Howden American Fan Company

What Howden American Fan Company does

Howden American Fan Company is a U.S.-based manufacturer of industrial air-movement equipment, producing axial fans, centrifugal fans, and centrifugal blowers for marine, naval, defense, and general industrial applications. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Fairfield, United States, the company operates as a core product line within Fairbanks Morse Defense and is positioned as the primary supplier of shock-qualified fans for U.S. Navy surface ships. Its products are specified in 30 U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs across DDG, LPD, LHA, FFG, and LCS classes, with additional commercial reach into nuclear power plants, hospitals, universities, municipalities, aviation support, boiler/furnace, transit, conveyance, and textile industries. The company also offers high-temperature centrifugal fans for industrial processes requiring heated air movement.

The underlying technology centers on engineered industrial fans and blowers designed to meet military specifications for shock qualification, durability, and reliability in harsh marine environments. The product portfolio is organized into two main equipment classifications (Axial Fans and Centrifugal Fans/Blowers) and serves three primary markets: Navy/Marine, General Industrial, and High Temperature. Supporting the equipment is an online Affinity Fan Selector tool that lets customers match application requirements, compare features and options, and submit orders directly to sales. The company also offers aftermarket services including OEM parts, engineering services, turnkey solutions, upgrades, and obsolescence management, delivered under the Fairbanks Morse Defense aftermarket portfolio (Pit Stop Program, training, technical support).

The business model combines direct enterprise field sales with digital self-serve channels. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with billing on multi-year contract cadences aligned to shipbuilding programs and industrial capital projects. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of fans and blowers to defense and industrial customers, complemented by recurring-style aftermarket revenue from OEM parts, service, and obsolescence management for the installed base. The go-to-market combines a geographic network of commercial sales representatives, defense OEM specification relationships with U.S. Navy shipyards, and the Affinity Fan Selector online ordering interface.

Name

Howden American Fan Company

Legal name

American Fan

Website

https://americanfan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Howden American Fan Company manufactures axial fans, centrifugal fans, and blowers for marine, naval defense, and industrial applications, serving as the primary supplier of shock-qualified fans across 30 U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs and commercial customers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Fans and Blowers

NAICS

Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)

SIC

Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)

akta.pro primary industry

Fans, Blowers & Ventilation Units (Supply/Exhaust/Inline) (IMADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ventilation System Installation & Repair (Bath/Kitchen Fans, ERV/HRV) (HSAOAIAF)

Keywords

• Industrial centrifugal fans
• Axial flow fans
• Centrifugal air blowers
• Naval ventilation equipment
• Heavy-duty industrial fans

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Fan and Blower Sales: Direct sales of Axial and Centrifugal Fans and Blowers to defense and industrial customers. Products are sold as capital equipment with specifications tied to specific applications including Navy shipbuilding programs and industrial facilities.
2. OEM Parts and Aftermarket Services: Replacement parts, service support, and aftermarket services for installed fan equipment. Includes engineering services, turnkey solutions, upgrades, and obsolescence management for U.S. Navy and commercial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Howden American Fan Company (American Fan) designs and manufactures axial fans, centrifugal fans, and centrifugal air blowers for mission-critical ventilation and process-air applications. Its products are specified into U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs (DDG, LPD, LHA, FFG, LCS class ships) and into heavy-industrial sites such as nuclear power plants, hospitals, universities, and municipalities. The company supports engineering selection through its proprietary Affinity Fan Selector online tool.

Product overview

Howden American Fan Company (operating under Fairbanks Morse Defense) offers a portfolio of industrial air movement solutions consisting of two main product lines: Axial Fans and Centrifugal Fans/Blowers. The company serves three primary markets—Navy/Marine, General Industrial, and High Temperature applications. Products include shock-qualified fans for U.S. Navy surface ships, industrial centrifugal fans for commercial applications, and high-temperature centrifugal fans for industrial processes. The company also provides an online Affinity Fan Selector tool for product selection and ordering. The product catalog is available for download as a PDF document.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Affinity Fan Selector: Online tool to match application requirements with American Fan products, compare features, options, and prices, and place orders directly.

Products and services

• Axial Fans Industrial axial fans engineered for ventilation and process-air applications, including naval shipboard and heavy-industrial uses.
• Centrifugal Fans/Blowers Centrifugal fans and centrifugal air blowers designed for heavy-duty industrial and naval ventilation applications.
• Affinity Fan Selector Proprietary online engineering selection tool that assists customers in selecting and sizing American Fan products for their application.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products specified in 30 U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Howden: Global leader in industrial fans, blowers, and air and gas handling equipment. Highly comparable to American Fan across centrifugal and axial fan product lines for industrial and marine applications, with much broader scale and global footprint.
• Greenheck Fan Corporation: One of the largest manufacturers of commercial and industrial fans, blowers, and related air movement equipment in North America. Direct competitor in centrifugal and axial fans for HVAC, industrial, and commercial applications.

Direct peers

• Hoffman & Lamson: Manufacturer of industrial centrifugal fans, blowers, and air handling equipment for process industries. Comparable in industrial centrifugal fan product line.
• Loren Cook Company: Manufacturer of fans, blowers, and ventilation equipment for commercial, industrial, and institutional markets. Comparable product line breadth in centrifugal and axial fans.
• New York Blower Company: U.S. manufacturer of industrial fans and blowers serving heavy-duty industrial, power generation, and marine applications. Highly comparable product portfolio (axial and centrifugal fans) and target customers.
• Robinson Fans: Manufacturer of industrial fans and blowers, with particular strength in heavy-duty and high-temperature applications. Closely comparable to American Fan's high-temperature centrifugal fan line.
• Cincinnati Fan & Ventilator Company: Manufacturer of industrial fans, blowers, and air handling equipment serving process industries. Closely comparable in centrifugal fan/blower manufacturing for industrial applications.
• Hartzell Fan Inc: U.S. manufacturer of industrial and commercial fans and blowers, including specialty units for harsh environments. Comparable in product offerings and industrial customer focus.
• Twin City Fan & Blower: Manufacturer of industrial fans and blowers serving commercial, industrial, and OEM markets. Direct comparable in product categories (axial and centrifugal) and go-to-market motion.

Regional players

• Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) members - e.g., Aerovent: Industrial and commercial fan manufacturer serving HVAC, industrial process, and power generation markets. Comparable axial and centrifugal fan portfolio with overlapping industrial customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-fan-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Howden American Fan Company