With the new Flexline series, no more long delivery times

No more long delivery times: New, flexibly mounting standard series enables fast throughput of production.

The Flexline comprises 18 low-pressure fans with an output of 0.55 to 30 kW or volume flows of 2,000 to 45,000 m3/h, respectively.

New, flexibly mounting standard series enables fast throughput of production. Since every industry has different requirements in terms of material properties, wear resistance as well as temperature resistance of industrial fans, the process fans have so far mainly been manufactured on a customer-specific basis as individual items or in small series. However, the individual design requires a longer planning and manufacturing phase, which is why the delivery times demanded by the market could often not be met from order placement to assembly. Particularly in the case of changes to the housing position at short notice, the necessary adjustments can, in the worst case, delay the installation date and consequently the commissioning, thereby leading to higher costs. To remedy this situation and speed up the entire process from planning to assembly, Karl Klein Ventilatorenbau GmbH developed a new standard series: centrifugal fan types with impeller diameters from 355 to 900 mm, made of series-manufactured components. The product range has devices for every industry application and is also available in an ATEX directive-compliant version. The use of high-quality standard components significantly reduces manufacturing lead times, so that even faster response times can be achieved from order receipt to delivery.

In fan construction, there are very few standards with regard to mounting and flange dimensions. As a manufacturer, we are therefore compelled to develop our own standards in order to avoid excessive individualization in production and design. "Since 1965, the company has been designing and producing individually manufactured fans in various sizes that are used in numerous industries - including mechanical and plant engineering, air conditioning technology, and the chemical industry. Based on many projects already completed, Karl Klein has been able to determine the necessary standard requirements for centrifugal fans and develop appropriate components. This expertise is now being incorporated into the new Flexline product range, which will be available starting in January 2020.

The fan range includes 18 different types.

In the future, customers will be able to select the version best suited to their own operations from a component portfolio comprising 18 different fan types. The housings consist of a frame construction with four legs and are designed for an output of 0.55 to 30 kW and volume flows of 2,000 to 45,000 m3/h. In order to keep production throughput times to a minimum, housing parts are manufactured in uniform sheet thicknesses. The impeller also has a structure suitable for series production. The same applies to the impeller widths as well as the blade lengths, which correspond to the relevant performance requirements and thus ensure high efficiency in daily operation. The product range developed at the main plant in Aichwald sets in-house standards as a result of the close cooperation within the Karl Klein Group - especially with regard to the impellers and nozzles produced by the Kamptmann subsidiary in Crailsheim. This supports the customer in the variety of application possibilities.

Depending on the application, the inlet nozzle is available in different materials: Customers can select between a version in painted sheet steel and a stainless steel or copper version. Karl Klein has a high level of vertical integration for its components, which is why the industrial fan experts developed the standardized design for the inlet nozzle themselves and also manufacture it in-house. The fans are driven by commercially available, 2- or 4-pole standard motors. If required, these are also available for use in ATEX zones. As the components in the Flexline product range are suitable for series production, we can guarantee fast production throughput times. This means that the average time until delivery of the fan is only four weeks.

Energy-saving operation due to reverse-curved impeller.

In addition, the Flexline range is designed for easy and flexible installation. For example, the square design of the housing ensures that the fan can be mounted in various housing positions without the need for design adjustments. If, for example, the customer decides to change the position of the housing shortly before delivery, this has no effect on the assembly date that has already been set. This ensures a high degree of flexibility - regardless of the application within the relevant company. Costs can also be saved in other areas on the part of the company: Thus, all impellers are manufactured in a reverse-curved design. This results in high energy efficiency of the fans used. As a result, the drives and the frequency inverters can be operated with less power, which ultimately also has an impact on the ongoing operating costs for the end customer.

If the fans in the Flexline product range do not fit the customer's requirements due to their standardized characteristics, Karl Klein is still available as a partner for special designs. For customer-specific solutions such as low-pressure high-performance fans in standard and ATEX versions as well as in stainless steel and hot-air versions up to 600 °C, we will continue to offer the tried-and-tested fans from the APOVENT product range as usual.