Archive for July, 2025

All Systems Go: Inside Egan’s Full-Scope Mechanical Capabilities

Friday, July 25th, 2025

From custom piping to complex sheet metal and plumbing systems, Egan Company’s Mechanical division is redefining what it means to deliver full-service solutions. Under the leadership of Ross Noak, Senior Vice President of Mechanical, the team brings deep technical knowledge, design flexibility, and a customer-first mindset to every project—from emergency repairs to multimillion-dollar builds.

Built for Any Job—Anytime, Anywhere
Egan’s mechanical capabilities span the full spectrum—from plan-and-spec construction to highly tailored Design/Build projects. Whether it’s a new facility, a remodel, or an urgent replacement, Egan’s team is equipped to handle it.

“Our project managers are well-versed in all four mechanical trades: pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal, and millwrights,” said Noak. “That versatility means we can support just about any need, from a fast-track emergency repair to a long-term industrial upgrade.” Emergency projects are supported by Egan’s 24/7 service hotline, with responsive follow-up to assess, quote, and resolve larger repairs or system replacements as needed.

Mechanical systems installed by Egan’s team are as varied as the industries they serve. From commercial kitchens and bathrooms to medical gas systems, chilled water loops, and air handlers with electric reheat for green energy goals, the team adapts every solution to the customer’s specific needs. “Whether it’s boilers, chillers, or geo systems—we’re helping our customers reach their economic and environmental targets,” Noak explained. “We even do custom ductwork with logos or color schemes to match a company’s branding.”

Safety, Quality, and Consistency—By Design
All mechanical tradespeople at Egan are licensed and union-trained, and every project includes a dedicated core team to ensure quality and consistency. The trades teams conduct daily field reports, and QA/QC processes, customer site walks, and coordinated check-ins help keep each project on track. “It’s not just about code compliance,” said Noak. “It’s about building it right the first time and delivering an experience the customer can trust.”

From laser scanning to 3D modeling, Egan uses preconstruction tools to visualize complex installs and reduce risks before boots hit the ground. “Prefabrication saves time, reduces jobsite congestion, and improves safety,” said Noak. “We fabricate everything from piping systems to duct sections off-site and bring them in ready to install.”

One recent example is a data center project at the University of Minnesota, where prefabricated welds and offsets allowed the team to minimize disruption and improve project flow. “It’s probably in our shop right now,” he said. “Prefab always makes a difference.”

Serving More Than a Single Project
Half of Egan Mechanical’s work is owner-direct—and most of those customers are repeat. Every customer is paired with a dedicated project manager who provides ongoing support, from multi-year budgeting to quick-turn facility upgrades. “Our repeat rate is high because customers know we’re reliable,” Noak said. “We don’t just do one part—we offer all four mechanical services. Most competitors can’t say that.”

Egan’s ability to deliver across pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal, and millwrights is a clear advantage. “Customers love that they can work with a single PM for everything. It simplifies their process and strengthens the outcome,” said Noak.

What Customers Often Miss? The Power of Planning
While prefabrication requires more upfront coordination, the payoff is substantial. “Customers often underestimate the time we save on-site when systems are pre-planned and built off-site,” Noak said. “There might be less visible activity at the beginning, but the work is happening—it’s just happening behind the scenes in our shop.”

Whether supporting a local business or powering a first-of-its-kind hydrogen generator, Egan’s Mechanical team brings more to leverage every step of the way. “We’re not just tradespeople—we’re problem solvers,” said Noak. “With all four mechanical services under one roof, we offer more value, more coordination, and more certainty from start to finish.”

Minnesota Trades Academy Explores Trades Careers at Egan

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025

A group of 26 interns from the Minnesota Trades Academy (MTA) visited Egan Company’s Champlin facility to gain first-hand exposure to careers in the skilled trades. Accompanied by five adult supervisors, the interns spent the day learning about the construction industry through a presentation, guided tour, hands-on activities, and a panel discussion with Egan employees.

