CNC Machine Shop Electrical Installation in Bloomingdale

A new facility built around the equipment.

Referred by a neighbor familiar with our work, LH Block Electric met with a machine shop that had outgrown its Addison facility. We visited the existing operation to review the equipment, discuss future needs, and understand what the move to Bloomingdale would require.

Using the customer’s CAD equipment layout, we planned the electrical installation for an approximately 30,000-square-foot facility with about 40 machines and pieces of equipment. The scope included power connections for lathes, air compressors, material-handling equipment, oil reclamation spinners, and other shop equipment.

The challenge: working around an existing crane

The new facility’s overhead crane prevented the use of traditional power drops to each machine. The installation needed to serve the planned equipment rows while accommodating crane operation and providing useful lighting at the workstations.

Our solution: custom overhead racks

We developed a Unistrut rack system above each row of machines to support the electrical installation and workstation lighting. The racks also provided space the customer could use for communication cabling and air lines.

This approach brought the electrical layout and workstation lighting together around the customer’s equipment arrangement while addressing the constraints of the existing crane.

Electrical scope and cost-saving measures

• Review existing equipment and future needs before the relocation.
• Plan machine power connections using the customer’s CAD layout.
• Install custom Unistrut racks and lighting above machine rows.
• Reuse suitable existing bus duct switches and source additional new and refurbished switches for the equipment.
• Retrofit warehouse high-bay lighting, offices, break rooms, hallways, and other common areas to LED.
• Replace exterior building-mounted light fixtures.
• Use ComEd incentives to help reduce eligible lighting fixture costs.
• Obtain Village of Bloomingdale permits and complete the required inspections.

Making practical use of the customer’s investment

We reused suitable existing bus duct switches where possible and sourced new or refurbished switches for additional equipment. This helped control costs while meeting the requirements of the new layout.

The lighting work extended beyond the shop floor to the offices, break rooms, hallways, and building exterior. ComEd incentives helped offset fixture costs for the lighting upgrades completed as part of this project.

Completed in 2021. Supported ever since.

LH Block Electric completed the project in 2021, obtained the required permits through the Village of Bloomingdale, and passed all inspections. The finished installation provided machine power, workstation lighting, and updated interior and exterior lighting for the expanded operation.

Our relationship continued after the move. We still provide electrical maintenance, troubleshooting, and additional installations as the customer’s facility needs evolve.

Explore our electrical design and installation services, power distribution work, commercial LED lighting, and electrical maintenance and repairs.