Why Have Your Motor Control Centers (MCCs) Built by EBI Electric?

In a plant, a Motor Control Center (MCC) is not “just another control cabinet.” It’s the electrical brain that starts, protects, and coordinates your motors. When that brain goes down, production goes down with it.

At EBI Electric, we’ve been designing and building custom MCCs for many years for customers across Quebec, Canada, and the United States. In this article, we explain:

• what sets our MCCs apart from large OEM manufacturers;

• how we design, wire, and test every Motor Control Center;

• what information we need from you to prepare a clear, complete proposal.

1. Custom‑built MCC vs. Catalog MCC: What Really Changes for You

Large manufacturers offer standardized MCCs. EBI Electric, on the other hand, builds MCCs that are adapted to your plant’s reality.

A quick look at an internal comparison between EBI and large manufacturers makes the difference clear:

1.1. Design Flexibility

• Large manufacturers: limited customization, usually based only on predefined catalog configurations.
  

• EBI MCCs: no fixed template or rigid mold. The only real limit is the physical size of the doors and access openings required to bring the MCC into your facility.
  

In practical terms, this means we can:

• adjust the number of buckets and sections based on your current needs and future projects;

• plan open spaces for future expansion;

• integrate complete control/automation sections directly into the MCC.
  

1.2. Component Selection

Your preferred component standards matter to you. They matter to us as well.

• Large manufacturers: often limited to their own catalog of components.
  

• EBI Electric: we align with your standards – Allen‑Bradley, Schneider, ABB, Yaskawa, Benshaw, and many other well‑known brands.
  

As a result, you get:

• an MCC that is easier for your in‑house maintenance teams to service;

• replacement parts that are simpler to source;

• better continuity with your existing equipment base.
  

1.3. Lead Times

• Large manufacturers: typical lead times of 6 to 12 months for new MCC lineups.
  

• EBI MCCs: a typical window of 3 to 6 months, depending on project complexity and volume.
  

This reduction in lead time comes from two key factors:

• Direct contact with our designers and project managers – no extra layers of intermediaries.
  

• Local manufacturing: all design, wiring, and testing are done in our own shop.
  

2. An MCC Is Not “Just Wires and Drives”: Our Manufacturing & Testing Approach

Behind every MCC there are hundreds of connections – and zero room for error. That’s why our approach is built on three pillars: local fabrication, precise wiring, and complete testing before the equipment leaves our facility.

2.1. Local Manufacturing and Full Control

At EBI Electric, there is no outsourcing for your MCCs:

• electrical and mechanical design are done in‑house;

• manual wiring is performed by specialized technicians, all with certified electrical training;

• assembly and integration of motor protection devices, starters, VFDs, relays, I/O, and PLCs are all done directly in our shop.
  

This end‑to‑end control allows us to provide:

• full traceability of components;

• tight quality control on every connection;

• faster adjustments if you request changes during the project.
  

2.2. Precise Wiring and Removable Mounting Plates

We have developed removable mounting plates that can be taken out easily for modifications or maintenance.

On the plant floor, this translates to:

• faster interventions for your maintenance team;

• less downtime during future modifications;

• better accessibility for troubleshooting.
  

2.3. Testing and Commissioning

Before leaving our facility, every MCC is:

• fully wired and tested according to a strict internal procedure;

• verified for continuity, insulation, proper operation of protection devices, and correct control sequencing.
  

Our technicians and programmers can then support you:

• during on‑site startup;

• with integration into your control network and existing systems;

• with final adjustments and training for your team.
  

3. CSA/UL Certification and Compliance for Your Inspections

All our MCCs are CSA‑certified (and UL‑certified when required), which simplifies:

• local electrical inspections;

• insurance and risk‑management requirements;

• compliance with North American industrial standards.
  

In practice, certification means:

• wiring methods, component selection, clearances, and creepage distances all meet current standards;

• all testing performed in our shop is documented;

• your MCCs are ready to be integrated into demanding industrial environments.
  

4. Control, Automation, and Network Integration Inside the MCC

A modern Motor Control Center does more than start and stop motors. It must also:

• communicate with your existing PLCs;

• integrate with your industrial networks (EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, etc.);

• provide telemetry, alarms, and performance data.
  

Unlike some solutions where the control section is left empty and handed off to the customer, we can integrate the entire control and automation layer directly inside the MCC:

• PLC (Programmable Logic Controller);

• local or remote I/O modules;

• industrial network communications;

• integrated or remote HMI operator interfaces.
  

