Fabrication – TP Mechanical Blog

People Behind TP Mechanical Introduces Dan Holland

Posted on April 24, 2018April 26, 2018 by TP Mechanical

Dan began his career with TP Mechanical in June of 1998 as a laborer and then enrolled in the apprenticeship program. He then moved on to a lead plumber on multiple job sites before becoming a superintendent in 2002. He showed an interest in the growing demand for fabrication and moved into that department, and in 2009, he became Fabrication Leader.

Dan is responsible for overseeing the workload and employees in our fabrication facility. He coordinates product ordering and scheduling logistics between our fabrication facility, distribution centers and project jobsites.

Dan also serves as a liaison between the multiple departments at TP Mechanical, as fabrication plays a critical role in the vast majority of our work. He works closely with each department to offer innovative solutions for project schedules and scopes. Dan often works with the CAD department to offer knowledge and experience towards value engineering of mechanical installations.

Dan feels the work TP accomplishes in the fabrication facility affords the company the ability to fast track project schedules with the goal of saving the end users money.

“Being creative and using outside-the-box thinking turns into an enhanced schedule opportunity for our customers,” Dan stated. “Our primary goal is to make sure we understand the end users’ needs, looking at the best possible solutions to deliver innovative value engineering without adding extra cost.”

Dan believes this different mentality of approaching project schedules with the end user in mind, combined with a higher level of upfront planning, is what makes TP Mechanical stand apart from other mechanical contractors.

Learn more about our fabrication abilities by visiting our website tpmechanical.com/fabrication.

Why Fabrication is Key to Providing Comprehensive Mechanical Solutions

Posted on February 20, 2018February 16, 2018 by TP Mechanical

The TP Mechanical advantage is innovation, pure and simple. We’ve taken the mechanical fabrication concept, expanded on its capabilities and used it in ground-breaking applications that have transformed the role of mechanical systems in the commercial construction industry.

TP Mechanical is different from other contractors out there because we house a team of experienced, creative engineers and state-of-the-art software, technology and equipment all under one roof – a 45,000 square-foot, ISO-certified fabrication facility built in 2009.

In this controlled environment, we build every component with unparalleled precision. Combine that with our three distribution centers in Cincinnati, Columbus and Lexington, and we can deliver quality, accurate orders of mechanical systems ready for installation. That means your project timeline is accelerated and your jobsite is cleaner, which gets your doors open faster.

“Our fabrication operations play a role in 90% of our projects,” said Steve Blust, TP Mechanical’s Vice President of Internal Operations. “Through fabrication, we are improving project efficiency by shortening timelines, reducing waste and pre-testing systems in our ISO-certified facilities before delivery.”

Our unique mechanical fabrication capabilities will revolutionize your project by:

Accelerating production and installation times
Shortening construction timelines
Eliminating delays due to inclement weather and schedule conflicts
Reducing material waste
Improving safety of workers and the jobsite
Ensuring pricing accuracy to help you stay within budget
Enhancing quality and consistency with specialized work groups
Ensuring local code compliance with pre-tested systems before delivery
Bundling materials and units to enable easier transport – saving time in the field
Customizing solutions to every project challenge

At TP Mechanical, we know the challenges of large-scale construction projects, and we’ve solved them with our market-leading, quality-driven fabrication process.

To learn more about our innovative fabrication process and capabilities, visit http://www.tpmechanical.com/fabrication/.

People Behind TP Mechanical Introduces Stanley Garber

Posted on December 18, 2017December 21, 2017 by TP Mechanical

Stanley started with TP Mechanical in November 2016 as the Project Manager of Government Projects in our Dayton region. Stanley brings 44 years of governmental and industrial experience to TP Mechanical.

Stanley’s primary goal when working with general contractors and owners is to save them money. Starting as a bookkeeper at a plumbing company in 1973, Stanley possesses a wealth of accounting experience he combines with industry knowledge to evaluate equipment, applications, system efficiencies, and installation time when putting together project quotes and compiling alternative ideas for saving clients’ money. This concept has been key to establishing long-term working relationships over the years.

“It is important to look at all angles to not compromise the integrity of our work or the systems being installed in a building,” says Stanley.

Stanley believes TP Mechanical’s fabrication capabilities really set us apart from other mechanical contractors, especially because our facility is ISO certified and our program offers in-depth CAD capabilities.

