Utilities Business Review: Specials Magazine

What pressures are utilities facing while modernizing electrical infrastructure and expanding grid capacity today? Electric utilities are under increasing pressure to modernize aging infrastructure, support growing electrification driven by data centers and electric vehicles and operate within tighter land-use, operational and regulatory constraints. In this environment, products alone are not enough. Utilities need partners who engage early, stay through execution and remain accountable across the full life of the system. That is how Marmon Utility—a long-trusted expert in engineered overhead and underground power distribution solutions—positions itself. The company operates as an extension of the utility, engaging early in system design and planning, working closely with specification teams and supporting engineering, site-level execution and installation. Its involvement does not end at delivery. Post-installation support ensures systems perform as intended long after most suppliers have moved on. How does spacer cable technology improve electrical infrastructure capacity within constrained utility corridors? The impact becomes clear in the numbers. Its 138 kV Aerial Spacer Cable System has an eight-foot-wide footprint, compared to a 30-foot-wide footprint for a traditional bare-wire system at the same voltage. In congested corridors, that difference can determine whether a project proceeds or stalls. Utilities can run multiple circuits on existing pole structures and rights-of-way—without acquiring new land or rebuilding from scratch. “One of the challenges for infrastructure in the U.S. is that there is not enough land to build more,” says Ken Woo, president. “Our solution allows utilities to maximize the use of their existing rights-of-way.” Built to Last, Designed to Evolve Why is field-driven engineering important when designing utility infrastructure products for long-term use? Hendrix Spacer Cable Systems has been on the market for more than 75 years, while sister brand Kerite has supported critical infrastructure for over 170 years. Marmon Utility draws on both legacies and that depth of experience shapes how it delivers value to customers at every stage. “Our experienced linemen, many with 30-plus years in the field, are part of the product development process,” says Michael Lemelin, Vice President of Engineering. “They know what crews will adopt, what they will trust and what will sit unused because no one wants to work with it in the field.” That field-driven insight is reflected in the forthcoming Vise-Top Line Post insulator, which extends the proven benefits of the Vise-Top pin insulator into a line post configuration. The result is lower labor costs, improved installation consistency and a reduced experience threshold for line crews—an important advantage as the industry faces a shortage of skilled labor. Material science follows a similar path. Flame-retardant insulators address durability requirements that have evolved significantly in recent years, while many products are recyclable, supporting the sustainability commitments utilities increasingly face from regulators and the public. Active participation in industry committees across both distribution and transmission keeps Marmon Utility aligned with emerging standards before they become requirements. What a Culture of Continuous Improvement Delivers In what way does lean manufacturing support reliability and delivery consistency for utility customers? At Marmon Utility, continuous improvement—rooted in lean manufacturing—translates directly into what utility customers value most: consistent output, reliable delivery and greater planning confidence. Every employee is trained in lean principles from the start and a dedicated lean engineer supports every facility. The company’s internal belt system reflects the depth of that commitment, with employees progressing through yellow and green belts and ultimately to blue belt—the highest level within Marmon companies, surpassing black belt certification. Standardized processes drive consistency across manufacturing, enabling dependable delivery and repeatable field performance.