The Minnesota Trades Academy is a paid summer internship program that introduces high school students and young adults, ages 16 to 21, to careers in construction through direct learning experiences and professional mentorship. The program aims to equip participants with foundational knowledge, practical skills, and insights into trade career pathways. 

During the visit, interns learned about Egan’s role as a multi-trades contractor and system integrator and took part in a guided tour of the facility, exploring areas such as the UL 508A panel shop, InterClad fabrication shop, and piping and plumbing operations.

Following the tour, the interns joined the Egan team for lunch and rotated through a Milwaukee Tool hands-on activity. These interactive demonstrations allowed participants to handle tools and ask questions in a more informal, conversational setting. 

The day concluded with a panel discussion featuring Egan employees from a variety of trade backgrounds and job positions. Panelists shared their career journeys and answered questions about training, job responsibilities, and what it’s like to work in the construction industry. The discussion provided students with a practical perspective on what to expect in a trade career and highlighted the wide range of opportunities available within the industry.

The visit to Egan Company served as one of several industry stops for the Minnesota Trades Academy interns this summer. By offering a real-world look inside the workplace, the program and its industry partners aim to strengthen Minnesota’s future workforce and support informed career decision-making among young adults.

Grunerud-Egan Scholarship Recipients Awarded

Monday, July 14th, 2025

The trades and technical fields are filled with opportunity—and its students like this year’s scholarship recipients who are helping shape what’s next. Since 2021, the Grunerud-Egan Scholarship has supported aspiring professionals pursuing careers in construction, engineering, and the trades.

Rooted in a family legacy of promoting higher education, the scholarship was founded in partnership between Egan Company and Systems & Financial Analyst, Dane Grunerud, to help students turn their educational goals into reality. Many applications were submitted by Egan employees, as well as their children and grandchildren. Recipients were selected based on a combination of financial need, academic performance, involvement in extracurricular or community activities, and a personal essay or video response.

Congratulations to the 2025 $3,000 scholarship recipients, Grace Dalske and Nic Wills! Grace Dalske is completing the Welding program at Northwood Technical College and will graduate in 2026. She is the daughter of Bob Dalske, Millwright Foreman at Egan. Nic Wills will be pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering at Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a graduation expected in 2028. She is the daughter of Mike Wills, Electrician at Egan Company.

Egan is honored to support these students as they continue their education and work toward bright futures in their chosen fields.

To learn more, visit the Grunerud-Egan Scholarship page.

Building Futures: Egan Company Hosts Inaugural Introduction to the Construction Trades Day Camp

Friday, July 11th, 2025

For one particular morning at Egan Company, safety glasses came in kid sizes. Egan proudly hosted its Inaugural Introduction to the Construction Trades Day Camp—a camp designed for the children and grandchildren of Egan’s employees, with plans to welcome all children from the community in the future. What started as an idea to spark curiosity about the trades turned into a meaningful, hands-on experience for 30 future builders ranging from 2nd to 6th grade.

A Morning of Discovery and Inspiration
Held at Egan’s Champlin facility, the half-day event gave participants an insider look at the construction world—and the people who power it. The morning kicked off with a guided tour through Egan’s prefabrication shops and office spaces, where students rotated through interactive stations led by employee volunteers. From watching materials move through the fabrication process to exploring technology in action, each stop offered a hands-on way to connect with the work their family members do every day.

From there, the excitement continued with a hands-on electrical activity led by a representative of The Works Museum. Students created their own light-up, battery-powered craft. Whether they were creating light, or exploring tools of the trade, the goal was simple: spark curiosity, encourage questions, and plant the seeds of future careers in construction.

