Elta Fans has announced a strategic alliance with Ziehl-Abegg to use the Künzelsau-based company’s motors and impellers as part of a commitment from Elta to meet the new energy and climate change legislation being introduced throughout Europe.

In the HVAC sector, implementation of the EU energy objectives is legislated by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Energy related Products (ErP) Directive. The EPBD is applicable to fan systems through Parts F and L of the Building Regulations which specifies minimum ventilation rates and Specific Fan Powers, and the ErP Directive focuses on improving energy efficiency of the fans, motors, air handling units and related equipment. The ErP Directive is the most significant legislation the fan manufacturing industry has ever faced.

Recognising the importance of this legislation and the fundamental changes it will mean for fan manufacturers, Elta Fans have already been working towards meeting the requirements.  The first tier of the ErP fan efficiency legislation becomes mandatory on 1^st January 2013 with more onerous requirements to follow in January 2015, but the majority of the products within the new ranges being introduced by Elta as of this month, which feature Ziehl-Abegg motors and impellers, will comply with the requirements.

David Ball, vice chairman of Elta Group, commented, “This new legislation has provided focus for Elta as a business and we will be striving to ensure that our products meet the requirements well in advance of the new legislation being enforced.  By combining our own engineering expertise and experience with that of Ziehl-Abegg, we are creating a strong partnership culminating in a range of products powered by Ziehl-Abegg, designed by Elta. This partnership goes much deeper than the legislation, with the owners of Elta Fans working with Ziehl-Abegg previously for more than 25 years with Roof Units prior to its sale.  It is important that our customers can future-proof their HVAC installations now, hence setting up this alliance some time ago, rather than waiting until the legislation is right on top of us in 2012.”

Commenting on the ErP Directive, Alan Macklin, group technical manager at Elta Group, added, “Ways of reducing energy use in buildings has been a focus for some time.  This will only accelerate as we look at the forward estimates for population change and electricity consumption. By 2030 cities will be consuming three quarters of the energy we produce and by 2050, three quarters of the world’s population will be living in cities.  Given that in the UK alone over 11 million electric motors with a capacity of 90GW are installed in industry applications, and that fans are responsible for 22% of industrial motor energy consumption, it is easy to see why it is a fan manufacturers’ responsibility to also address energy and climate change.”

Les Fish, managing director of Ziehl-Abegg UK, commented, “The appointment by Elta Fans of Ziehl-Abegg as its primary OEM supplier of AC and EC, axial and radial motorised fan impellers has enabled the rekindling of a relationship between Ziehl-Abegg and the Ball family the owners of Elta Fans, a relationship which goes back many years. The inclusion of ‘Premium Quality’ Ziehl-Abegg components within multiple Elta Fans product ranges benefits Ziehl-Abegg and Elta Fans, but perhaps more importantly, Elta Fans customers.”

The first phase of new Elta products featuring the Ziehl-Abegg motors and impellers was launched this month, with a further three phases to be introduced by January 2013.