Step inside a food processing plant and you’re immediately hit with the rhythm of production: conveyor belts moving dough, kettles bubbling with sauces, steam rising from ovens, and packaging lines humming in unison. Amid all this activity, air is quietly at work—carrying away dust, controlling moisture, helping products dry, and keeping every surface sanitary. Fans power that airflow, keeping plants safe, clean, and in motion. Without them, production slows, equipment overheats, and compliance risks rise.
Fans are the quiet workhorses behind that movement. They don’t take center stage, but without them, production slows, equipment overheats, and compliance risks climb. Think of them as the plant’s circulatory system: invisible, essential, and constantly on the move.
What Fans Must Do in Food Processing
If you’ve ever worked in a food processing plant, you know one thing: fans have a lot on their plate. They handle far more than ventilation. They heat, cool, dry, collect dust, and even fine-tune humidity so packaging lines run smoothly.
Imagine a bakery cooling racks of bread—without steady airflow, the loaves would stay damp, the crust would go soft, and shelf life would shrink. Or picture a salad packaging facility: too much humidity and the greens wilt; too little and they dry out. Fans keep that balance, helping products stay safe, fresh, and consistent from the first stage of prep all the way through packaging.
Designed for Cleanliness
Food processing has zero tolerance for hidden dirt. That’s why fan design is all about easy cleaning and sanitation. A fan in this setting isn’t just moving air—it’s fighting bacteria before it has a chance to grow.
That means construction with 304 or 316 stainless steel, smooth finishes, and welded interiors polished so well there’s no place for crumbs, grease, or microbes to hide. Add features like Clean-In-Place (CIP) nozzles, tri-clamp drains, and food-grade seals, and you get equipment that can be washed down thoroughly without tearing it apart piece by piece.
The payoff? Faster cleaning, shorter downtimes, and an easier time passing inspections. In other words, less stress on the plant manager and more confidence when the auditor walks through the door.
Pro tip: When choosing fans, ask about wash-down ready options. They’re built to handle daily sanitation without rusting, corroding, or giving you maintenance headaches.
Meeting FDA and USDA Standards
In food processing, compliance isn’t optional. Fans must meet FDA and USDA guidelines—period. That means no exposed threads where bacteria can collect, no rough welds that trap residue, and no corners that are tough to clean.
Think of it this way: if the FDA were invited into your plant’s kitchen, your fans need to be as clean and trustworthy as your cooking surfaces. Smooth, polished, and sanitary by design.
A well-built fan protects more than your product. It protects workers, your brand’s reputation, and the integrity of your entire operation.
The Hartzell Difference in Food Processing
With over 150 years of experience, Hartzell has seen just about every airflow challenge in food processing. From bakeries and breweries to meat processing and dairy plants, our fans have been tested in the toughest environments. And one thing has stayed constant: they perform, day after day, without compromise.
Here’s what makes Hartzell fans a smart choice for food processing facilities:
- Hygienic design with polished, corrosion-resistant materials built to withstand aggressive cleaning routines.
- Proven performance across every application, from dust collection to drying and cooling.
- Wash-down ready options with easy maintenance features like swing-out housings.
- Trusted reliability backed by 150+ years in business, thousands of successful installations, and the industry’s only 5-year warranty.
To put it simply: our fans don’t just move air. They protect production schedules, compliance records, and your peace of mind.
Helping Your Facility Stay Clean and Compliant
Food processing is demanding. Every machine in the facility must pull its weight, day after day, without excuses. Hartzell fans are built for that reality. They help plants maintain FDA and USDA compliance, keep production areas sanitary, and ensure airflow is steady and dependable across every stage of production.
Pro tip: Regularly inspect seals, drains, and welds on fans. A small crack or worn gasket can compromise sanitation more quickly than you think. Choosing quality up-front saves on maintenance, replacements, and risk later.
Ready to Improve Airflow in Your Facility?
Airflow shouldn’t be a headache. The right fan makes it easier to hit production targets, pass inspections, and keep workers safe—all while reducing downtime and stress.
If your food processing facility needs airflow solutions, Hartzell is ready to help. Whether you’re just exploring options or ready to purchase, we’ll walk you through the best choices for your application, answer your questions, and provide support long after installation.
Don’t wait for airflow issues to disrupt production. Reach out today!