From Manufacturing to Agriculture: A Story of Innovation
In the world of agriculture, innovation sometimes comes from unexpected places. Swifter has made significant strides in agricultural and livestock ventilation, particularly where controlled environments are crucial for animal health and productivity.
Equipment fans, purpose-built for integration into industrial machinery and cooling systems, have traditionally been designed with a focus on manufacturing and process cooling applications. However, Swifter recognized an opportunity to apply our advanced fan technology to solve unique challenges in agricultural environments. Through close collaboration with Texas-based Agpro, a leading agriculture OEM designing air ventilation systems for livestock facilities, Swifter developed solutions that demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of well-engineered industrial fan technology.
Outdated Airflow for a Modernized Industry
Livestock farming began shortly after animals were first domesticated nearly 10,000 years ago and humans have been raising animals for products like food and milk ever since. Once the process of pasteurization caught on and become more widely utilized in the early 1900’s, modern dairy farming as we know it today was born.
Notable innovations, such as those in refrigeration technology, genetic selection, and nutritional science, have propelled the worldwide dairy industry to producing over 900 million metric tons of milk annually. But livestock ventilation technology utilized in these dairy facilities has largely remained stagnant since the beginning of dairy sector industrialization in the 1950’s.
Many dairy operations are managed by those accustomed to the decades-old status-quo of using sheet-metal or thermoplastic fans for livestock ventilation. However, this traditional construction method is often inefficient and susceptible to corrosion. Given these types of fans’ relatively short lifespans, proper maintenance becomes not only costly, but is also critical given that an improperly maintained system may operate at 50% less efficiency.
When it comes to livestock ventilation, the wrong fan could cost a dairy farm upwards of $30 per cow annually, and with an estimated 270 million dairy cows worldwide, choosing the best fan has never been more important. Swifter recognized these challenges as an opportunity to apply our advanced equipment fan technology to an unexpected application.
Proven Success Through Partnership
Swifter’s partnership with Agpro led to an industry first: the successful implementation of 24’ diameter fans in a national US-based dairy operation. The project marked a significant departure from conventional cooling methods, delivering superior air movement while reducing operational costs. Building on this success, Swifter supplied over 500 mid-diameter fans (7-9’) and casings for one of the world’s largest dairy operations in the Middle East, demonstrating the scalability of our solutions in challenging environmental conditions.
Currently, Swifter is working with Agpro to develop low cost, smaller-diameter fan systems designed for other agricultural applications. The goal is to develop a solution in sizes that are more typically used in the industry while maintaining the superior durability Swifter is known for. This collaborative approach allows both companies to leverage our expertise – Swifter’s decades of air movement R&D and cutting-edge fan technology combined with Agpro’s deep understanding of agricultural requirements – together creating advanced cooling solutions optimized for the market.
Advanced Design and Materials Drive Performance
The key to Swifter’s agricultural success lies in our innovative use of materials and battle-tested engineering design. Our equipment fans (like the Swifter CTX Series) feature FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) composite construction, a significant advancement over traditional sheet metal or thermoplastic materials more commonly used. This robust construction provides exceptional structural integrity while resisting the corrosion from harsh environments common in agricultural settings. For facility managers and operators, this translates to longer service life and reduced maintenance requirements.
Beyond improved cooling, our fans deliver significant operational advantages through higher efficiency ratings and reduced maintenance needs. These factors create a compelling total-cost-of-ownership proposition that appeals to both facility operators and financial decision-makers.
For contractors and design engineers, Swifter’s range of equipment fans as well as our industrial ceiling fans, offers versatile solutions adaptable to numerous agricultural applications. Our products’ proven performance in demanding agricultural environments demonstrates the reliability and adaptability of Swifter’s technology.
As agriculture continues to evolve with increasing focus on efficiency and sustainability, Swifter’s demonstrated ability to deliver innovative cooling solutions positions us at the forefront of industrial fan technology. Our success in agricultural applications serves as a testament to our engineering capability and commitment to expanding the boundaries of industrial fan applications.