Stanley believes TP Mechanical can offer huge advantages to government and industrial projects by providing cost savings through pre-fabrication, value engineering and shorter install times.

Contact Stanley either by email stanley.garber@tpmechanical.com or phone 937-985-9133.

Industry Spotlight: Healthcare

Posted on September 13, 2016 by TP Mechanical

TP Mechanical has spent years refining and perfecting the art of large-scale projects. Working with the healthcare sector since 1953, we have the experience and capabilities to lead new construction, expansion, remodeling and retrofitting projects for hospitals as well as assisted living and ambulatory facilities.

When you choose TP Mechanical for your healthcare construction needs, you’ll receive these benefits and more:

Enhanced infectious control due to construction in a controlled environment, clean and free of pollutants
Faster construction schedule for speed to market
Lower cost using lean manufacturing techniques
LEED principles for less waste, recycling of packaging and less scrap
Code conformity and strict quality control inspections

a1000768-christ-hospital-low-res-dsc_9701 TP Mechanical has both the engineering expertise and innovative approach needed for the complex building processes necessary for inpatient, diagnostic, treatment research and food service functions. We work regularly with the region’s leading general contractors for hospital construction – Danis, Turner, Messer and Skanska – and our résumé includes some of the largest, most advanced healthcare facilities in the area.

Recent healthcare projects include:

Christ Hospital Orthopedic & Spine Center
Genesis Cancer Center
Jewish Hospital Heart Tower
Christ Hospital Medical Center
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

As a multifaceted construction contractor, TP Mechanical houses multiple construction capabilities under one roof. We offer end-to-end design/build services, including mechanical systems, plumbing, HVAC/R, fire protection and pre-fabrication for each of those areas. Our teams have the specialized knowledge necessary to ensure you get the best service and results.

For more information

Interested in seeing all that we at TP Mechanical can do for you? Download a copy of our healthcare information sheet to get a complete look at our services.

To see some of our recent healthcare work, check out the Christ Hospital expansion project in our Portfolio.

TP MECHANICAL REDUCES JOB SITE WASTE WITH PREFABRICATION

Posted on January 7, 2016 by TP Mechanical

The TP Mechanical Fabrication team is helping our customers gain significant benefits for their construction projects through prefabrication. With the aid of our innovative shop fabrication processes, we are able to substantially reduce job site waste.

It’s common to see the amount of unused material and scrap increase throughout a project during traditional construction and on-site fabrication. By moving as much of the construction process indoors into our 45,000 square-foot, ISO-certified fabrication facility, we remove a lot of that waste from the actual job site.

With the aid of highly trained employees at each assembly station and our investment in automated equipment, we can ensure consistency and quality in every cut and weld. Additionally, with state-of-the-art BIM and CAD technologies, 2D and 3D highly customized designs are used to optimize waste reduction.

With these congruent factors, along with our fabrication process occurring in a controlled manufacturing environment, TP Mechanical produces higher quality units with fewer rejected assemblies while ensuring productivity is maximized and material waste is kept at a minimum.

At TP Mechanical, our recycling programs are designed to keep as much of the packaging and scrap raw material out of the landfill as possible – reusing what we can and properly recycling what we can’t.

According to a recent SmartMarket report released by McGraw-Hill Construction, more than 800 architecture, engineering and contracting professionals were surveyed and 77% said that construction site waste is decreased by utilizing new prefabrication construction techniques. More than 60% of the same professionals reported that prefabrication shortened project schedules and reduced budgets.

“These reported productivity benefits of prefabrication and modularization are particularly exciting in today’s economy, given the benefits of creating superior buildings while saving cost, time and waste,” said Harvey Bernstein, Vice President of Industry Insights and Alliances at McGraw-Hill Construction.

For project leaders looking to save cost, improve their schedule and reduce the impact to the environment, fabrication is a critical component to consider in any construction process, and TP Mechanical has invested in the resources and expertise to provide superior fabrication services for our customers.

More Information

Learn more about TP Mechanical’s Fabrication process on our website.

