomfortable with the idea of having a dog
in the house - particularly a pit-bull. Last year I
stepped out of my comfort zone, making possible
the meeting of Pumpkin∏. She is a beautiful dog,
kind, gentle, and really wonderful to have around.
Clearly, she has enriched our lives!
This Pumpkin∏ story reminds me of poet David
Whyte’s thoughts about going to the edge, when
he says: “In our personal pilgrimages there are
constant edges that we are asked to go to. And
if you shy away from these pioneering edges
because you feel that they lead through doorways
that are too difficult, you stay in a kind of bland
middle… There is no human being who can stay
at the edge all the time and you shouldn’t try and
force yourself to the edge... But, if you don’t spend
any time at all in places where you are being broken
open, where you are being enlarged, where you are
being humiliated, where you’re being re-tooled for
a larger world, then you stay in your old life and can
become haunted by it.”
Think about this concept as it relates to developing
your talent at work. Studies show that the most
important factors in talent development are work
assignments (50%), elective and core experiences
(35%), and applied learning and
coaching (15%). Those work
assignments and experiences
that take people to their “edge”
have a significant impact on talent
development.
I think that this idea of enrichment
and growth through experiences
that push you applies to
organizations as well. Feyen Zylstra
has a rich tradition of going to the edge, embracing
difficulty, and emerging as a stronger company,
re-tooled for a larger future. Our company was
started in 1980, a time of terrible economic
conditions when interest rates were over 20%, with
inflation and unemployment both over 10%. Bob
Zylstra and Marlin Feyen tell stories of growing the
company by taking on difficult projects that other
electrical contractors didn’t want. Fast forward to
2011 where we saw:
• Revenue growth in a period of recession in the
construction industry
• FZ employees travelling around the United States
to work on challenging projects
• A Japanese team meeting with a Feyen Zylstra
team in Grand Rapids to work through the details
of a project at the Misawa Air Base in Japan
(neither team speaks the other’s language)
• The start-up of a Robotics Group
• FZ teaching and certifying Arc Flash and Arc Fault
Awareness to over 150 South Koreans (again
neither team speaks the other’s language)
Time to walk the walk!
Roger Tjoelker with Pumpkin∏
• FZ employees committing to a safety standard
resulting in a .55 EMR and 2.0 incident rate
I sense that our tradition of visiting the edge also
involves taking on the possibility of the impossible.
I have a Chinese proverb hanging in my office
which states “The person who says it cannot be
done should not interrupt the person doing it”. This
view requires a high level of confidence - believing
that we can do the seemingly impossible, and
a great deal of humility - realizing that a sincere
collaboration with others may hold the keys to
doing it.
It is exciting and rewarding to be part of an
organization that visits the edge and encourages
people to create new paths to that frontier. Some
of these paths produce profit; others are an
investment – in either case employees and the
company are being enlarged and re-tooled for the
future. I’ll leave you with part of a poem written by
Antonio Machado in 1912:
Pathmaker there is no path
You make the path by walking
By walking you make the path.
• 75 FZ employees involved in completing a project
with 77,000 man hours
There’s a lot of talk about breast cancer these
days, and that’s great. But doing something
about it is even better. And here’s an excellent
opportunity to do just that!
decided to make a difference by walking and
raising money as a team in our local American
Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer event.
Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012
Location: Rosa Parks Circle
Registration Opens: 8am
Walk Begins: 9am
Walk Length: Approx. 3 miles
Feyen Zylstra is proud to be a major sponsor of
the event - and we would like you to be a part
of our efforts! If you’re in the West Michigan
area, why not join us for the walk? We are
inviting all of our friends, partners and clients to
walk with us, or volunteer at the event! All ages
are welcome to participate.
Almost everyone knows someone who has
been affected by breast cancer: a family
member, a close friend, or a neighbor or coworker. On Saturday, May 5, Feyen Zylstra
employees will join lots of other people who are
putting their feet where their hearts are to raise
money to battle this dreaded disease. It’s the
annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
walk, hosted by the American Cancer Society.
The 3-mile walk kicks off at 9 a.m. at the Rosa
Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is more
than just the name of a walk; it describes the
progress we’re making together to end breast
cancer. However, nothing can describe the hope
inspired by walking with hundreds or thousands
of others who share a passion for ending this
disease. Because nearly everyone has been
touched by breast cancer in some way, we’ve
There are other ways to participate as well!
