Preventing Transit Damage: How Hartzell Solved an Unexpected Challenge
The Problem: Hidden Transit Damage in Industrial Fans
Preventing transit damage in industrial fans became a critical focus for us after we noticed recurring issues once our products were installed. It was a puzzling situation. Pre-shipment quality inspections at our testing facility in Piqua, Ohio, confirmed that every fan left our dock in excellent condition. Yet, upon arrival at job sites and after installation, some units showed damage and misalignment.
The common variable? Transit.
Freight handling was subjecting our equipment to higher-than-expected G-forces during shipment, well beyond what typical industrial transport guidelines anticipate. Preventing transit damage in industrial fans required a new level of vigilance and problem-solving from our team. Rather than point fingers or speculate, we took ownership of the issue and set out to solve it with data.
The Investigation: Measuring G-Forces During Shipping
We started by comparing pre-shipment photos with customer-supplied photos taken at job sites. The contrast was clear: damage was occurring somewhere between our factory floor and final delivery. But in the world of Hartzell Air Movement, visual evidence wasn't enough. We needed measurable data.
We purchased G-force monitoring devices and installed them on subsequent shipments. When the data came back, the findings were conclusive: only shipments that experienced G-forces above a specific threshold arrived in unacceptable condition. No exceptions.
With quantifiable evidence in hand, we aligned quickly with our customer around the facts. We moved immediately from investigation to solution.
The Solution: A Data-Driven Protocol for Safe Delivery
To prevent any compromised industrial air movement equipment from reaching installation sites, we implemented a robust two-part protocol:
Phase 1: Quarantine and Inspection of Industrial Fans
Any shipment flagged by our G-force monitors as having exceeded our established threshold was automatically quarantined upon arrival. These units underwent a detailed inspection before they were ever released to the job site.
Phase 2: Visual Indicators for Freight Handling
While data loggers were effective, we wanted a simpler, scalable solution for field teams. We introduced G-force indicator stickers—compact sensors that visually reveal if a unit has exceeded acceptable transit forces during shipping.
This allowed site personnel to instantly identify equipment that might have been exposed to excessive shock. They could quarantine it for review immediately, eliminating guesswork and accelerating project timelines.
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The Results: Eliminating Transit Damage
The outcome spoke volumes about the power of facing a challenge head-on:
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- Zero installation delays related to transit damage after implementation.
- Full transparency with shared G-force data between Hartzell and the customer.
- Verifiable confidence in every delivery, backed by measurable data.
- Improved collaboration built on facts, not assumptions.
What We Learned About Quality Assurance
In an industry where precision and performance are non-negotiable, this initiative reinforced something fundamental: engineering confidence isn't just about what happens inside the fan. It's about reliability at every stage, from manufacturing to final installation and beyond.
By tackling the problem proactively and transparently, we didn't just deliver equipment. We delivered confidence.
Have questions about ensuring equipment integrity during transit? We'd be happy to discuss what we learned.