EmPOWERING Success for Brewers

Opening a craft brewery was a dream of a lifetime for Shaun Berns, his wife, Brittany, and Evan Morris who founded Phase 3 Brewing in Lake Zurich. Yet the reality of opening a brewery takes an immense amount of planning, management, and hard work to make that dream come true. Through their hard work and dedication, the dream has come true for Phase 3. They now brew a selection of flavorful beers which have become quite popular throughout the Chicagoland area.

Phase 3 has experienced steady growth since it began business in 2019 and Benson Electrical Contracting has been there throughout each phase of growth working alongside Flex Construction.

Electrical safety takes on an even larger challenge when work is accomplished in a wet environment. In general, breweries are industrial operations that possess all the same potential for accidents as in any other type of manufacturing facility. Some of the primary sources of accidents in breweries involve rotating machinery such as conveyers, pumps, and motors – all powered by electricity.

According to OSHA accidents reports, electrical shock accidents at breweries have occurred while technicians work on energized equipment such as power panels and motor controls. Benson Electrical Contracting Design/ Build services have been involved through each stage of Phase 3’s expansion installing the right equipment to help reduce the risk of electrical shock and to help prevent electrical safety accidents before they happen.

From configuring electrical requirements, installing electrical panels, and powering complex chillers to placing decorative LED lighting fixtures and expanding electrical services for the company’s growing office space, Benson provides a full range of expert commercial electrical solutions and services for this busy, growing business.

Today, craft brewers represent an innovative segment of the greater brewing industry. Considering the rising energy costs of energy today, reducing power usage should be a high priority for all businesses -not just breweries – second only to safety. Owners and operators may consider energy costs as an expense they cannot control, and that it only rises and falls with the price of energy in the area. However, this can be controlled through proper planning.

Energy reduction may not be a top priority within brewery operations. Unlike Phase 3, some breweries do not pay attention to energy saving opportunities at all levels of their operations and may miss out on potential cost saving and revenue generating measures. “There are many best practices for energy efficiency and conservation that can be easily incorporated into daily operations without impacting safety,” states Tim Cunningham, President of Benson Electrical. “All options are taken into consideration during the design/build phase of construction. And its these options that help businesses – such as breweries – save money and become safe, sustainable practices, such as Phase 3 Brewery,” Cunningham said.

So how much electrical use takes place in a brewery? Overall, throughout the area, when it comes to electricity, data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show that refrigeration, packaging, and compressed air consume 70 percent of U.S. Breweries’ electricity use. Of course, these figures can change pending the size and scope of the facility.

Electricity touches all areas of the brewing business. Working with clients as a team, Benson Electrical Contracting, helps companies, like Phase 3, better understand just how it’s used throughout the operation and turn a perceived necessary evil into a competitive advantage as they continue to expand their successful operations.