Sponsor a Feyen Zylstra employee for their
participation in the walk as they put their best
foot forward. Donations are welcome too!
They can be sent to our office or dropped off.
All checks should be made out to: American
Cancer Society. If you are willing to volunteer,
donate or you just want more information,
contact Kendra Holtrop at
[email protected].
• There are more than 200 Making Strides
events held across the country each year.
• Participants are encouraged to raise money
online or collect donations to turn in on the
day of the event. Most of these events have
no registration fee or “minimum” amount you
need to raise.
• Nearly 6 million walkers across the U.S. have
raised more than $400 million to help fight
breast cancer through Making Strides events;
more than $60 million in 2009 alone.
Learn more about the organization and the
event at: makingstrides.acsevents.org. Search
for Team Feyen Zylstra where you can watch
our donations grow and track our progress!
Saving lives from breast cancer starts one team,
one walker, and one dollar at a time. Join us on
May 5th and together we can all take real steps
in the right direction in the fight against breast
cancer!
A few quick and encouraging facts:
• The American Cancer Society Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer celebrates people
who have battled breast cancer, educates
people about ways to reduce their risk, and
empowers communities to join the fight.
News, Notes and More...
Higher ed projects call for Feyen
Zylstra’s “best in class” talents.
Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Tech
to study a precious Michigan resource.
Fresh water is important to every living thing. And
of the usable fresh water resources in the entire
world, about 20% is in our own Great Lakes. So
Feyen Zylstra is excited to be involved in a project
that will help scientists and researches study and
protect that important natural resource with the
construction of the Great Lakes Research Center.
The center is located in Houghton, Michigan at
Michigan Tech University; Michigan Tech is one
of only six universities with capital outlay projects
being funded by the state. When completed, the
Great Lakes Research Center will include aquatic
laboratories, a hydraulics lab and coastal research
instrumentation. It will also house boathouse
facilities, offices and conference rooms.
The Great Lakes Research Center will provide
a home at Michigan Tech for significant
interdisciplinary research and education related
to the Great Lakes. It will also be the official
home of a research and educational partnership
between Michigan Tech and the US Army Corps
of Engineers' Research and Development
Center Environmental Laboratory in Vicksburg,
Mississippi. (The Vicksburg lab is the Corps of
Engineers' water resources research facility.)
Feyen Zylstra’s electrical construction group is
providing wiring for the facility from the ground
(or in some cases the water) up! Much of the
branch wiring and many feeders were placed
underground. And thanks to strong preplanning
between the foreman and Feyen Zylstra’s project
manager, significant prefabrication was used for
in-wall sections.
maintain the switchgear’s UL Listing.
The general contractor is pleased with Feyen
Zylstra’s performance on the project. And for
our part, we’re very pleased to be a part of such
an important new facility which will serve as a
focal point for many scientific collaborations and
intensive future research and study on water. And
for those of us who live in Michigan or throughout
the Great Lakes region, there is no other resource
more worthy of protecting.
In the end, the Feyen Zylstra team was able to
smoothly manage the short time frame shutdown
and complete the necessary switchgear upgrades.
The project was completed under budget and
within the tight time constraints. The client was
extremely pleased, and sent a note of thanks for
our efficiency and professionalism in helping WMU
through a difficult situation.
Feyen Zylstra stands tall when WMU power
system comes up short.
A recent switchgear malfunction caused
problems for Western Michigan University at its
Engineering Campus Paper Coating Pilot Plant
and Power House. Feyen Zylstra was called in to
lead a project team that also included Manning
Enterprises, Havel Bros and WMU engineers
to address the situation caused by the faulty
equipment.
Since the work would require a partial campus
electrical shutdown, it had to be completed,
regardless of weather, during the university’s
holiday recess. Pre-shutdown planning and
cooperation between sub-contractors was very
important to the project’s overall success.
But the timing was only one of the challenges
involved. Another was the fact that the work
involved higher voltages, which required that all
personnel had received special safety training and
the ability to work comfortably and quickly with
primary or medium voltage distribution switchgear.
Our Kalamazoo service group provided custom
equipment design and fabrication on new heating
and venting equipment for the existing primary
switchgear, which still awaited approval from the
original switchgear manufacturer to meet and
New MSU dining facility anything but “spartan.”
