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MANUFACTURING Medford Fabrication isn't afraid to go big Sizeable power station components are headed to gargantuan energy plant in Boardman Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 27, 2015 at 4:57 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 27, 2015 at 4:57 PM » Social News From the timber industry to motorhome frames and tractor head guards, Medford Fabrication has nimbly recast itself over the year to remain relevant, More recently, Medford Fabrication has fashioned a new niche as the nation moves away from coal power production, with natural gas playing an increasing role. Presently, the 72-year-old family-owned firm is providing parts for Portland General Electric's Carty Generation Station in Boardman. Among the hundreds of pieces being assembled in a 440-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas plant under construction, six finely crafted steel components, weighing an aggregate of 55 tons, have been produced by Medford Fabrication. "Historically, we've been involved in different parts of power-generating facilities," said company president Bill Thorndike. "This is the first time (we've been involved) in heat transfer components that are used in the water-to-steam-to-water process." The 10-foot-tall, 33-foot-long transition pieces that hook into condenser units appear abnormally large here in the Medford Fabrication yard between Court Street and Central Avenue. Once in place, however, they will be like so many Lego blocks in the gargantuan power station along the banks of the Columbia River. The transition components and water boxes fit into condensers designed by SPX Heat Transfer's Bethlehem, Pa., operation. The general contractor for the project is Seville, Spain-based Abengoa SA, which is using Mitsubishi natural gas and steam turbines . Those steam turbines use excess heat from gas-fired turbines to more efficiently produce electricity. The combined-cycle plant creates secondary power generation from the primary production. Natural-gas fueled jet engines generate electricity, propelling the turbines. "When you burn something like that, you end up with excess energy that normally leaves as heat," Thorndike said. The combined system takes the excess heat and puts it into a boiler system, heating water into steam. That steam is run through a separate turbine, producing additional electricity. "You have additional electricity produced instead of wasted, making economic sense," Thorndike said. Medford Fabrication components are involved in the secondary process. "From your chemistry class you will recall once you boil water it turns to steam," he said. "If you are going to use that water, you have to recondense it." At that point, however, you're dealing with a lot of force. To assure the steam stays within the proper confines, 20 Medford Fabrication welders applied thousands of welds in a 200-hour period to the water boxes and transition components. Once completed, the pieces are tested and retested for leaks before coating by Mike De Avilla's quality assurance team, followed by reports of about 200 pages of documentation. The completed components await four flat-bed trucks to haul all 110,000 pounds up the interstate to Boardman. The pieces aren't the largest fabricated at the plant, said Rob Kornstad, operations vice president, noting a single 110,000-pound power generation plant component was shipped to Alaska three years ago. Work on the Carty Generation Station started more than a year ago with operations scheduled to begin in 2016. The coal plant is slated for decommissioning in 2020. "While you look at these pieces in our yard, and they look quite impressive, I can guarantee when you're driving down I-84 and you're looking at the power plant once it's up and running, these things will look relatively small," Thorndike said. "But it's an integral part." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at  www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge .   By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 27, 2015 at 4:57 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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