Bob Trebilcock

Distribution Center Management: Chillin' with Big Ass Fans

If you’ve been to the last several ProMat’s, you’ve probably seen sports fans line up to meet William “The Fridge” Perry at the Big Ass Fans booth.  

And, admit it: If you’re like me, you’ve giggled at least a little at the name (Yes, I am still twelve). But just what is the big deal with a big ass fan? And what role does a fan play in warehousing and distribution?

 First and foremost, these really are big ass fans, says brand manager Laci Poulter, not just some industrial version of your living room ceiling fan. The company’s products feature aerodynamically designed airfoils – another term for blades - that span six- to 24-feet long. Powered by a 2 hp motor, the large blades rotate at slow speeds but move a high volume of air.

 One way to think of a fan is as a productivity play. Poulter cites a study from NASA that found that working in 90 degree heat resulted in a 20% drop in productivity. A Big Ass fan, meanwhile, can lower the “effective temperature,” which is the temperature your body experiences when working, by as much as 17 degrees. One 24-foot blade fan can cool a 30,000 sq ft area. In the winter, meanwhile, the fan pushes down the warm air that rises to the ceiling. “A fan isn’t a new concept,” Poulter adds. “But we’ve taken an old technology and reinvented it for large industrial spaces.”

 The fans are also used by manufacturers whose products may be impacted by uneven heat. A winery that stacks its product high in the warehouse uses the fans to keep heat away from the top of the stacks.

 It’s probably not a surprise that the highest concentration of fans is in the south, where the cost of conventional air conditioning is prohibitive. But it might also be an investment in green technology, since the fans run off such a small motor. “Our fans can help you achieve LEED certification because they enhance refrigeration management and increase ventilation,” Poulter says. “For companies looking for energy-saving ideas, this is an easy, affordable and immediate solution that’s easy to grasp.”

Posted by Bob Trebilcock on March 12, 2009 | Comments (1)