This simplifies:

• coordination between your electrical, automation, and IT teams;

• on‑site startup;

• future system evolution (new motors, new sequences, optimization projects, etc.).
  

5. Retrofitting Existing MCCs: Extending the Life of Your Plant

You already have an MCC, but:

• the starters are obsolete;

• the drives are no longer supported;

• you’re struggling to find spare parts?
  

In many cases, it is possible to modernize (retrofit) your existing MCC without replacing the entire lineup:

• replace across‑the‑line starters with soft starters or variable frequency drives;

• upgrade protective devices (electronic relays, overloads, etc.);

• add communication modules and integrate the MCC into your plant network.
  

Retrofitting often allows you to:

• reduce costs compared to a full replacement;

• minimize production downtime;

• upgrade the safety and reliability of your motors.
  

6. Information We Need for a Clear and Complete Proposal

To help the EBI Electric team prepare an accurate quote and avoid unnecessary back‑and‑forth, here is the information that helps us most.

6.1. General Project Information

• Type of industry and process (sawmill, food processing, heavy industry, water treatment, etc.);

• Installation location (country, state, indoor or outdoor, dusty, humid, corrosive, hazardous, high‑temperature environment, etc.);

• Internal standards or specifications to follow (preferred component brands, wiring standards, wire color codes, etc.).
  

6.2. Motor and Load Data

For each motor (or for similar groups of motors), ideally provide:

• power rating (kW or HP);

• voltage and number of phases;

• full‑load current;

• desired starting method (across‑the‑line, wye‑delta, soft starter, VFD);

• type of load (pump, conveyor, fan, compressor, etc.);

• specific requirements (braking, high starting torque, variable speeds, etc.).
  

An existing one‑line diagram or a complete load list is extremely helpful for structuring the MCC.

6.3. Operating and Protection Requirements

• Required short‑circuit rating (kA, system voltage);

• Selectivity and coordination with upstream protection devices;

• Specific machine safety requirements (E‑stops, interlocks, mechanical/electrical interlocking);

• Desired level of redundancy (power, communications, critical modules).
  

6.4. Control, Automation, and Communication

• Your current automation architecture (PLC brand and model, network protocols, SCADA systems, etc.);

• Required local or remote I/O (number of DI/DO/AI/AO, analog signals, energy measurement, etc.);

• Planned integration with existing systems (MES, supervisory systems, data historian, predictive maintenance).
  

6.5. Physical and Logistical Constraints

• Available dimensions in the electrical room or installation area;

• Maximum width and height allowed by doors, corridors, and elevators (critical for transporting the MCC as a whole or in sections);

• Cable entry (top or bottom entry);

• Need for sectioning by area or by group of motors.
  

7. How EBI Electric Supports Your MCC Project

From the first call to final startup, our approach is designed to be turnkey:

• Needs analysis: technical discussions, review of your existing drawings, clarification of your component standards and operating constraints.
  

• Detailed design: electrical schematics, layout drawings, bills of material, integration of automation and communications.
  

• Shop fabrication and testing: full wiring, quality control, functional and safety testing.
  

• Delivery, installation, and commissioning: on‑site support for final terminations, energization, testing, and sequence optimization.
  

• After‑sales support: technical assistance, spare parts, documentation, and options for retrofit or expansion as your production evolves.
  

8. Summary: Why Choose EBI Electric for Your MCCs?

In one sentence: custom‑built MCCs, manufactured here, to perform in your plant.

Concretely, you get:

• flexible design aligned with your real operating needs;

• CSA/UL‑certified MCCs, wired and tested in our own shop;

• reduced lead times, typically between 3 and 6 months for most projects;

• component selection that matches your standards (Allen‑Bradley, Schneider, ABB, Yaskawa, Benshaw, etc.);

• full support from design through on‑site commissioning;

• retrofit options that extend the life of your existing installations.
  

Ready to Discuss Your Next MCC?

Whether you need a new Motor Control Center or want to modernize an existing MCC, the EBI Electric team can provide a solution tailored to your production environment.

We can also offer industrial electrical installation for your MCC through our installation department, and we can supply replacement parts through our electrical parts distribution department.

Get your load list, space constraints, and component standards together, then contact us. We’ll work with you to make sure your motors have an electrical brain that’s worthy of your plant. ⚡