A Kentucky-based maker of high-volume, low speed fans has expanded in a big way to Fort Worth—with a 210,000-square-foot “state-of-the-art” manufacturing facility.
Lexington-based Big Ass Fans, a Madison Air company, said the facility is just miles from the heart of Fort Worth and a short drive from some of the largest distribution hubs in the country.
“What’s most exciting to me about the new site is that it will benefit our customers, our supplier partners, our employees and the local economy,” Big Ass Fans CEO Ken Walma said in a statement. “Texas is our number one market and home to several of our largest customers—it’s also where many of our valued suppliers are based. Proximity to suppliers and increased manufacturing capacity, along with ready access to a skilled workforce, will enable us to better and more quickly serve our customers across the state and region.”
The company said it’s hiring 100 employees in Fort Worth, a number Walma said he anticipates will grow alongside the business.
Big Ass Fans CEO Ken Walma joined by Big Ass Fans executive team members and Fort Worth City Councilwoman Macy Hill as they cut the ribbon at the new Big Ass Fans manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas on August 28. [Photo: Big Ass Fans]
Big Ass Fans was founded 25 years ago as HVLS Fan Co. It largely served the farming sector, based on research that found that if you keep cows cooler, they produce more milk.
After building a market for dairy barns and then factories, HVLS Fan Co. expanded into other industries based on word-of-mouth, the company said.
The company said that as it expanded, customers would call and ask, “Are you the ones who make those big ass fans?”—and a new name was born.
City leaders take part in ribbon-cutting
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration on Wednesday, the company introduced its industry-leading airflow and cooling solutions to Fort Worth elected officials, business leaders, and customers.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Big Ass Fans to the Fort Worth family and look forward to their continued investment in our community,” City Councilwoman Macy Hill said. “As an industry leader in airflow and energy savings, their new manufacturing and distribution facility is a welcome addition to Fort Worth’s economy.”
The event was also attended by dozens of local stakeholders representing the Fort Worth business community, including the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, and the American Institute of Architects’ Dallas chapter.
“We’re proud to celebrate Big Ass Fans’ expansion and welcome them to Fort Worth,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in a statement. “This expansion underscores our commitment to fostering a thriving business environment and will bring positive economic impact and new opportunities to our vibrant city.”
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