Protect Health, Provide Comfort & Save Lives

Posted on December 15, 2015 by TP Mechanical

Why do we do what we do? We all know the pride that comes from being a part of an extensive project. At TP Mechanical, we’re honored to work on significant projects every day, playing a pivotal role in the construction of buildings with incredible purpose. We can point at that building when it’s done and say, “I helped make that happen.”

But for the team at TP Mechanical, it goes deeper than a sense of pride. It’s believing in and living the purpose, “Protect Health, Provide Comfort & Save Lives.” This purpose statement describes how we as mechanical contractors, service providers and fabricators are doing more than just making buildings.

We’re protecting the health of the people who will live in, work and visit inside these well-thought-out structures. We’re making places comfortable, and saving lives in the event of a potential disaster, such as a fire. We invite you to take a closer look at the three elements of our purpose statement.

Protect Health. The World Health Organization notes that sustainable health is not possible without access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, which we sometimes can take for granted. Quality plumbing fabrication, installation and service can improve the health and wellness of the people utilizing these facilities.
Provide Comfort. At the heart of it all, heating and cooling services are about providing a healthy and comfortable environment for all occupants in a building. Indoor air quality and climate control are improved through the efficient operation of these systems. Our purpose is to provide that ideal environment for everyone.
Save Lives. Fire protection systems save lives and protect property. In commercial buildings, a fire can have a devastating and deadly effect, but with properly fabricated, installed and maintained systems fires can be contained and more easily controlled, decreasing a potential fatal and catastrophic event.

At TP Mechanical, our work is driven by our purpose. We seek to serve our customers through our Core Values and our Mission Statement: “TP Mechanical strives to be the premier contractor that builds everlasting value by transforming our industry through a culture based on safety, honesty, quality, innovation and servant leadership.”

Today and everyday in the future, we will continue to recognize what we do has real implications on real people; therefore the Purpose that TP Mechanical stands for is just as important as the actual work we do.

Talent Search

Posted on November 12, 2015November 12, 2015 by TP Mechanical

Carve your path to success at TP Mechanical

Posted on April 23, 2015 by TP Mechanical

At TP Mechanical, we recognize that the future of our industry depends on the training of skilled workers. That’s why we’re committed to training the next generation of skilled craft workers. TP Mechanical’s apprenticeship program and ongoing education initiatives offer employees the chance to advance their knowledge and expertise.

The Apprenticeship Program’s success with employees is due in part to the combination of in-class and on-site job training. The in-class portion of our program is enhanced by quality instructors who have years of experience and were selected by TP Mechanical personnel. The on-site training takes place in the field where you will get the chance to acquire knowledge alongside their classmates.

Our current group of apprentices will attend a recognition event on June 19, and those who have reached the end of the four-year program will officially graduate. TP Mechanical will advertise for applicants to the next class of apprentices in June. Be on the lookout and you could be a part of the program next year.

What is your path to Success?

TP Mechanical seeks out apprentice candidates based on their commitment to the work, attitude and their desire to learn. Many of the people seeking to become apprentices are new to the skilled trade. Therefore, we provide the skills and training to make them successful. Our company leadership believes in developing our culture by promoting within and coordinates learning plans to build individual capabilities and our workforce.

Which Trade?

Three trade options are offered for extended training during the four-year Apprenticeship Program.

Courses offered include:

Fire Protection

Processes that go into a fire protection project
Studying the design and fabrication aspects of fire protection systems
Preparation for State of Ohio or Kentucky fire protection licensing tests

Plumbing

Processes that go into plumbing and piping systems, fixtures, and welding
Studying state and international plumbing codes
Preparation for the Journeyman tests

Sheet Metal

Processes that go into HVAC systems design and construction
Indoor Air Quality and Commissioning
Fuel gas code and mechanical code

By The Numbers
Our apprenticeship program consists of a minimum of 8,000 on-the-job training hours and 576 hours of classroom learning over the course of 4 years.

The 3 S’s of Prefabrication Efficiency in Mechanical Skids

Posted on September 5, 2014 by TP Mechanical

Prefabrication of engine rooms, boilers, and other mechanical equipment results in the three S’s – Scheduling benefits, Safety for workers and Smaller numbers on-site.

Our ISO-certified Fabrication Shop can prepare and prefabricate mechanical skids to make any construction project run more smoothly. Our team connects the appropriate attachments, piping and mechanical services in the shop to improve efficiency on the job site.