January marked the completion of a renovation
and new dining facility at Michigan State
University’s Case Hall. Feyen Zylstra’s electrical
construction and low voltage work groups
coordinated efforts to play a big role in the project,
installing power, lighting and lighting controls, data
and security systems for the building.
While the project included renovations to living
units, academic and public areas in the building,
the most eye-opening – better make that mouthwatering – element of the project is the new
Southe Pointe dining facility. It features five brand
new food venues, including one - Great Lakes
Plate - that features entrees from Michigan and the
Midwest region, and another – Bliss – that includes
crepes made-to-order every day.
The facility has the capacity to seat 650 students,
important given MSU’s constantly growing student
population. A new kitchen and dining room, along
with the largest “Sparty’s” convenience store on
campus, were also part of the project.
Work was completed while students occupied the
building and classes were in session. Strategic
work schedules were designed to minimize
distraction and disruption. Drilling was limited
to a two-hour period each day. Switchgear
was upgraded to meet the increased and more
complex power demands of the new dining facility.
The attachment points for more than 150 high-end
lighting fixtures were digitally surveyed and wired
into a wooden deck ceiling months before the
ceiling area was finished and seating brought in.
The positions had been determined perfectly and
the fixtures installed with no problems.
Students are very pleased with the new dining
facility, and say the end results are well worth the
construction noise and detours!
Grad housing project at CMU a “model” of
efficiency. In January, Feyen Zylstra’s electrical
construction group began work on two new
graduate housing buildings at Central Michigan
University in Mount Pleasant. The spacious units
will provide graduate student couples and families
with a convenient and attractive on-campus
housing option.
The project is challenging, as the job site offers
very little space for parking or the staging of
materials. This has placed special importance on
our ability to pre-plan and map out the process
in great detail, coordinating carefully with all
suppliers so that materials are provided “just
in time.” It also has dictated that the electrical
construction of all the living units and a significant
part of the rest of the building will be prefabricated
at another site and brought in for installation.
This project has also provided an excellent
application of our building information modeling
(BIM) system which helps us manage the design/
build process. It uses three-dimensional real-time
modeling software that allows us to increase
productivity during design and construction,
solving challenges before they arrive and
maximizing safety for all concerned along the way.
Fourth of July project calls for a
“firecracker” performance from
Feyen Zylstra.
Bradford White in Middleville is a busy place.
The popular manufacturer of many kinds of water
heaters has been considering having some work
done on its production lines for several years.
Now, with an eye toward future expansion and
increased production capacity, the company has
pulled the trigger. And the resulting “bang” will be
heard in the days surrounding this Fourth of July.
The company selected Feyen Zylstra to do
the work, which includes upgraded control
panels, machine control upgrades, and machine
communication plant networking. We will also
add and update controls for the company’s water
heater punch and shear operation for tank blanks.
The job itself is complex, but it will be made much
more so by the required schedule. All work must
be completed during the company’s nine-day
shutdown around the Fourth of July (including the
holiday weekend itself.) And to make things even
more interesting, a number of other contractors
will be working in the same space at the same
time, facing the same deadline pressure for their
contributions. So we must get in, do a great deal
of work efficiently, and work around other people
with maximum safety as we do it. That water
heater plant will feel more like a pressure cooker!
Fortunately, this type of situation is a Feyen
Zylstra strength. The Power of Knowledge calls
for extensive preplanning, which will help greatly
in coordinating our efforts with other trades and
avoiding conflicts.
This project is important for the area and for
Michigan. It will likely lead to a plant expansion
at Bradford White, lifting production from 7,000
units per day to 12,000 units per day. This client
has appreciated the quality of our work in the past,
which is a major reason we were chosen for this
project. And we hope that our performance on this
project will lead to our involvement in any future
expansion.
Making way for wireless upgrade
at Amway Grand.
Feyen Zylstra’s low voltage cabling group has
spent the past year helping the Amway Grand
Hotel in Grand Rapids upgrade the quality of
its wireless Internet access for hotel guests.
New access points and cabling were installed in
102 locations throughout the hotel, including is
Pantlind Wing, Tower, lobby and both commercial
concourses.
The work provides more reliable and faster
wireless services for customers. But was no
small task to retrofit the legendary hotel with this
infrastructure. Pathways were almost non-existent;
field techs had to crawl into extremely tight spaces
in the ceilings to create paths, and install wiremold
raceways to connect access points.
