MBN Engineering
Delivering Personalized Transmission Engineering Services

The American utility infrastructure is under constant pressure to accommodate rapid electrification while transitioning from traditional power generation to renewables. Despite ample funding for infrastructure development to address the challenges of an aging power delivery system, the industry remains far from meeting consumer requirements. This can be largely attributed to the lack of skilled transmission and distribution engineers that perform core tasks.

As counterintuitive as it may sound, when engineering companies promote their best employees to managerial roles, they undermine their own capacity and hinder their ability to deliver better value to their customers.

“In such scenarios, the most skilled staff are no longer performing technical work,” says Mike Berger, president at MBN Engineering.

MBN Engineering effectively overcomes this challenge by adopting a horizontal organization structure instead of a traditional top-down management framework, bringing a unique perspective to the market and assembling the most skilled personnel to collectively work on projects from start to finish.

Focused on providing innovative design and superior customer service, MBN Engineering offers a full range of transmission engineering services, including routing and permitting of transmission lines, obtaining survey data from aerial photography and LIDAR, and developing cost studies and schedules. The team evaluates lines for maximum operating temperature and determines what is required for construction to bring a line up to the required capacity. Its transmission line design services cover all phases, including foundations and special structures. MBN Engineering also creates materials lists, coordinates the design and construction of transmission lines with all utilities involved, and obtains construction bids.

MBN Engineering entered the field of electrical transmission and distribution systems on a mission to bring together the most experienced engineers that preferred technical work over a management role.

With over 70 years of combined service experience, the team makes a difference by bringing its vast knowledge to bear on all projects.

A flat organizational structure allows MBN Engineering to successfully address the shortage of qualified engineers and technicians in the transmission and distribution space. It is committed to employing and training interns and young engineers, building a talented pool of workers that can drive its growth. Its business model also allows young engineers to be involved in projects from the get-go and helps them quickly understand the nuances of the industry and how to best approach each task.

MBN Engineering applies an open communication strategy to ensure that the client is a part of all design decisions. Working directly with clients, its experienced team of engineers knows the right questions to ask to understand the client’s perspective. The team also encourages clients to promptly communicate any concerns so that it can change course immediately if needed.
Unfazed by the aftereffects of the pandemic, MBN Engineering displayed its expertise by finding quick responses to the emerging challenges experienced throughout the industry, like the drastic increase in material lead times caused by supply chain disruptions.

“We order some of the long lead materials as soon as we get a preliminary design to ensure on-time completion of projects,” says Kevin Berreth, transmission department manager at MBN Engineering.

MBN Engineering’s team assesses the length of the transmission line and purchases shield wire and conductors, as well as other necessary components, including insulators, clamps, cross-arms, and groundings. To speed up the project, its engineers evaluate which structures will be self-supporting to identify the required number of steel or laminated wooden poles and procures them after a complete design is in place.

By empowering its team and keeping open communication lines with the clients at all times, MBN Engineering succeeds in meeting and exceeding client expectations through its broad range of personalized, quality engineering services.