At the same time, the work moved to shop floor helps you reduce waste. The shop environment is ideal for utilizing raw materials efficiently, reducing overall scrap. It also removes the waste and scrap from your job site.

Scheduling Benefits

Prefabrication involves preplanning and developing the entire system in the shop. This includes all of the hookup and finishing touches of the product. This allows for maximum efficiency in scheduling. While your on-site crew is working on site preparation and construction, our team is simultaneously preparing the mechanical skids to be delivered to your site at the exact moment you need them.

When they arrive, the prefabrication work completed in the shop shaves days or weeks off of the installation process. Your busy construction schedule can save valuable time by prefabricating your systems. All of that leads to a quicker speed to occupancy, saving you time and money.

Safety for Workers

When working in our shop, we are able to fully maximize the safety of the workers. The controlled environment in the shop allows for bench-height work. Our shop is designed to make it safer for skilled craftsmen to work on mechanical equipment.

Contrast that to on-site work, and you find tight fits, with numerous pinch injury opportunities, and overhead work with the inherent danger in working on ladders. By utilizing prefabricated mechanical skids for your project, you’re able to reduce the number of workers in tight, confined spaces. At the same time, that reduces your on-site liability and makes for a safer worksite overall.

Smaller Numbers On-Site

Prefabrication of mechanical skids also allows us to reduce the number of workers needed on-site. This will lower costs associated with the site and reduce the potential for scheduling conflicts. By moving some of the work into our fabrication facility, you can operate with a smaller focused team, especially in the last phases of construction, when the time being spent is mission critical. A strategy for a smaller number of workers onsite is not simply a way to make things easier; it’s a way to get an advantage over traditional construction.

For more information about our mechanical skid fabrication, visit www.tpfabricationshop.com.

Fabricating for the Future

Posted on July 30, 2014 by TP Mechanical

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by Dan Holland

Over the years, I have been blessed to be a part of a growing trend within our industry and I am very passionate about it. I’m talking about Fabrication.

Fabrication was around long before my time. TP Mechanical has done fabrication of sorts for many years, and I remember my first experience with it when I was working in the field. In 1998, I was working on a school with a lot of plumbing piping located in masonry walls. I was still learning about different material types and installations at the time, but we fabricated all of the piping on the job-site before installing it in the block walls.

There were different masonry crews scattered across the job site, and they were laying up different wall sections every day. We had to work hard to stay right with them to make sure all of our piping made it within the walls.

Our job superintendent devised a plan to make it easier for us to stay ahead. He worked late every day and made hand sketches of the piping that was located within the walls and provided the drawings and material necessary to make it happen. He split our job site into two crews: one crew was in charge of fabricating the piping sections and the other was in charge of installing them. I was selected for the fabrication team. We set up our shop within a material trailer located on site. By doing this we could work rain or shine to stay ahead of the install team and the masonry contractor.

We continued this process throughout the job and the project was very successful. That was 16 years ago this June. That project has always been part of me throughout my career. I have been fortunate enough to be on many job-sites and facilities across the country and even traveled to Europe to evaluate and learn fabrication techniques. I can honestly say that no one does it better than TP Mechanical.

TP Mechanical’s leadership saw the growing need for fabrication in our industry early on. They went full steam ahead to make the investment in a state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Cincinnati, Ohio. Out of this facility, TP Mechanical provides all fabrication needed for its job-sites as well as for outside customers. We build Plumbing, HVAC, Fire Protection and Medical Gas systems of all sorts. We have even established remote fabrication facilities near construction sites to improve speed and efficiency.

The culture at TP Mechanical has grown to welcome fabrication at all levels because our teams see the benefits for the projects, our customers and the industry alike.

With fabrication TP Mechanical can provide products just-in-time to the projects. We utilize a safe work environment and shave days, weeks or even months off of construction schedules. Everyone benefits from Fabrication. Properly planned fabrication can reduce safety hazard exposure on the job-site, keep unwanted materials off of the job-site, reduce waste from construction landfills, improve construction logistics and reduce installation time, therefore enhancing construction schedules.

I am proud to be a part of the Fabrication workforce at TP Mechanical because we care about our customers and we are making a difference in our industry. Fabrication has been around for a while, but it is quickly evolving into a bright future. What are you fabricating?