• Posted: July 31, 2019
• Training

Each year the National Electrical Contractors’ Association (NECA) holds its annual trade show and convention. It is here that electrical contractors from around the country – including those who belong to the Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) – get to preview the latest tools and technology shaping the electrical industry. The nearly-week-long event gives contractors an opportunity to see what’s shaping the industry and discuss with others what their experienced electricians are using in the field.

But what do you do when the electricians in the field can’t make it to a national convention? At Hardt Electric, the answer is simple: bring the trade show to the electricians.

“I had picked up the idea from (NECA CEO) David Long who had done this down at Miller Electric and it was a tremendous success,” said David Hardt, owner and president of Hardt Electric. “It’s important for our guys to see the latest and greatest in terms of what’s on the market. There’s no better way than to do something like this.”

Every quarter, Hardt Electric holds a safety meeting to keep its employees up to date on all OSHA standards. This quarter, they decided to try something different by bringing in vendors and manufactures to demo new tools and technologies impacting the electrical industry.

“It’s essential to get these tools in front of our employees,” Hardt explained. “Something as simple as a bender is important to see a new one when it comes out. These new tools are essential to staying competitive against both our non-union and union competitors.”

Hardt Electric had Graybar, Greenlee, Milwaukee, and other vendors on hand, and it was estimated that about 35 of Hardt Electrics’ electricians were on hand for the event.

“Any way we can better educate our electricians is a win-win,” Hardt said. “This way, they can see all tools and manufactures in one area. We would definitely do something like this again.”