Pepsi Cranston Mechanical & Electrical Upgrade

Project

ANJ Electric, a Rhode Island Division of McDonald Electrical Corporation, completed a major mechanical and electrical upgrade at PepsiCo’s beverage plant in Cranston, Rhode Island. Because this is an FDA‑regulated food processing facility, all work had to meet strict safety and sanitation rules, and the plant needed to stay up and running during the entire project.

The main goal was to remove the old ammonia chilled‑water system and replace it with a new, high‑efficiency cooling setup to support Pepsi’s production needs.

Scope Included:

• System Demolition & Replacement: Removed the existing ammonia chilled water cooling system while maintaining plant operations.
• New Chiller Installation: Installed three (3) 400-ton air‑cooled chillers to provide reliable process cooling for the production environment.
• Pumping & VFD Systems: Installed new pumping systems equipped with variable frequency drives (VFDs) for enhanced energy efficiency and system control.
• Ventilation & Controls: Installed new ventilation systems and integrated process controls to ensure optimal performance and regulatory compliance.
• Electrical Infrastructure: Provided all required power distribution, wiring, and coordination for chiller equipment, pumps, controls, and ventilation systems.

Special Challenges

This project required careful planning and coordination due to several unique constraints, including the need to work within an active FDA‑regulated food processing facility where all activities had to meet strict sanitation, safety, and regulatory standards. The team also navigated winter exterior construction, installing large‑scale mechanical and electrical equipment in cold-weather conditions that demanded additional logistics and sequencing.

Additionally, the plant was required to remain fully operational throughout the upgrade, which necessitated phased shutdowns, precise scheduling, and close coordination with PepsiCo and Shambaugh & Son, L.P. Despite these challenges, our crew of eight electricians successfully delivered a complex system modernization that enhances PepsiCo’s production reliability and long-term efficiency.