Company Background

The history of Hartzell Fan actually dates back to 1875 when John T. Hartzell began manufacturing farm wagons in Western Ohio. Some 30 years later, John Hartzell's grandson, Robert, joined the company after studying engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He was interested in aviation and often talked with Orville and Wilbur Wright and Glen Curtis when they came to Piqua to pick out straight-grained walnut lumber to make their propellers. Robert saw the possibilities in manufacturing propellers and hired a young engineer, Fred Charavay, to design a line of airfoil blades which would be hand-drawn from a laminated block of Hartzell walnut. From that point, and for the next 70 years, Hartzell Propeller would be an industry leader in the design and manufacture of aircraft propellers.

Hartzell Fan, Inc.® grew from the roots of the aircraft division when Chief Engineer Charavay placed an aircraft propeller in an industrial ventilation application in the early 1920's. The design was refined and Hartzell engineered the first propeller type fan.

Hartzell has become the industrial ventilation expert producing high-qualifying, efficient, and innovative ventilation solutions. Hartzell Air Moving Products include fans for general and process ventilation with a complete line of axial, centrifugal fans and blowers, an extensive fiberglass product line, a complete line of make-up air and heating equipment and a full range of options and accessories. Ventilation solutions are applicable to numerous markets, such as: manufacturing and process industries, fossil power and co-generation, metals and mining, municipal (sewage treatment), on-board marine, and various OEM applications involving cooling, drying and circulating.

Performance is designed in at Hartzell, and supported by heavy investment in research and development. A fully equipped, AMCA registered laboratory is one example of this commitment to excellence. Testing includes finite element analysis, sophisticated sound/vibration/fatigue analysis and fan performance on the wind tunnel. Quality is built into all Hartzell products. Advanced CNC machines turn out high-precision parts. Industrial duty materials are standard. Casings are continuously welded, not lock seam formed. Airfoil propellers are cast in Hartzell's foundry, machined, and precision balanced. Every fan is run-tested before it leaves the plant.

A nationwide organization of knowledgeable Sales Representatives will help you match your specific needs and requirements. For non-standard applications, Hartzell provides complete engineering support and full professional documentation.

A fully equipped AMCA registered lab tests for air and sound performance. The 12-foot diameter wind tunnel has capabilities to 50,000 CFM and up to 24 in. W.G. pressures.

Hartzell's CAD system provides accurate drawings for prototype development and manufacturing. Skilled pattern makers begin the quality process.

Complete process control is exemplified by Hartzell's in-house foundry, where blades are cast in sand molds by skilled and experienced founders.

Plants in Piqua, Ohio and Portland, Indiana provide nearly half a million square feet to house all essential processes for Hartzell's integrated manufacturing.

Hartzell uses advanced production technologies and hand craftsmanship to combine high quality with efficient production.

All Hartzell props are static and dynamically balanced to minimize vibration and provide enduring performance.

The final step in Hartzell's Quality Assurance process is here. Every Hartzell fan is final run-tested before shipping to ensure that the fan meets Hartzell quality and performance standards.