Advanced Mechanical Inc.

Focusing on quality over quantity has propelled Advanced Mechanical Inc. into the top tier of mechanical contractors in the North Dakota market. After 36 years in business, Advanced Mechanical is a full-service mechanical contractor performing HVAC, plumbing, sheet metal fabrication and service to residential and commercial clients. “We do the most thorough and quality work,” says owner Brian Benz. “Our quality is second to none.” Located in Bismarck, North Dakota, Advanced Mechanical primarily works within a 100-mile radius of its headquarters.

Advanced Mechanical was founded by a former business partner of Benz’s in 1980, Benz worked his way up starting in 1987 as a HVAC installer, to project manager, to estimator, and then became partner when he bought into the company in 2009 and has since obtained full ownership.

A step above

One of Advanced Mechanical’s strongest points is the design-build aspect of the company. As the No. 1 design-build company in central and western North Dakota, Advanced Mechanical’s highly trained staff has the experience and expertise needed to create a system that works efficiently for years to come. “A client will present us with blueprints for a building and we will design the mechanical systems for them,” Benz explains. “That’s one our strongest features as a company.”

As the region’s most prominent geothermal dealer, Advanced Mechanical has vast experience in the design, installation and maintenance of geothermal HVAC systems. Benz and his team work with clients to help them understand all of the incentives, rebates and tax credits available in order to see if geothermal is the best option for their home or business.

As a company that remains steps ahead of the competition in regards to industry trends and technologies, Advanced Mechanical was the first of its kind in the upper Midwest to use aquatherm piping, which is an environmentally friendly polypropylene (PP-R) pipe for use in pressurized plumbing and mechanical systems of all sizes.

Utilizing this technology, Advanced Mechanical recently completed the installation of a mechanical system that is 100 percent geothermal with no backup source. The facility is an administration building for a local hospital and the geothermal system regulates heat from the information technology department and stores it as the reserve. “It’s a very green system,” says Benz. “Usually with a geothermal system you have to have a backup source. This does not need a backup source.”

While Advanced Mechanical self-performs a majority of its work, the company has established strong relationships with strategic partners for when the scope of work for a project calls for outsourcing assistance. Advanced Mechanical is able to turn to a reliable network of subcontractors, which is crucial as the company relies heavily on repeat business. “When we are negotiating jobs, for example up to $3 million and there are no blueprints, our subcontractors become a very strategic part of our business because we have to trust them to give us good and accurate pricing so we can give an offer on what we’ll do the job for, without even having the plans for it yet.”

From the bottom up

In measuring the success of Advanced Mechanical, Benz credits his employees with maintaining the company’s ability to thrive in the industry. “We have some of the best employees in the business,” he says. “The quality of our workforce has made it possible for us to still be working with some of the same clients for 30 years. Our philosophy is that we strive to achieve complete customer satisfaction no matter what the cost is to us.”

By taking care of his employees, Advanced Mechanical has been able to enjoy a strong employee retention rate. With a national average of 35 percent turnover ratio, the company currently averages less than a 5 percent ratio. Benz himself is an example of an employee who has built a long and lucrative career with the company. Starting with Advanced Mechanical in 1987 at $5 an hour, Benz began as a general laborer and worked his way up through the company until eventually taking ownership.

“When I started with the company, at one point, I was the only person working here full time,” recalls Benz. “Seeing the company grow in employees, volume and even equipment has given me a great deal of pride.”

Advanced Mechanical will remain on its current path by adding a personal touch to each job, Advanced Mechanical Inc. offers a different approach to full-service mechanical contracting — one that offers the best value and experience.