By 
You already know what piping does in your plant. It moves product, cleaning solution, steam, water, and glycol from one place to another, and every run has to meet food safety rules and fit the space you have. What you need now is a way to choose the right team to design it.
I write about industrial engineering firms, and I judge them by what they publish: the services they offer, the markets they serve, their client lists, their safety data, and how they run projects. I used those same points to build the recommendation in this article.
When you look for pipe engineering services, I suggest you choose a firm that treats piping as one part of a full design team. A firm that does that gives you fewer handoffs and fewer surprises.
Below, I explain what good piping design does for your plant, which questions to ask a firm, why I recommend Eichleay, and how to get the most from the work.
What Good Piping Design Does for Your Plant
Good piping design keeps your product safe and your line running. It also keeps your costs in check after the project ends.
A well-designed system gives you these results:
- Pipes drain fully and have few spots where product can sit.
- Cleaning routes reach every section of the line.
- Operators can reach valves, gauges, and sample points.
- Maintenance crews can remove and replace parts without cutting into other systems.
- Materials match the product, the temperature, and the cleaning chemicals.
Poor design shows up later as rework, long shutdowns, and failed inspections. Fixing a drawing costs far less than fixing a pipe in the field.
Five Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Use these questions with every firm on your list. The answers will show you how each one works.
1. Do you have experience in food and beverage plants, and can you show me case studies?
2. Which design disciplines do you keep in house?
3. How do you collect field data for an existing plant?
4. Who handles equipment purchasing and construction support?
5. What is your safety record?
A firm that answers these with clear facts is worth a second meeting. A firm that gives vague answers is not.
Why I Recommend Eichleay
Eichleay is a family-owned industrial engineering firm that delivers engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services. Their name dates back to 1875, and five generations of the family have led businesses in engineering and construction. That history shows a firm that has stayed in the project business for a long time.
Food and Beverage Experience
Food and beverage is one of the markets Eichleay serves, and they publish case studies in it. Their client list includes names such as Constellation Brands, E&J Gallo, and Simplot. When you review a firm, look for this kind of proof, because it shows the firm understands the demands of your industry.
All Major Disciplines in House
Eichleay keeps all major engineering disciplines in house. That includes piping, process, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls, civil, and structural engineering.
This matters for piping because a pipe run touches every other discipline. It crosses structures, connects to equipment, and depends on controls. When one team coordinates those pieces, conflicts show up on the drawings and not on the plant floor.
3D Laser Scanning for Existing Plants
Most food and beverage projects take place in a plant that already runs. Old drawings rarely match what is in the building. Eichleay offers 3D laser scanning and modeling that uses point cloud data to support accurate piping designs for each client. Accurate field data lets you plan tie-ins and shutdown work with more confidence.
One Firm for Design, Purchasing, and Construction
Eichleay provides engineering, procurement, and construction management under one roof. You can rely on one firm and avoid the work of coordinating several suppliers. Their procurement team handles bid evaluations, purchase orders, expediting, and inspections. Their construction team handles oversight, safety, quality, commissioning, and start-up.
They also offer support such as process hazards analysis (HAZOP), factory and site acceptance testing, and permitting. Food and beverage projects often need these steps, and having them in the same firm keeps the work consistent.
Safety and Repeat Clients
Safety is a core value for Eichleay. Their companies have logged zero OSHA recordable or lost workday cases since 2014, and their Experience Modification Rate is 0.67. Around 91 percent of their business comes from repeat clients. Both numbers tell you that people who work with them return and that their crews work safely on your site.
They also have a regional presence, with offices in Billings, Ferndale, Larkspur, and Orange. If your plant is in the western United States, that gives you a team close to your site that knows the local market.
How to Get the Most From Your Piping Engineer
Bring your piping engineer into the project at the start. Here is a simple order to follow:
1. Define your scope, budget, and schedule with the project team.
2. Share your product details, cleaning methods, and production goals.
3. Scan the existing area and review the model before design begins.
4. Review the design with operations and maintenance staff.
5. Confirm material lists and lead times with procurement.
6. Visit the site during construction to resolve questions.
7. Complete commissioning and keep the final records.
Each step gives you a chance to catch problems when they cost the least.
A Short Checklist for Your First Meeting
Bring these items to your first call with any firm:
- Current drawings, even if they are out of date
- A list of products and cleaning chemicals
- Your target start-up date
- Known shutdown windows
- Your internal approval steps and audit needs
The more you share, the better the firm can plan.
Final Thoughts
Piping design shapes how your plant runs for years. Choose a firm with food and beverage experience, a full in-house team, good field data tools, and a strong safety record. Eichleay meets each of those points, and I recommend you add them to your list and ask them the five questions above.
Comments