POWERGRAMS

"We'd been having to go up on the roof and work," Mitchell Hydroelectric Plant Supervisor Chuck Easterling said. "For safety, we contracted with the Steel Shop to fabricate handrails for the roof and make handrail modifications in the plant." Steel Shop employees traveled 40 miles to Mitchell Dam in Verbena and worked from their travel trailer. "The Steel Shop came in and did the work according to our business and safety rules," Easterling said. "They looked at the job upfront, figured the man-hours and provided a good budget. They did a great job, and they stuck to their estimate." Remaking metal fabricated devices – another job performed for Plant Mitchell – is a Steel Shop specialty. The hydro generating plant needed new strainer baskets to keep tree limbs and debris from entering the dam intake. Easterling priced the job with the Steel Shop and a contractor. The vendor bid about $18,000 to remake two baskets. However, the Steel Shop reverse- engineered the parts, replacing carbon steel elements – more prone to rust and corrosion – with stainless steel. The price: less than $1,000. "We're making things you can't go to the store and buy," Ellison said. "If someone has a metal fabricated device, we can take a sketch and make a one-of-a-kind, built-to-order device." Steel Shop employees build items ranging from aluminum backhoes on boats to carts used for transporting gas cylinders. Those top-notch retrofit skills provide special value. Connell said the Steel Shop wants to capitalize on its talents and grow relationships with Southern Company electric-generating plants as they perform retrofits. Though shop workers don't erect steel on site, they do small installations, make repairs and inspect isophase ductwork. "We'd love to provide more support to the generating plants," Connell said. "The plants need metal fabricators, and our employees fit the bill. We've had employees work for a couple of months at plant sites performing various inspections, installations and on-site welding." LOVING EVERY MINUTE There's nearly zero turnover among the Steel Shop team, ages 20 to 72. When hiring, the shop seeks applicants with an ambitious attitude and a willingness to learn. Candidates must be proficient in math and have a general knowledge of hand tools and saws. Welding is a plus. "We want to hire the attitude and teach the skills," Connell said. "Employees must have a good attitude and a good work ethic, so we can teach them everything they need to know. Our employees are our most valuable tool of all. With the right people, we will further Alabama Power in its mission to provide affordable electricity to the great state of Alabama." 11 11 Scott Goggins, one of 13 certified welders, performs welding on a substation column. An aluminum SCADA cabinet is one of many types of aluminum enclosures fabricated at the Steel Shop. Photos by Phil Free The drill line drills through a tube quickly and precisely.

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