Building More Than Projects
Beyond the drills and diagrams, the day camp gave these young learners something even more valuable—confidence, inspiration, and a connection to the trades. It also gave our Egan employees a chance to share the pride they feel in their work and introduce their kids to the impact of a career in construction.
A special thank you goes out to all the employees who participated, volunteered, and helped bring this camp to life. Your support made it a memorable and meaningful day for everyone involved. We look forward to continuing to inspire and support the next generation of tradespeople, one project—and one curious young mind—at a time.

Want to see the camp in action? Check out the recap video > for a look at the highlights, hands-on projects, and excited faces from a day full of learning and discovery.

Wired for More: How Egan’s Panel Shop Powers Possibility

Thursday, July 10th, 2025

From supporting local machine builders to taking on massive, fast-tracked national projects, Egan Company’s UL 508A Panel Shop is proving there’s more to control panels than meets the eye. Under the leadership of Kevin Bodem, the Panel Shop team is building more than custom control panels—they’re building smarter systems, stronger relationships, and scalable solutions for customers across industries.

Designed, Built, and Delivered

With a team capable of full-service design and fabrication, Egan’s panel group can handle it all—designing and building panels from scratch, fabricating to customer specs, or providing Design/Assist support. “One-third of what we do is customer-designed builds, one-third is full Egan design, and the other third is high-volume, repeat production work,” said Bodem. 

These control panels take many forms—motor control, power distribution, PLC, and more—and are customized to meet the specific safety, functionality, and installation needs of each project. Regardless of application, every panel is built to UL 508A standards, ensuring quality and compliance.

“UL 508A means the panels meet a nationally recognized safety standard,” Bodem explained. “It’s not just about passing inspection—it’s about knowing the product will operate safely in the field.”

Tackling Complexity with Agility
While most builds wrap up in a matter of days, some projects push the limits of what’s possible. A recent project for a long-time partner required hundreds of panels—Egan’s largest panel project to date—and came with tight timelines, post-pandemic supply chain hurdles, and an evolving scope. “It was a year-and-a-half effort from PO to final shipment,” said Bodem. “It took creativity with scheduling, manpower, and sourcing, but we worked closely with the customer and delivered on every front.”

Egan’s flexibility is one reason customers keep coming back. “We’re not just building panels—we’re offering solutions. We can design, fabricate, install, program, and support the entire system. A lot of people don’t realize that until they walk through our building.”

Tools, Tech, and Transformation
Automation continues to play a growing role in Egan’s production process. The shop features automated wire processing and enclosure machining, supported by an industrial engineering team dedicated to process improvement and advancing automation development. This team also serves as Egan’s quality group, ensuring consistent and high-performing results across all projects.

Beyond technology, Egan’s people remain the foundation of the shop’s success. Their expertise drives continuous improvement, from thorough equipment evaluations to collaborative engineering. Robust quality assurance processes, including inspections, and testing help deliver dependable products while identifying opportunities to enhance workflows. Together, these practices ensure each project meets the highest standards and supports customers with solutions built on experience, innovation, and precision.

Support Beyond the Shop Floor
Panel support doesn’t end when a product leaves the shop. “We’re always available when customers call,” said Bodem. “If something goes wrong, we stand behind it. That’s just who we are.” And with Egan’s service team and electricians located across the region, issues are resolved quickly. For OEM partners, Egan acts as a true extension of their operation, often supporting them through multiple product evolutions.

Industries Served—and Miles of Wire Run
Egan’s control panels serve a wide range of sectors, including food and beverage, data centers, packaging, organics recycling, and more. The team works closely with engineers at customer sites to ensure every need is accounted for and every risk is minimized before a panel is powered on.

This year, the shop is on track to produce about 5,000 panels—breaking last year’s record of 4,300 panels. 

Powering More Possibility
Whether it’s a one-off build or an enterprise-scale rollout, the Panel Shop team ensures each project reflects Egan’s promise: to be there when it matters and deliver smarter, safer systems that stand the test of time. “We’re not just a Panel Shop,” said Bodem. “We’re a systems integrator, an electrical contractor, and a solutions partner—all in one.”