News archive

February 01, 1999

PAPST is First to Offer 'Waterproof' Fans with Full IP54 Environmental Protection Allowing Equipment to Operate in Harsh Environments where Water or Moisture are Problems

PAPST has achieved another breakthrough in fan technology with the introduction of the industry's first cooling fans offering the option of full approval to IP54 environmental standards. The new IP rated fans are designed and approved for operation in harsh environments where water, spray, humidity or condensation are problems.

To make the fans waterproof, PAPST developed a unique new process that totally encapsulates the motor assembly including the windings in a tough high-grade polyurethane material to make the assembly completely waterproof. The fans also use high quality stainless steel bearings to further increase their reliability and ability to withstand corrosion and wear. According to PAPST, another major advantage of adding IP54 ratings as an option to their standard fans is the ease with which users can switch to the ruggedised fans without any design, supplier or approvals changes simply by changing a prefix.

The new IP54 ratings are available as an option on PAPST's standard DC and AC fans including the 4000, 4200, 4300, 8300, and 6200 Series ranging from 80mm to 172mm across with airflows from 21 to 240m3/hour, all of which already provide full VDE, UL and CSA approvals. The fans include 12, 24 and 48V DC versions as well as AC models.

The new ruggedised DC and AC fans are ideal for cooling electronics and telecommunications equipment especially in industrial, factory and telecoms systems including external or remote installations such as base stations, roadside cabinets and cooling equipment.

"This is another step forward in providing our customers with a total solution from a single high quality supplier. By developing industrially rugged IP-rated fans in the same format as our standard fans, we are making it easier for customers to add greater reliability and environmental protection to their products without any re-design" said PAPST’s Managing Director Brian Putland. "And of course, it means that customers can continue to benefit from PAPST's high standards of quality and service" he added.

The new fans continue PAPST's well established reputation for innovation and development over 50 years including the development of the first electronically commutated fans and small motors now widely used thoughout the industry. Today, the company provides the industry's widest range of fans and thermal management systems with innovative developments such as SINTEC sintered bearings, reversible fans, intelligent variable speed fans and complete thermal management systems for control and monitoring multiple fans in large racks and assemblies.

As the market leader in equipment cooling fans, PAPST produces over 80,000 products per day. The company was founded in 1942 and today has a worldwide turnover of some £105million employing over 1,000 people in its manufacturing operations alone. PAPST's UK operation is located in a modern facility in Andover which provides assembly, sales and technical support services including the use of sophisticated design and test facilities which customers can use to test fan performance, noise and so on under a wide variety of operating conditions.

Gareth Jones
Managing Director
E-Mail: A&Dsales@uk.ebmpapst.com