Goldsmith & Eggleton: Critical Power Recovery Achieved Through Holiday Challenges

When a fire struck Goldsmith & Eggleton’s Wadsworth, Ohio, plant in September 2024, the event left the facility struggling to maintain production on one of its key lines. A critical motor rebuild and extensive water damage had already slowed operations, and by Thanksgiving, the plant was barely limping along. Then, another major setback hit— a failed variable frequency drive (VFD) motor stopped operating. The replacement time for the drive was estimated to be over a year, threatening valuable production time and business continuity.

With the clock ticking and limited internal resources readily available, Goldsmith & Eggleton turned to Harrington Electric Co. for assistance. Jerry Strand, Harrington’s vice president of electrical construction, and his team were called in to assess the job, develop a solution, and execute the plan – all within an incredibly tight two-week window that happened to play out during the holiday season.

The Harrington team arrived at the project site on December 17, 2024, racing against time to restore power and keep production on track. The job required sourcing and installing an emergency utility transformer with a 4,160V output, running 200 feet of armored medium-voltage cabling through the plant, and ensuring all electrical systems were fully operational before the new year began.

Finding the right materials in a short timeframe was no small feat. A specialized armored cable needed for the project was ultimately located in Houston late on a Friday, ordered immediately, and arrived on-site by the following Monday. Meanwhile, custom electrical enclosures—measuring 48”x48”x24”—were manufactured in just two days.

The work also involved running a 220-foot, 4,000-pound cable feed through multiple plant levels, cutting through walls, opening asphalt, and laying a solid base for installation. Once installed, an outside third-party firm was brought in to test the high-voltage cables, ensuring the system was safe and reliable.

The Season Brings Its Own Challenges

Executing this kind of project under normal circumstances is complex, but doing so over the course of two weeks, and during the unpredictable year-end holidays made it even more challenging.

Harrington Electric’s team of five electricians worked every day except Christmas to meet the aggressive project deadline. Their expertise in high-end industrial electrical work—far beyond standard maintenance—was critical to the project’s success.

“I have to admit: The team hit this project right out of the park,” said Jerry Strand. “We have a group of very highly skilled electricians, without which we would have never been able to tackle this complex project. This wasn’t your everyday go-change-a-lightbulb type of work. It involved some highly specialized talent and a ton of skill.”

On January 2, 2025, right on schedule, the Goldsmith & Eggleton production line was fired back up, allowing employees to return to work and the company to resume full operations.

The successful completion of this high-stakes electrical recovery underscores Harrington Electric Co.’s ability to handle critical power response projects under the most demanding conditions.