PEC builds, equips, automates, and maintains food and beverage processing plants across the Southeast, with every trade under one roof.
Looking for a food and beverage construction company? Owners and general contractors bring PEC onto food processing plant construction projects for equipment setting, sanitary process piping, automation, and mechanical construction. We have worked in processing plants for 30+ years, with 150+ employees operating from Covington, GA.
Food manufacturing construction has rules other industries never see. Washdown environments, USDA and FDA expectations, stainless everywhere product touches, and production schedules that leave no room for a contractor learning on the job.
Plenty of food and beverage contractors can build a room. Fewer can build the room, run the piping, program the line, and come back at 2 a.m. when a drive fails. That range is what this market gets from PEC.
Four scopes cover most of what food processing facilities ask us for, and PEC self-performs all of them. Each one stands alone, and most projects end up combining two or three.
1
Food processing facility construction runs on stainless, sanitary detail, and schedules built around production. Working for owners and alongside general contractors, PEC crews handle mechanical construction, equipment setting, and process piping in sanitary configurations, with AWS-certified welders whose procedures mirror ASME Section IX.
Crews build to the drainage, washdown, and access requirements food plants live by. Structural platforms, mezzanines, and equipment supports come from the same fabrication shop, which keeps welding out of your plant wherever possible. Whether the project is a new line inside an operating facility or a full expansion, the work gets planned around your production calendar, not ours.
2
Recipe accuracy, batching, and traceability all run on controls. We program PLCs, build control panels in our UL-listed 508A shop, and integrate packaging, palletizing, and inspection equipment into lines that hold pace through daily sanitation.
Clean-in-place matters here too, because CIP circuits touch the piping and the controls at the same time, and both sides have to be designed together. Operators get HMI screens that show the line the way they actually run it, and recipe accuracy stops depending on which shift is working.
3
Food plants cannot wait on equipment. PEC millwrights install, align, and relocate production machinery, and our equipment maintenance programs keep it running between projects.
When something fails our dispatch crews respond with common wear parts stocked in our Covington shop, minutes away rather than states away. Planned maintenance gets scheduled into sanitation windows and seasonal slowdowns, so the work happens when the line can spare the time.
4
Inspections are a way of life in food manufacturing facilities. PEC installs USDA- and FDA-compliant FRP and food-grade wall panels, welds stainless to sanitary standards, and turns over documentation that holds up when the auditor asks for it.
Turnover packages include weld documentation and material certifications, so your quality team has answers on file before an auditor asks the question. Compliance work is not a specialty visit for our crews. It is the daily environment they work in.
What kind of food processing equipment can be automated? How does automation fit into the production line in this industry? There are many potential applications for automation in this field. We’ve examined some of the most common below.
1
Cooking and preparation — or similar processes — transform ingredients into a finished food or beverage product. These processes can be automated to achieve better standardization and repeatable results.
2
The finished form and aesthetic of the product is an important aspect of production. Automated equipment solutions are ideal for achieving highly precise cuts and forms with little to no variation.
3
Blending and mixing require specialized pieces of equipment, as well as accurate measuring of ingredients and ratios. All of this can be automated, removing the potential for error and achieving high product quality without fail.
4
Food and beverage products need to be loaded into containers ready for the customer. This is another example of a process where accuracy is vital, and automation is highly valuable in achieving this.
5
The primary packaging of the product is critical to branding as well as compliance. This packaging material needs to reflect the look and personality of your business while providing mandatory health information to the customer.
Internal packaging also needs to be produced and sealed according to detailed specifications. Automated packaging line solutions assist with the development and manufacture of these materials.
6
Materials and ingredients need to be transported around the plant efficiently and safely. Automated software systems integrated with picking and handling equipment make this possible. Materials are handled correctly, reducing wastage and increasing profitability.
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Effective automation depends upon reliable data. Analytic and reporting tools provide this solid and reliable foundation. This gives automated systems the data they need to perform correctly. It also offers human personnel valuable insight into food and beverage manufacturing performance.
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Regulatory compliance is a constant consideration in this industry. Automated solutions are programmed with checks and failsafes, ensuring that each batch and product meets strict health and safety compliance requirements.
Automation also ensures that health and safety protocols are followed during production. This protects human team members and upholds high standards of safety across the plant.
At PEC, we work closely with our clients to create custom automated systems that exceed their needs and expectations. Our team has a strong track record of success in the food processing industry. From industrial maintenance to millwright and rigging services, and everything in between, our team is well-versed in the needs of our clients.
We have the expertise and experience needed to deliver on your project. While all projects are different, they all begin similarly — with a consultation. Reach out today, and let’s discuss how PEC’s tailored automation solutions can help you and your business.
Diverse Industries, One Trusted Partner
Safety means more than compliance; it’s our covenant with you.
Whether you’re coordinating your next project or proactively planning your plant maintenance, there’s no better time than right now to contact us.