The Power of Knowledge made a difference;
extensive pre-planning was invaluable, but so
was Feyen Zylstra’s flexibility to adapt “on the fly”
when situations arose – often the case in such a
classic structure as the Amway Grand, which first
opened in 1913, and by 1925 was ranked as “one
of the ten finest hotels in America!” The client
is extremely happy with the results – and so are
Amway Grand guests and visitors who enjoy stateof-the-art Internet in luxurious surroundings.
Volume 3, Issue 1
Clean room skills power battery plant projects.
In today’s business world, the competition is
fierce, and a popular mantra suggests that
a company “zig when the others zag.” That
sounds good in theory, but the bottom line
is that when you are building and equipping
your manufacturing plant, you go with the
best, most trustworthy partners for your most
critical systems. And for three competitors in
the advanced technology battery industry, that
means relying upon the same company for
those systems: Feyen Zylstra.
In recent months, our client Johnson
Controls has selected Feyen Zylstra to
complete major projects independently at two
battery plants in the Holland, Michigan area
and one in Midland. The main factor in our
selection, in addition to a very positive track
record in our work for Johnson Controls, was
our unique expertise in the area of emerging
battery technology and specifically in the area
of “clean rooms.”
Clean room protocols aren’t
merely challenging – they are absolutes:
contamination can’t merely be reduced – it
must be eliminated. Every piece of equipment,
cabling, etc., must be carefully cleaned
and brought in with extreme care – and its
installation and mounting require demanding
attention to air tight seals. Every hole drilled
has to be filled to maintain low humidity and
the clean room environment – and those
standards typically become even stricter as
projects progress and the rooms approach
operational status.
The battery manufacturers and work
involved for each included:
• LG Chem – the installation of HVAC
control systems, process boiler controls, and
In This Issue
MANUFACTURING CLIENTS POINT
THE WAY TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY 1
FEYEN ZYLSTRA’S EXPERIENCE
WITH FOOD MANUFACTURING 1
THE PUMPKIN∏ EXPERIENCE
BY ROGER TJOELKER
2
NEWS, NOTES, AND MORE
2
MAKING STRIDES BREAST CANCER
WALK: MAY 5, 2012 3
210 Front Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
616-224-7707
Fax 616-224-7799
4
2969 Keystone Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49686
231-486-8800
Fax 231-486-8882
1-800-748-0180 • www.feyenzylstra.com
• JCI/SAFT (now JCI) – the design and
installation of several systems; building
management, security (with cameras), and gas
detection, all as part of a building remodel plus
additions. The design and construction of the
gas detection system was handled by Feyen
Zylstra’s System Engineering group, with the
Energy Management Systems group handling
all of the system installations.
• Dow Kokam – systems for building
management, fire alarm, outdoor cameras and
card access.
Two of the projects were completed in January,
with some additional work continuing in
related areas. The second project is nearing
completion of its second phase.
Several other aspects of Feyen Zylstra’s Power
of Knowledge have come into play in the
course of handling these projects.
Adaptability. Feyen Zylstra’s expertise
allowed it to perform smoothly under
potentially stressful changes in schedule,
equipment requirements and adjustments,
and other factors, all understandable in an
emerging industry that is, itself, learning as
it gains experience. Pre-planning helped us
foresee and prepare for some changes, and
our training and background allowed us to
react quickly in other cases.
Resources. Our multi-discipline capabilities
allowed us to call upon other Feyen Zylstra
departments as necessary to apply the most
relevant and valuable expertise. In addition,
our available manpower allowed us to maintain
timelines that would likely have caused other
companies to struggle. In one project, the
onsite mechanical contractor asked us to
handle some additional electrical work not a
part of the original project scope; we were able
to accommodate that request without losing
time or focus.
Safety Awareness. While still a part of
Feyen Zylstra’s overall expertise, it is worth
pointing out safety considerations. One
project’s deadlines called for virtually all trades
to be on site at the same time, working in
confined spaces. This greatly ratcheted up
safety concerns. With our awareness of and
adherence to all critical protocols, we were
able to complete the work safely within the
timelines.
Client satisfaction with our work is very high,
citing our expertise and technical skills as well
as our adaptability, all leading to flawless, ontime startups. We hope to do additional work
for these battery plants in the future, and our
performance on the projects cited here will be
a major factor in earning that opportunity.
We are also gratified on a larger scale.
