From hand-cutting out of walnut logs with axes to molding modern carbon-fiber composites into computer-designed blade shapes, Hartzell Propeller has manufactured and developed aircraft propellers for more than 100 years. Still, the company said the propulsion devices continue to hold untapped potential.
In a move to unlock it, Hartzell has worked with JobsOhio, a Columbus-based business-development organization, to open its Hartzell Propeller Innovation Center at its corporate headquarters in Piqua, Ohio. To support and accelerate the center’s work, JobsOhio provided a $2 million grant, which Hartzell officials accepted during a grand opening ceremony Friday.
Grant Supports Ohio Industry
The funding comes through the JobsOhio Research & Development Center Grant program, with a mission that involves fostering strategic research and development centers in Ohio. Hartzell said it secured the grant by focusing on two of JobsOhio’s target industries—aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The agreement also reflects the company’s continuing push into the budding electric propulsion and advanced air mobility (AAM) segments.
By accepting the JobsOhio grant, Hartzell has committed to creating new jobs, keeping its operations in the state, and matching the grant with its own funds. The company said it has invested $30 million in the facility and equipment thus far and expects to invest more than $10 million more over the next five years.
“The grand opening of the Hartzell Propeller Innovation Center represents a major step forward for Hartzell Propeller,” said JJ Frigge, president of Hartzell Propeller, in a news release. “Purpose-built to support the next chapter of advanced propeller innovation, this facility more than quadruples our carbon-fiber production footprint and reinforces our ‘Built on Honor’ commitment to quality, performance, and support.
Continuing Propeller Advancement
For years, Hartzell has raised the profile of propeller technology in general aviation and beyond. While the company’s line of composite propellers have boosted the efficiency of light piston aircraft, Hartzell also collaborated with Beta Technologies to earn the first FAA Part 35 type certification for a propeller designed specifically for electric aircraft.
“Combined with the support of JobsOhio, the Innovation Center also enables critical research and development for emerging markets such as advanced air mobility, including our collaboration with Beta Technologies,” Frigge said. “Together, this investment accelerates our ability to transform ideas into certified, real-world solutions that advance aviation today and well into the future.”
Century in Aviation
Hartzell’s history in aviation dates back to the Wright brothers era of early aircraft development.
The family’s lumber business had shifted to manufacturing rifle stocks when, in 1917, Orville Wright asked Robert Hartzell to consider manufacturing maple propellers. Propeller failure was a common problem in early aviation that Wright sought to solve. Hartzell, who owned a small airplane, began crafting propellers by hand from maple logs. The move reset the company’s course.
“Hartzell Propeller has been a cornerstone of Ohio’s aerospace since the Wright brothers were developing aircraft here, and the company continues to evolve,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in the news release. “The newest investment establishing Hartzell’s Innovation Center demonstrates how legacy suppliers are leading the charge in next-generation aviation and supporting Ohio’s position as a leader in aerospace innovation and advanced air mobility.”
The innovation center, which adds more than 150,000 square feet to the Piqua complex, will house all of the company’s carbon-fiber propeller production, WhirlWind experimental and airboat propeller production, and the Hartzell Service Center, which is part of the Hartzell Global Services network.