German fan producer ebm-papst has been producing energy-efficient fans and motors since last September at its new production plant in Telford, Tennessee (U.S.).

The family-owned company, headquartered in Mulfingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, invested almost US$30 million (€28.4 million) in the new building and equipment for this second U.S. location, which officially opened last November. The 177,000ft2 (16,444m2) facility employs around 125 people. The U.S. headquarters for ebm-papst is in Farmington, Connecticut.

ebm-papst manufactures fan systems for a wide range of uses, including supermarket display cases and rooftop condensers for stores and cold-storage warehouses. The company specializes in fans that use an external-rotor motor and electrically commutated (EC) technology – brushless DC motors with integrated AC to DC conversion

Because of the way ebm-papst’s refrigeration products are designed, they can all be used in refrigeration equipment that uses natural refrigerants, including display cases that employ hydrocarbons such as propane (R290).

“ebm‑papst has a long tradition in the American market,” said Dr. Klaus Geißdörfer, CEO (Chairman of the Executive Management Board) of the ebm‑papst Group. “We have been developing, producing and distributing energy-efficient fans and motors for the North American market from Farmington (Connecticut) since 1980. With the expansion of our business activities in Telford, we are strengthening our presence in the important American future market for sustainable refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation applications.”

Added Thomas Nürnberger, CSO (Sales and Marketing) of the ebm‑papst Group: “Our plant in Telford is another milestone in our ‘local for local’ internationalization strategy. With this strategy, the ebm‑papst Group has been pursuing a strong independence of its locations in the U.S., Asia and Europe since 2017. The aim here is to be able to serve local customers even more effectively, quickly and in a more tailored manner and to make itself independent of external influences through three independent supply chains.”

“With our new production plant, we, as an innovation leader, especially for energy-efficient fan solutions, are responding to the increasing market demand for energy-efficient and intelligent solutions in North America,” said Mark Shiring, CEO of ebm‑papst USA. “With the expanded capacities on site, we can guarantee our customers fast delivery times in the future. We will successively establish and strengthen our supply chain in America, thus making us globally independent.”

In the 2021/22 financial year, ebm-papst generated revenues of €2.288 billion.(US$2.42 billlion) It employs just under 15,000 people at 27 production sites (including in Germany, China and the U.S.) and in 52 sales offices worldwide.

“With the expansion of our business activities in Telford, we are strengthening our presence in the important American future market for sustainable refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation applications.”

Dr. Klaus Geißdörfer, CEO of the ebm‑papst Group.