The growth of these plants and this entire
advanced battery industry signals growth in
a very important area for the state and the
region. These efforts all create jobs – good
ones – that will help further energize Michigan’s
employment outlook for years to come.
The Power of Knowledge sounds like a “big
picture” concept; but it can have important
effects for many hard-working individuals in our
area.
Of
Current Importance
Success on the menu for Feyen
Zylstra’s food customers.
Feyen Zylstra has a long list of clients, from heavy manufacturing to
sensitive data centers and future-forward renewable energy concerns.
But there’s one area in which our customers’ products are “up close and
personal” with millions of regular folk throughout the US: FOOD!
Feyen Zylstra customers involved in food production have enjoyed a tasty
business boom recently, and we've been thrilled to help them upgrade
power and communication systems to handle it.
Michigan Turkey Producers. About 13 years ago, we worked with them
to retrofit a building taken over from a potato processor! Through the
years, our electrical construction and service groups have worked with
them on several facilities in Grand Rapids, addressing every stage of
the operation from raw meat acquisition, cutting and processing, and
packaging. Separation of these activities is an FDA requirement, and
we’ve been there to assist the company in complying with maximum
production efficiency. We even provide an in-plant service technician to
handle all electrical maintenance for their many locations.
New work scheduled includes lighting, chillers, steel and insulation on
building exteriors, and other equipment-related tasks.
Pearson Foods. Think green here! Pearson grows sprouts and veggies,
marketing them locally in prepackaged containers. Feyen Zylstra has
helped them with primary electrical service and bringing new equipment
on line for more than five years. We’ve installed new lighting throughout
their entire facility, and our service department is on call for any
emergency needs.
Butterball Farms. You won’t find a better butter! (Sorry, we just had to
say that.) We’ve handled several projects for the company, integrating
several machines to work together for an efficient production process.
Recently we have also installed controls designed to streamline the
process of making cinnamon and other flavored butters. The company
markets quality butter products under their own brand and handles
contract manufacturing for well-known national brands.
JBS Packerland. A relatively new client for Feyen Zylstra, this company
handles the complete spectrum of beef processing. Our service group
has done considerable work on equipment hookups for wash and brine
systems and other expansions. Recently, our system engineering and
electrical construction groups have been selected to do programming
and pipe wire and install, respectively, for a new conveyor system for
the company's Arizona facility. It's been an interesting process, requiring
training and certification in food sanitation and extreme vigilance and
training for safety-related issues, due to the heavy machinery involved.
Yoplait. Feyen Zylstra’s relationship with Yoplait goes a long way! In the
last three-plus years, we have done work for the General Mills company
as far away as Germany (for pre-wiring equipment before shipping here)
and California, in many cases using the same crews at each facility. We
are currently at work for Yoplait installing new production facilities in
Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
210 Front Ave. SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
BATTERY PLANT PROJECTS critical temperature/humidity/particle counter
monitoring; the original plan called for more
than 6,000 man hours of labor in just 90 days!
A quarterly publication from
Feyen Zylstra clients gear up as economic
clouds begin to clear up
In recent months, positive signs have finally
shown up for our economy here in Michigan. Tax
revenues have increased to the point that the
state has a budget surplus. The unemployment
rate has dropped from 12.6% at the worst of the
recession to 9.3% today.
And how do things look for the manufacturing
sector, which alone accounts for 20% of the
state’s economy? According to Robert Dye,
Chief Economist for Comerica Bank, as quoted
in February on ABC News Radio “…we’ve seen
manufacturing stabilize and start to come back.”
At Feyen Zylstra, we’ve seen some encouraging
signs of our own, as many of our manufacturing
clients have embarked on projects that promise
to expand capacity or improve their processes.
Let’s look at a few of them!
Amway Corporation. We mentioned a positive
note at Amway in our last newsletter. The
company is relocating a major nutritional facility
from California to Ada, Michigan. New equipment
was purchased, and existing equipment in the
Ada facility was upgraded for this change. So
Michigan benefits from capital investment and the
likely addition of a number of new jobs.
Dawn Foods. The menu wouldn’t be complete without baked goods!
Feyen Zylstra has earned very positive feedback for its low-voltage work
on the company’s corporate headquarters and laboratory facilities in
Jackson, Michigan. We’re thrilled to work with this international company
that provides retail and foodservice cakes, cookies, donuts, muffins, and
many other such “goodies” to small stores, large chains and institutions
in every state and many countries. And their kind words are, well, icing
on the cake!
