| Location | New Britain, CT |
| Owner | Rich Products Corporation |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| General Contractor | The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company |
| Completion Date | October 2024 |
| Service | Electrical Contracting |
Project Background
Carvel, a brand under Rich Products Corporation, is known for its signature soft-serve ice cream, ice cream cakes, and novelty frozen treats. To meet growing demand, Rich Products undertook a major expansion at its New Britain, CT manufacturing facility, aiming to increase Carvel ice cream cake production from 12 million to 19 million per year.
The expansion required new production spaces, cold storage, loading docks, and support areas, as well as significant electrical upgrades to power additional production lines, refrigeration systems, and HVAC controls.
C&H Electric partnered with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company to execute critical electrical installations that supported the plant’s increased production capacity.
The Challenge
- Performing extensive electrical upgrades while keeping the plant fully operational.
- Executing a 500ft electrical run from the main switchboard to the expansion area across the roof using fiberglass conduit.
- Replacing and expanding the existing 2500AMP switchboard, increasing sections from 6 to 9 during an overnight shutdown.
- Integrating power for the new refrigeration system and HVAC control panels, ensuring seamless operation with large-scale equipment.
The Solution
- Strategic planning and scheduling allowed for electrical upgrades to be completed without disrupting production.
- Installed power connections for the new refrigeration system, supporting the additional production line.
- Successfully expanded and upgraded switchboard capacity, ensuring increased power distribution for new systems.
- Coordinated overnight shutdown operations, allowing production to resume on schedule the next day.
The Results
- Seamless Plant Expansion: Electrical systems were upgraded without operational downtime.
- Increased Production Capacity: The facility is now equipped to meet its higher annual output of 19 million cakes.
- Optimized Power Distribution: Upgraded switchboard and power infrastructure support new refrigeration and production systems.
