In-House Skilled Trades
Industrial Mechanical Services
The scope of industrial mechanical services includes installation, maintenance, repair, and removal of industrial machinery. These tasks are undertaken by Millwrights.
Millwright Services
Millwrights are trained in a variety of skills which allows them to easily move between seemingly unrelated facilities: glass manufacturing, air cargo, steel mills, wineries, auto plants, e-commerce distribution centers, dairy production, airport terminals, and even automated parking systems in dense urban environments.
Machinery commonly encountered by Millwright service providers includes:
- Conveyor Systems
- Process Equipment
- Bottling Equipment
- Palletizing Robots
- Industrial Lifts
- Air Filtration Systems
- Scanners and readers
The history of Millwrights may go back in history farther than you think.
Millwrights at SilMan
The SilMan Millwright team – in collaboration with our Electricians – forms the core of our industrial services. This Mechanical-Electrical combination is commonly referred to as “M&E”.
A well-coordinated, multi-skilled Mechanical Electrical team adds tremendous value to projects. Close coordination between trades avoids bottlenecks, lowers costs, and reduces 3rd party subcontractors.
Furthermore, SilMan’s commitment to self-performance means that M&E projects can easily scale up by seamlessly engaging our Civil and Structural teams, as needed. These changes in scope are accomplished without interruption of existing communication and project management resources.
All of these teams are adept communicators, utilizing digital communication platforms to coordinate with clients, project managers, field teams, and accounting.
SilMan clients enjoy the benefits of this “one-stop-shop” capability:
- Streamlined communication for all trades and account management
- Efficient coordination of trades
- The in-house safety team coordinates directly with client facility managers
And best of all, this approach provides holistic insights into long-term strategies for facility and equipment health. The power of this approach is evidenced by the high rate of repeat business, and the number of facilities that SilMan serves on a nearly year-round basis.
Material Handling System Integration
In-House Team Support
Even as SilMan millwrights are part of our Site Services Division, they are a valuable asset for our own material handling system integration team. This collaboration provides an in-house project execution team to install conveyor equipment and control devices.
SilMan’s hand-in-hand cooperation between Divisions delivers quality, efficiency, cost savings, and scheduling advantages to SilMan’s material handling clients. And furthermore, allows our MH team to add value to their offerings by bundling facility or infrastructure updates without third parties.
Industrial Equipment Installation, Maintenance, Repair, Removal
The life cycle of industrial equipment creates a constant churn of activity for Millwrights.
At SilMan, in any given week the mechanical demands of our clients take the millwright team across the entire spectrum of industrial activity:
- Install palletizing robot for e-commerce provider
- Repair furnace for glass manufacturer
- Decommission, rig, and remove silos for dairy producer
- Install conveyor equipment for a beverage producer
- Maintenance of an automated medical records system for a regional medical center
- Fabricate temporary solutions in the field while equipment is repaired/replaced
- Rig and install rooftop catwalks and crossovers for an industrial facility
- Install motors, gears, and controls for an automated car stacker system
- Maintenance of assembly and conveyor equipment for automobile manufacture
Or lead 200 millwrights on a 24-hour-day, multiple-team, two-week shutdown for a leading manufacturer.
National Mechanical Electrical Services
Equipment Installation and System Modifications
SilMan’s M&E team is a nimble, multi-skilled asset that can be deployed locally, regionally, and nationally. Their successes place them at the forefront of the company’s coast-to-coast expansion. On any given day SilMan has boots on the ground in multiple states, stretching from California to the Carolinas.
These teams are coordinated from a single project management resource in California, in close collaboration with our Engineering team in Mississippi, and of course, tapping into our national network of Union Millwrights.
These rapid-strike teams often tap into the extensive cross-training of our Millwrights, welding or concrete for instance, without the expense or delay of third-party subcontractors:
Fast, reliable, end-to-end quality assurance for our clients.
All of it thanks to our top-flight Millwright and Electrical teams.
For individuals interested in becoming an Industrial Mechanic, or Millwright, the first suggested step is to start a relationship with a local union.
Trade unions provide training and certification and assist members to connect with job opportunities.
But Union labor is not a one-way street! Contractors and industrial companies who hire industrial mechanics embrace union affiliation as a guarantee of quality workmanship, technical proficiency, and safety awareness.
Millwright Training and Formation
Many organizations suggest that prospects complete a two-year degree before beginning training, although it is not a requirement. Either way, a basic level of mechanical and technical aptitude must be demonstrated to begin an apprentice program.
With the ever-increasing need for industrial mechanical professionals, most states offer financial assistance to aspiring tradesmen to cover the costs of schooling through community colleges.
Once initial formation or learning has been accomplished, the up-and-coming Millwright may apply for an apprenticeship.
The most common pathway forward is to be sponsored by a company. Others may attempt a program directly through a local union hall. However, this path may delay progress if there is not sufficient volume to support the apprentice.
During this four-year period, the apprentice is compensated to be engaged in a combination of training and field assignments working alongside journeymen. Payscale for apprentice positions is based on a percentage of the full union scale.
When the program is complete, the apprentice may apply for Journeyman status and move into the ranks of the professional millwright.
Millwrights Local 102
Local 102 is the home of our Northern California Millwright team.
Trade unions like the Local 102 are closely associated with the Joint Apprenticeship Training Council (JATC) which offers courses for a variety of trades. The JATC has facilities in most large cities in the U.S. Local 102 apprentices receive their training with Northern California Carpenter Training.
Many of SilMan’s Millwrights began their careers at this facility. In fact, our Journey-level member commonly continues their association with the NCCT to accelerate their career by adding skills such as welding, computer skills, and project management.
You can find similar organizations in your area here.
- Does this sound like you? Click the next tab on this page to learn more about the competencies and skills needed to become a Millwright.
Where there is a machine, you will find a Millwright, from factories and distribution centers to hospitals. In each situation, they work with every kind of process equipment, conveyor and sortation systems, air filtration systems, robots,…and even roller coasters!
This wide range of activities highlights the variety of skills that may be exercised by Millwrights each day. While a Millwright’s fundamental training is focused on understanding industrial machines, they may acquire training in a variety of additional skills, such as pipefitting, welding, or machining.
Behind all of this, there are fundamental aptitudes needed to become a successful mechanical professional.
To begin with, an interest in mechanical devices is core. As is the ability to read and understand blueprints.
And, despite the size and power of industrial equipment, working with these devices requires precision. Therefore, high detail orientation and manual dexterity are crucial.
While physical strength is an element of daily work, skilled Millwrights use their training to avoid heavy lifts. Tools and implements such as chains, hoists, levels, and fulcrums help Millwrights “Work smart, not hard.”
And of course, in the 21st-century industrial workplace, administrative skills are needed to succeed. The Millwright must be able to manage various types of documents, manage inventory of parts, and use digital devices and applications.
Lastly, a Millwright must be able to follow directions and work with others, especially regarding safety protocols. Millwrights face many physical dangers. The well-being of the whole team rests upon the commitment of each individual to work safely.
