New Zealand Frost Fans

Preventing frost damage to crops worth hundreds of thousands of dollars each year provides a strong incentive for growers to invest in the fans.

Based in Hawke’s Bay, Frost Fans has produced and imported wind machines since the 1990s. However, when CEO Steve Haslett bought the business in 2007, he focused the business on R&D to ensure “our product was truly world class then looked to develop the markets “

“The impetus for R&D came from demand for a quieter machine. Our challenge was to make a more efficient and effective fan,” says Haslett.  “We challenged the accepted wisdom by designing a unique 4-bladed fan.  People said it couldn’t be done. We have proved them wrong.”

To design the fan the company joined forces with blade designer Richard Karn, an aerodynamic engineer who designed the new blade’s shape and function. The shape of the blade was achieved by using resin transfer moulding, a technology developed for building super-yachts. Material design engineers High Modulus built the resin and fibre composite while composites specialist Compotec built the blade. Frost Fans’ technical team focused on installation, longevity, loads and servicing.

The resulting C49 blade substantially reduces noise and diesel fuel use, while increasing the coverage area.

Production takes place in a new manufacturing plant in the Hawkes Bay, where they also retrofit existing fans with the new blades. Frost Fans have specialist service centres in the major horticultural regions of Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough.

The new improved fans have given the company an important point of difference and they are expanding into a number of new overseas markets.

Market development

Frost Fans started exporting after being approached by growers in Australia. Like New Zealand, frost fans have been installed there to protect a variety of crops including grapes, avocados, nuts and fruits.

Turkey is also a significant market and together with its local distributor, Frost Fans has established a large footprint in Turkey’s citrus orchards. Haslett believes they are now in a position to leverage their track record to target further crop types in Turkey.

A third strong market for Frost Fans is Canada. A Canadian grower who was looking for machines with more finesse and efficiency now acts as their agent.

Although they export to three key markets; Australia, Canada and Turkey, they have installed fans in a number of other countries including Chile, Italy, Iran, France and South Africa.

Frost Fans initially engaged with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) to explore new export markets such as Chile and joined the market development programme to help them install working fans into potential new markets.