Roskam Bakery-Advanced Food Technology. One of our more recent
additions, we are starting work with this Michigan company that makes
flours for breads and other products. (You’ve probably had their croutons
on your salad!) Our work will involve improvements to their batching and
blending operations.
SPI Pharma. Many projects have marked our
seven-year relationship with SPI Pharma; the
Michigan manufacturing facility has undergone a
number of upgrades during that period. Feyen
Zylstra has helped with the activation of new
batching and blending lines, and in helping to
ensure that all new lines and processes are
installed to maximum safety standards.
Our engineering group has recently provided
controls and automation involved in the production
of ingredients for a new pharmaceutical product,
and we anticipate helping with a production
expansion in the near future. Things are moving
forward, and Feyen Zylstra is delighted to be
going along.
Esco. Esco makes chemical coatings for thermal
and other specialty papers. They are currently
upgrading their production processes with new
equipment, installed with the assistance of our
service department in running power and installing
control systems.
The project was an interesting and beneficial one
for us, as well – ALL of the five Feyen Zylstra
work groups were involved in the project. Our
ability to plan and execute seamlessly was a huge
advantage.
ADAC Automotive. The automotive industry is
helping to lead the manufacturing recovery; car
sales in January were up 11% over the previous
year. And the impact can be felt through any
number of West Michigan automotive suppliers.
ADAC Automotive, supplier of exterior auto
components like door handles, mirror and
antennae hardware, and lighting assemblies, has
been a valued Feyen Zylstra client for more than
20 years. We have done a great deal of controls
and wiring projects, and are currently working with
them to upgrade the performance of machinery in
their Muskegon, Michigan plant. In addition, we
designed and built testing equipment for them to
export to a company with whom they partner in
China.
The Power of Knowledge has been essential in our efforts for Yoplait,
helping us to not only be more competitive, but to offer more creative
and productive solutions for a better operational process. They’re very
happy with our work, and we’re very happy that we are able to service
them throughout the US.
Gerber. Feyen Zylstra is excited to be working with this respected
company that produces baby food and other related products. We have
recently begun work on an extensive expansion project. The work involves
food processing areas with many stainless steel assemblies, requiring
advanced sanitation training and procedures. It’s early, but the client is
already pleased with our start-up efforts and thorough communication.
"Baby steps" – but very good ones!
An Electrical Services Firm
Benteler Automotive. Another prominent auto
supplier, Benteler Automotive, has chosen Feyen
Zylstra for projects at several of its facilities.
Our system engineering and service groups are
performing the following work:
•T
he installation of new machinery and controls
equipment to upgrade weld cells and leak
testing capabilities on the company’s automotive
exhaust system lines.
•A
n upgrade to the robotic welding center at
another of the company’s facilities with new
equipment and control systems.
•A
t a third Benteler facility, the addition of
new equipment and controls for lines used in
manufacturing suspension components for
Ford Motor Company vehicles including the
Focus, the Fusion, and the electric car.
Whirlpool. One Fortune 500 company wasn’t
content to wait for evidence of the recovery
choosing instead to help create it. Whirlpool’s
corporate stature makes it a frequent target for
many states wishing to lure its large corporate
headquarters. The company made the dramatic
decision to build its new corporate headquarters
at its Benton Harbor, Michigan location. This was
very welcome news in an area that has long been
challenged economically, but stands to benefit
greatly from the investment and confidence
Whirlpool is placing in it.
Feyen Zylstra is already playing a role on Phase
1 of the corporate office project. In only three
months, our electrical construction group installed
all new power, a new UPS system and A/V
rough-ins. The general rough-in of the facility was
also challenge, as a demanding schedule required
us to accomplish the planning, construction and
installation of all rough-in requirements for above
ceilings and walls in only three weeks.
We also installed a sophisticated lighting system
throughout the facility. It includes efficient lighting
(including LED, cathode and custom) all operated
through a complex control system. That system
integrates scheduled, occupancy and daylightharvesting control technology – and is synced to
work seamlessly with the A/V system within major
conference rooms.
The economic downturn has impacted a great
many companies in recent years. And we’re proud
of our clients, in manufacturing and every other
sector, for working hard to weather the storm
and emerge into the sunnier climate we hope and
believe lies just ahead.