DC Velocity - April 2010

Once our engineers had met the challenge of designing the Powerfoil X, we still had to build the fan that met those exacting specifications in terms of strength, durability, and reliability. And because the heart of the fan is its gearbox, this meant finding a gearbox supplier that is recognized not only as the best in its industry, but that also shares our vision for innovation and our passion for quality.

Our search naturally led us to the U.S. division of Stöber Drives, a German company with a 75-year history of dedication to developing customized, high performance, high efficiency, and highly reliable gearing solutions. We say “naturally” because Stöber is the one gearbox manufacturer that is as persnickety as we are, or, as they say in German, “so pingelig wie wir sind.” The culmination of the Stöber-Big Ass Fans Powerfoil X partnership is the NitroSeal Drive gearbox, the only gearbox ever designed and built specifically for large industrial fans – and exclusively for Big Ass Fans.

The two-stage reduction NitroSeal Drive gearbox features proprietary Helicamber gears. Precision engineering enables the gearbox to operate with minimal backlash, which makes for minimal wear and an extended operating life. The NitroSeal Drive gearbox also accommodates a far stronger hollow shaft for accessory attachment, as well as a C-Face motor interface. It is filled with synthetic oil, purged with nitrogen, and permanently sealed with Simrit seals.

Persnickety? Pingelig? Whatever the language, this simply means that when you get a Powerfoil X, you are getting the best fan you can buy.

How do you make the world’s best industrial fan even better? You start from scratch. You question how it is designed, built, tested, installed, and maintained. You engineer it to be the most durable, longest-lasting fan ever built. You create a totally custom gearbox, engineered solely for this fan. You pre-wire the onboard electronics to the motor, making it easier and less expensive to install. You add unmatched strength and new functionality with a hollow shaft. You make it stronger, sturdier, and with longer life. Then, you back all this up with an unprecedented, 100% full 10 year warranty* because you cut no corners and make a fan with no equal.

The Powerfoil®X™ with NitroSeal Drive™ is available in 8 to 24-ft. diameters, runs cooler, lasts longer and is simply the most versatile industrial fan on the planet.