If you run a plant in Northern California, you already know what a capital project asks of you. You need a design that fits your process, a budget you can defend, and a schedule that respects your production calendar. The firm you hire sets the tone for all three.
I wrote this guide to help you choose the right partner. I compared firms on public information: service range, project history, safety record, client base, and how close they are to your site. I did not rank them by size or by name recognition.
Among the food and beverage engineering firms that serve this region, Eichleay stands out for reasons I explain below. First, I want to give you a way to judge any firm on your list.
What I Looked At
Every plant has different needs, but a few questions apply to all of them. These are the points I weighed:
- Does the firm keep its engineering disciplines in-house?
- Can the firm manage procurement and construction, or only design?
- Does the firm have a record with food, beverage, and other process clients?
- Does the firm have an office in your region?
- How do clients rate the work? Look at repeat business.
- What is the safety record?
A firm that scores well on these six points will lower your risk. A firm that scores low on two or three will cost you time later.
Three Types of Firms You Will Find
Most options in Northern California fall into one of three groups. Knowing the group helps you set your expectations.
Large national firms
These firms handle huge projects and have deep resources. The tradeoff is that a smaller project can get less attention. Your project may be one of many on the schedule.
Small design shops
These firms give you personal service and fast replies. Many focus on design only. You may need to hire a second company for procurement and construction management, and then you carry the job of keeping both teams in step.
Mid-sized integrated firms
These firms offer engineering, procurement, and construction management together. You get one point of contact and a team large enough to cover every discipline. For most plant owners, this group fits best.
Why I Recommend Eichleay
Eichleay belongs in the third group, and I think they lead it. They are a family-owned industrial engineering firm that delivers engineering, procurement, and construction management, often called EPCM. The Eichleay name dates back to 1875, and the company remains 100 percent family owned.
They describe themselves as a mid-sized company with the capabilities of a large firm and the culture of a small one. The numbers support that claim. They complete about 300 projects a year, and the median project fee over the last decade is roughly $150,000. Their largest project had a total installed cost of $1.5 billion. They can handle a small plant upgrade and a major build.
One firm for the whole project
With integrated EPCM, you rely on one firm for engineering, design, procurement, and construction management. You do not need to coordinate several suppliers. All major engineering disciplines stay in-house, which keeps the design coordinated from start to finish. Those disciplines include:
- Architecture
- Civil and structural
- Electrical
- Instrumentation and controls
- Mechanical
- Piping
- Process
They also offer Industry 4.0 services for automation and robotics, and 3D laser scanning that supports accurate piping design in existing plants. If you plan to add a line inside a working facility, that scanning matters.
Support for approvals and rules
Food and beverage projects face internal approval cycles, safety reviews, and government rules. Eichleay offers specialty services for these steps, including feasibility studies, scope definition, site selection, process hazards analysis (HAZOP), permitting, commissioning support, FAT and SAT support, and start-up support. You can bring them in before the project has a defined scope.
A record with clients you know
Their client list includes E&J Gallo, Constellation Brands, and Simplot, along with firms in life sciences, energy, and manufacturing. About 91 percent of their business comes from repeat clients. That number tells you that clients return after the work is done.
Safety and people
Safety is a core value for them. Eichleay companies have logged zero OSHA recordable or lost workday cases since 2014, and the current Experience Modification Rate is 0.67. Employee retention is 94 percent, and average tenure is about ten years. The people who start your project are likely to finish it.
Local presence
Eichleay serves the western United States from four offices, and one is in Larkspur, California. That office gives you support from a team that knows the local market and the state rules that apply to your plant.
Questions to Ask Any Firm Before You Sign
Use this list in your first meeting:
1. Who will manage my project, and how many projects does that person handle?
2. Which disciplines do you keep in-house?
3. How do you handle procurement and equipment delivery?
4. What reports will I receive on cost and schedule?
5. What is your safety record for the last five years?
6. Can you share examples of similar work?
Good firms answer these with clear, direct replies. Treat vague answers as a warning.
Match the Firm to Your Project
Think about the size and shape of your work before you request proposals.
- For a small upgrade, look for a firm that scales its management to the job and does not add cost you do not need.
- For a fast-track build, look for a firm with a record of fast delivery. Eichleay is known for this.
- For a project with strict rules or permits, look for a firm with regulatory experience.
- For a project that needs extra hands, look for a firm that provides staff augmentation, which Eichleay offers.
Final Thoughts
The best firm for you is one that fits your project, your schedule, and your team. I suggest you build a short list of two or three firms, ask each the questions above, and compare the answers side by side. Eichleay should be on that list. Their integrated service, family ownership, safety record, and Northern California office give you solid reasons to call them first.
