Hartzell Adds Sky-Tec To Its Stable Of Engine Component Companies

Today the name Hartzell means more than propellers, after an aggressive acquisitions binge has expanded the product line under the Hartzell umbrella and created a growing engine components division. Now Hartzell Engine Technologies has acquired "one of the industry's most respected brands," Mike Disbrow, president of the division announced, and filled in the last of the five engine component product lines on which the company is staking its future.

The Sky-Tec brand of high-performance aircraft starters and solenoids, founded a quarter-century ago, is the latest addition to the Hartzell Engine Technologies (HET) stable, Disbrow announced, giving HET an instant, large footprint in the engine starter market.

"Sky-Tec not only brings us leadership position on Lycoming engines, it also adds new applications such as four-cylinder Continental and Rotax engines, Franklin engines and other developing aircraft powerplant technologies to our product portfolio," Disbrow said.

Rich Chiappe, Partner of Sky-Tec Partners, said, "Hartzell's leadership clearly appreciates the value of the Sky-Tec brand and will be the brand's best caretakers for the next quarter-century and beyond."

Earlier this year, HET acquired C&D Associates, which manufactures aircraft cabin heaters. With these latest acquisitions, HET has added manufacturers in the five component product lines on which it aims to concentrate: starters, cabin heaters, turbochargers, fuel pumps and alternators. The strategy seems to be paying off. For Tecnam's P2012 Traveller twin-engine commuter, currently in development, HET will provide all five of these components.

Disbrow also highlighted new HET products developed in house: Its ES-6904 alternator will be installed in the Cirrus SF50 Vision, purpose built for the Williams jet engine. HET also recently introduced the PM1207/PM2407 aftermarket starters for six-cylinder Continental engines, and the ES-6420D alternator for Beechcraft Baron, Cessna TTx, and early Cirrus SR22 airframes.

Visit Hartzell Engine Technologies at hartzell.aero.

James WynbrandtWriter

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