HVLS fans for manufacturing plants
For injection moulding, metal fabrication, automotive parts, printing and packaging, and woodworking.
What it does on a production floor
A manufacturing floor has its own heat problem. Machines, ovens, presses and moulding barrels put heat into the room all day, and in summer it pools around the people running them. In winter the opposite happens: the heaters warm the roof while the floor stays cold.
A GALE Series HVLS fan moves a large column of air slowly across the whole floor. In summer that means steady airflow around every station. In winter it pushes the warm air back down from the roof.
Summer
Moving air makes the space feel cooler for the people working in it. GALE Series fans create a cooling effect of up to 8°C in warm conditions, and that airflow reaches the middle of the floor, not only the stations near a wall fan.
Winter
Warm air rises to the roof, and the heaters keep running to warm the floor. A fan running at low speed mixes that air back down, so the floor holds temperature with less heating.
What that means for energy costs: 25 to 49% lower cooling costs and 20 to 30% lower heating costs. Each fan draws between 0.5 and 1.8 kW.
By type of plant
Plastics and injection moulding
Barrel heaters, hot runners and cooling parts make moulding floors some of the warmest in any plant. We place fans over the operator aisles, so the air moves around the people running the machines.
Metal fabrication and welding
Strong drafts can disturb shielding gas on MIG and TIG welds. We don't hang fans directly over welding bays. We place them so the air slows down before it reaches the welders, and set the fan speed on the drive, so the shop gets airflow without affecting weld quality.
Automotive parts and assembly
Long lines and large footprints. A few 24 ft fans cover ground that would take dozens of pedestal fans, without cords or fans in the walkways.
Printing and packaging
Steady, even airflow across the floor, without the gusts of high-speed fans.
Woodworking and millwork
We set speed and placement so the fans work with your dust collection rather than stirring dust back up.
Planning around the plant
Manufacturing buildings have more in the way than warehouses. We plan each layout around:
- Overhead cranes, so fans sit clear of the crane path and the runway
- Heat sources, so airflow reaches the people working near them
- Welding bays, so fans sit away from them and the air slows before it reaches the welders
- Ceiling height and roof structure, which set the fan size and mounting
- Exhaust hoods and fume extraction, so fans don't blow across them and pull fumes away from the extraction
- Shift patterns, so fans run when the floor is occupied
GALE Series models for manufacturing
| Model | Diameter | Coverage per fan | Mounting height | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-7.3E | 24 ft | Up to 21,500 sq ft | 23–66 ft | 1.8 kW |
| G-7.3S | 24 ft | Up to 16,100 sq ft | 23–59 ft | 1.5 kW |
| G-6.1 | 20 ft | Up to 8,600 sq ft | 20–43 ft | 1.0 kW |
| G-5.5 | 18 ft | Up to 6,400 sq ft | 16–36 ft | 0.9 kW |
| G-5.0 | 16 ft | Up to 5,300 sq ft | 16–33 ft | 0.75 kW |
Direct drive PMSM motors with no gearbox, so there's no oil to change. 38 dB or less, quieter than a normal conversation, so they don't add to the noise on the floor.
The Enbridge incentive and manufacturing plants
Enbridge Gas pays $3,000 to $4,000 per fan for destratification fans in qualifying Ontario buildings. The program is written for warehouse-type buildings, and many manufacturing plants meet the same requirements:
- Ceilings at least 22 ft high
- Heated by ceiling-mounted natural gas forced-air heaters, including unit heaters
- Thermostat at floor level, with the heating at roof level
- Kept at around 69°F on average
Two things commonly rule a plant out: radiant heaters in the area the fans would cover, and night setbacks, where the heat is turned down when the plant is closed. If you run around the clock, setbacks usually aren't an issue.
We check your building before you get a proposal. See the full requirements
Installation
In Ontario
We work with local electricians and schedule installation around your production, including evenings and shutdowns.
Outside Ontario
We find and qualify local installers in your area and supervise the installation. The installer's cost is quoted to you as-is.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, with the right placement and speed. Strong drafts can disturb shielding gas on MIG and TIG welds, so we don't hang fans directly over welding bays. We place them so the air slows down before it reaches the welders, and set the fan speed on the drive.
No. We mount fans clear of the crane path and runway. If the crane covers most of the floor, we plan the layout around the bays it doesn't reach.
Yes. Moving air makes the space feel cooler for operators, with a cooling effect of up to 8°C in warm conditions. The fans move air, they don't remove heat from the building, so they work best alongside your existing ventilation.
It can. The program is written for warehouse-type buildings, and many plants meet the requirements: gas-heated with ceiling-mounted heaters, ceilings of 22 ft or more, and no night setbacks. We check your building before you get a proposal.
No. An HVLS fan moves the air that's already in the building. It doesn't remove fumes, heat or moisture, so it doesn't replace exhaust hoods, fume extraction or make-up air. We place fans so their airflow doesn't work against your exhaust.
No. GALE Series fans run at 38 dB or less. On a production floor you won't hear them over the machines.
A 24 ft fan fits most buildings at that height. How many depends on floor area and what's in the way, like cranes, mezzanines and racking. The cost and sizing guide walks through it, and we lay it out from your floor plan as part of the quote.
Get a quote for your plant
Send us your ceiling height, floor area and a rough idea of what's on the floor, and we'll come back within 1 to 2 business days with a size, a layout and a price.