Hartzell Propeller Expands Heating Options with Acquisition of Tanis Aircraft Products
Hartzell Propeller purchases the assets of Tanis Aircraft Products, a manufacturer of engine preheat systems for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, with facilities in Minnesota. The Tanis brand will become part of Hartzell Propeller’s heated products, which now includes systems for propeller de-ice, piston-engine preheat, turbine-engine preheat, helicopter preheat, battery, avionics and cabin preheat.
“The Hartzell family of companies, which is investing heavily in the future of general aviation, is broadening our offerings in heated products with this acquisition,” says Hartzell Propeller president, JJ Frigge. “We were impressed with Tanis' exceptional quality, laser focus on safety, passion for aviation, and fit with Hartzell. We continue to look for opportunities to make direct, long-term investments in value-added manufacturing companies that complement our existing portfolio or leverage core competencies.”
Tanis Aircraft Products' president and CEO, Douglas J. Evink, will become Hartzell Propeller vice president of sales for Tanis. Tanis engineering, sales and administrative staff will continue to be based near Anoka County Airport in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN. Tanis manufacturing operations will be integrated into Hartzell Propeller’s heated products portfolio in Piqua, OH.
With a wide range of piston-engine preheat products, Tanis offers kits for engines from manufacturers Austro, Continental, Franklin, Jabiru, Jacobs, Lycoming, Rotax and more. The company also offers turbine preheat kits and systems for all major engine manufacturers, including Honeywell (Garrett), Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce (Allison) and more. Turbine-engine preheat systems are approved for many aircraft models, including PC-12, PC12/47E and DHC-6 Viking. In addition, Tanis produces preconditioning systems for oil coolers, gear boxes, fuel control units, mod motors and hydraulic units.
Tanis preheat products also include kits and systems for most helicopter manufacturers, including AgustaWestland, Airbus, Bell, Enstrom, Erickson, Hélicoptères Guimbal, MDHI, Robinson and Sikorsky. These helicopter systems are used with a variety of engine manufacturers, including GE, Lycoming, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce and Turbomeca.
A Tanis multi-point preheat system thoroughly heat-soaks engines, keeping the metal above dew point and removing the chance of condensation on engines. Condensation forms when warm oil and water vapor rises from oil pans and hits a colder surface, such as cylinder heads. The Tanis system heats the metal on engines and keeps the tolerances of the metal more uniform, causing a reduction in wear during startup. For deep heating, the piston preheat system uses a unique and patented heated, threaded element that can go into the rocker cover or intake to fully heat the head of the cylinder. Heating the cylinder heads protects the engine and allows the heat to distribute through the engine cylinders more uniformly.
For more information, visit www.hartzellprop.com.