Engineering Scope

Electrical Engineering

Power distribution, arc-flash and coordination studies, substation and medium-voltage design for Chester's mix of legacy Delaware River industrial plants and repurposed manufacturing buildings, where aging service equipment and added load demand a fresh look at capacity and safety. PE-stamped one-lines, panel schedules, and load calcs sized for energy, materials, and general-manufacturing operations across Delaware County.

Controls & Automation Engineering

PLC/SCADA programming, HMI development, control panel design, and systems integration on Allen-Bradley/Rockwell platforms for Chester production and process lines. We retrofit dated relay logic and standalone controls in older Delaware County facilities into modern, networked automation that plant electricians and operators can actually maintain. For brownfield upgrades, our scope can cover industrial network design, panel assembly and installation, with fixed-fee or T&M delivery led by a project manager.

Process Engineering

Process design, P&IDs, and mechanical/utilities engineering for the food, beverage, chemical, and general-manufacturing operations along Chester's riverfront industrial base. We document existing utility systems, define new process flows, and coordinate mechanical scope so installation in tight, older industrial footprints stays buildable and code-compliant.

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Plant and Facility Work near Chester, PA

🍔 Food & Beverage 🥛 Dairy Processing 🍪 Snack & Bakery 🍖 Meat & Poultry 🐶 Pet Food 🌾 Agrifood 🛒 Consumer Products 🧴 Personal Care & Cosmetics 🧪 Chemical Processing 🧫 Specialty Chemicals 🔬 Life Sciences 💊 Nutraceuticals 💧 Water & Wastewater Treatment 📦 Warehousing & Distribution 📦 Packaging & Fulfillment

Local and Project Context near Chester, PA

Delaware County Manufacturing Base
Chester sits in Delaware County, part of the greater Philadelphia region's manufacturing corridor. The area supports pharmaceutical production, chemical processing, food and beverage manufacturing, and specialty materials facilities that require engineering services for regulated environments.
Pennsylvania Professional Engineering Licensure
LAPORTE maintains Professional Engineer (PE) licenses in Pennsylvania, meeting the state licensing requirements enforced by the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers. All engineering deliverables for Chester-area projects are sealed by PA-licensed engineers.
Close Proximity to West Chester Office
LAPORTE's West Chester, PA office is approximately 15 miles from Chester. This short distance allows for same-day site visits, rapid project mobilization, and direct access to facilities along the Route 202 and I-95 corridors in Delaware County.
Philadelphia Region Pharma and Life Sciences Cluster
The greater Philadelphia area, including Chester and Delaware County, is one of the largest pharmaceutical and life sciences clusters in the United States. This concentration of regulated manufacturing drives consistent demand for electrical, controls, and automation engineering.
I-95 Industrial Corridor Access
Chester is positioned along the I-95 industrial corridor between Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE. This stretch includes chemical plants, petroleum refining operations, and process manufacturing facilities that rely on qualified engineering firms for capital projects and facility upgrades.

Engineering Leadership

Photo of Nate Kocher, P.E.
Nate Kocher, P.E.
Partner, Director of Electrical and Automation Engineering
LAPORTE • West Chester, PA

Engineering and management consultant with 15+ years of work in control systems, power distribution and systems integration for food, beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

  • P.E. Licensed in 21 States
  • Penn State, B.S. Electrical Engineering
  • West Chester University, MBA
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Photo of Keith Morgart, P.E.
Keith Morgart, P.E.
Electrical and Automation Engineer
LAPORTE • Greater Pittsburgh, PA

Electrical power and controls engineer whose work includes power distribution, motor controls and code compliance for industrial and commercial facilities.

  • P.E. Licensed Professional Engineer
  • University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, B.S. Electrical Engineering
  • NEC, NFPA and IEEE standards
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Representative Project Work

pet food • multidiscipline
Project need: A pet food manufacturer required engineering design for a new 370,000 sq ft greenfield production facility ($315M total constructed cost).
LAPORTE scope: LAPORTE provided preliminary and detailed engineering for MEP, automation, instrumentation, and process. Scope included 45 HVAC units, ammonia refrigeration with micro-charging, air compressors, boilers, 40 MBTU cooling tower, chiller skids (2,300 TR), and wastewater treatment. Services included procurement, construction administration, startup, and commissioning with a team of 35.
Outcome: The greenfield facility was designed and constructed as a fully integrated production plant.
food & beverage • automation
Project need: A nutrition company required engineering for a greenfield whey protein plant ($800M total constructed cost) including receiving, heat treatment, filtration, and drying systems.
LAPORTE scope: LAPORTE provided project management, preliminary and detailed engineering design for process and automation, design of automation architecture (50+ control panels, networks, operator stations, control room), procurement support, and commissioning (IQ/OQ/PQ). Scope included HTST heat treatment, disc stack centrifuges, membrane filtration (UF/NF/RO), crystallization, evaporation, spray drying, and CIP.
Outcome: The greenfield whey protein plant was designed and commissioned.
pharmaceutical • multidiscipline
Project need: A national research organization required a new Biologics Manufacturing Centre with biological containment level CL2 for vaccine candidate production (5,000 m², $126M total constructed cost).
LAPORTE scope: LAPORTE provided engineering and construction supervision for the new facility including two cell culture suites (500L and 2,000L), purification by chromatography, vial filling, secondary packaging, warehouse, offices, mechanical/electrical rooms, and QC laboratory. The facility was designed in accordance with GMP requirements.
Outcome: The Biologics Manufacturing Centre was completed and designed for vaccine production.

Project Questions

Does LAPORTE have engineers licensed in Pennsylvania?
Yes. LAPORTE holds Professional Engineer licenses in Pennsylvania. Our engineers are authorized to stamp and seal engineering drawings and documents for projects in Chester and throughout the state.
What industries does LAPORTE serve near Chester, PA?
LAPORTE serves pharmaceutical, food and beverage, chemical, biotech, and specialty manufacturing facilities in the Chester and Delaware County area. Our work covers electrical power distribution, process controls, automation, and systems integration for regulated production environments.
How quickly can LAPORTE respond to projects in Chester?
LAPORTE's West Chester office is roughly 15 miles from Chester. Engineers can be on site the same day for urgent needs. For planned projects, we typically mobilize within days of contract execution.
What engineering disciplines does LAPORTE provide for Chester-area manufacturers?
LAPORTE provides electrical engineering, instrumentation and controls, automation and PLC programming, systems integration, and power distribution design. We also support MES implementation, SCADA systems, and validation services for regulated facilities.
Can LAPORTE support FDA-regulated facilities in Chester?
Yes. LAPORTE regularly works with FDA-regulated pharmaceutical and food manufacturing facilities. Our engineers understand cGMP requirements, GAMP guidelines, and the documentation standards needed for validated systems in regulated environments.
Does LAPORTE handle both new construction and retrofit projects in Chester?
LAPORTE provides engineering for greenfield construction, facility expansions, equipment upgrades, and control system retrofits. Many Chester-area projects involve modernizing existing electrical and automation infrastructure in operating plants.
Is LAPORTE a contractor or an engineering firm?
LAPORTE is a consulting engineering firm. We provide engineering design, specifications, and technical oversight. We are not a contractor and do not self-perform construction or installation work. This independence means our designs serve the facility owner's interests without conflicts.

Engineering support in nearby areas

Engineering support for Chester, PA

Serving Chester, PA from West Chester, PA
Suite 200, 158 West Gay Street
West Chester, PA 19382
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