Crown Candy Boosts Safety & Efficiency with Arrow Hart Wiring Audit

Cooper Wiring Devices’ Arrow Hart Engineering Sales team recently performed a comprehensive wiring‑device audit at Crown Candy Corporation, an 85‑year‑old confectionery plant in Macon, GA. The audit surfaced a spectrum of improvements—enhancing employee and equipment safety, ensuring code compliance, slashing maintenance and downtime, and extending product performance and longevity. With a century of experience designing rugged wiring solutions for demanding applications, Arrow Hart identified targeted upgrades that promise Crown Candy a safer, cleaner, and more productive environment.

Why an audit matters
A full wiring‑device review is the first step toward a safe, efficient workplace. Faulty electrical wiring is among the most cited OSHA infractions and a leading cause of workplace injuries, production stoppages and lost productivity. By proactively inspecting and upgrading a facility’s electrical infrastructure, companies can introduce cost‑effective, high‑quality components that raise safety, boost productivity, and cut downtime. For Crown Candy, those benefits were essential enough to request a professional audit.

Targeted, actionable recommendations
The audit uncovered dozens of upgrade opportunities across the plant. Arrow Hart’s plan replaces standard receptacles, plugs, connectors, switches and motor controls with devices engineered for harsh food‑and‑beverage environments. The new hardware meets IP66 or higher ratings, resists water, dust, cleaning agents and temperature extremes, and is built from durable, corrosion‑resistant materials such as stainless steel, glass‑filled nylon and nickel‑plated metal. Protective covers, flip‑lids and strain‑relief solutions further shield devices from the facility’s physical abuse.

In food‑and‑beverage settings, electrical infrastructure is routinely exposed to hose‑downs, sprays, high humidity and cleaning chemicals. Standard industrial devices can corrode or fail under these conditions, jeopardizing safety and electrical integrity. Replacing them with watertight, corrosion‑resistant hardware—paired with proper protection—maximizes device life and employee safety.

Implementing these specialized components will deliver safer operations, higher productivity and longer equipment life.

Environment‑specific solutions
Arrow Hart identified several key areas for device upgrades. In zones subject to repeated hose‑downs or cleaning‑agent sprays, it recommends IP66+ receptacles, plugs and connectors that maintain water and dust protection. Where incidental spray, humidity or airborne contaminants are present, corrosion‑resistant hardware made from food‑grade materials is advised. Flip covers protect switches and receptacles from the harsh conditions that are common in a confectionery plant, significantly extending device lifespan and reducing safety hazards.

Many wiring failures stem from strain on cables and conductors. Frequently, the cable jacket frays or pulls away from a device, exposing live conductors and creating a shock risk. Proper installation combined with a wire‑mesh grip delivers essential strain relief and eliminates this hazard. Wire‑mesh grips are ideal for plugs and connectors that are moved frequently or serve as service drops, and for cables exiting enclosures or distribution points.

Motor control switches also warrant special attention. In food‑and‑beverage facilities, motor disconnects sit near production lines and are exposed to sugars, syrups, water and cleaning chemicals. Arrow Hart recommends the X‑Switch, a stainless‑steel, NEMA 4X enclosure switch specifically engineered for “splash‑zone” use. Certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), the X‑Switch delivers maintenance‑free performance in the most demanding settings.

The chemical‑waste building presented a tougher challenge. Pumps in this area required local connectivity but suffered monthly failures due to corrosive chemicals. Arrow Hart’s solution is a rugged portable outlet box featuring corrosion‑resistant receptacles and flip‑lid cover plates, engineered to withstand extreme corrosive environments.

Long‑term impact
After the audit, Arrow Hart conducted a follow‑up visit to map exact product selections and installation tools, producing a detailed materials list. Crown Candy is now integrating the recommended upgrades during scheduled equipment changeovers, minimizing line downtime. Once fully implemented, the plant will benefit from higher efficiency, lower downtime, full code compliance and a safer workplace.

Streamlined auditing with SAFE Solutions
Recognizing the value of thorough audits, Arrow Hart launched SAFE Solutions—a turnkey auditing program tailored for industrial manufacturing environments. Using a compact audit pad, facility managers, engineers and maintenance teams can quickly identify wiring‑device deficiencies and receive tailored, compliant solutions.

About Cooper Wiring Devices
Cooper Wiring Devices, a trusted leader in electrical products, offers Arrow Hart commercial and industrial solutions, CORE Lighting Controls, and product lines such as ArrowLink, RhinoBox, Aspire, Aspire RF and MediaSync. These products enhance productivity, energy efficiency and workplace safety. A division of Cooper Industries plc, Cooper Wiring Devices is headquartered in Peachtree City, GA. For more information, visit www.cooperwiringdevices.com.