Features Equipment & Systems Pulp
Lighting supplier chosen for Irving mill pulp mill project

Gardner Electric of Saint John, N.B., has been awarded a $1.3 million contract from Irving Pulp & Paper to supply and install all of the lighting and electrical building services for the pulp mill modernization project underway in Saint John.

The 12-month contract includes installation of 6500 feet of cable trays, which will carry about 43,000 feet of electrical cable to power the new chip plant and the new cook plant at the mill.

Gardner Electric will also install LED lighting for both buildings, as well as all receptacles, welding receptacles, fire alarms, and emergency exit lighting.

“A project like this keeps local businesses going. It’s very important to have local contractors participating. It keeps our workers home — they don’t have to leave New Brunswick,” said Paul Dickson, project manager of Gardner Electric.

The contract is expected to generate up to 15,000 person hours of work for local electricians and apprentices with support from supervisor and office staff positions.

The $450-million pulp mill modernization project by J.D. Irving, Limited is the largest pulp mill project in Canada since 1993. In early December, the project was averaging 1000 person hours a day for local construction workers, and about 40 New Brunswick companies have been awarded contracts.