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January 2010 – A small insight into the POWERFIN ‘hiccup’.
There are only a few things that we can be sure of in our lives…Changes, Decisions and Feelings. And the recent POWERFIN Propeller relocation certainly contains all three of these elements.
I realize that many of you may be feeling frustrated with the sudden and certainly unexpected disruption in the POWERFIN Propeller service, but if you have a minute, I can shed a little light and understanding with what has happened…
First, a change of management…POWERFIN is now operated by SkyTrails LSA with Fredrick Scheffel as the CEO. Fredrick has been training, publishing and building Light Sport and Ultralights since 1999.
Second, a Change of location: POWERFIN propeller system will now be produced in southern Texas, just SW of Houston. This change will reduces the production times of light weight composite blades; expand our product line to include swept-tip blades and new process
methods. Bottom-line, we believe that once our new location is setup for full production that our delivery times will be for the better.
The Decision to move to Texas was motivated by the potentials and advantages available to POWERFIN by merging with the SkyTrails aircraft manufacturing facilities. This manufacturing marriage will also open more doors for
rapid, “in-house” testing of new propeller designs for the Light Sport and Ultralight communities.
The Feelings about this move are mixed. Yes, it will improve the production processes over time; however, there will be an initial ‘down-time’ as equipment is moved over 2400 miles, installed, and local support & new environmental controls are setup.
Bottom-line, there is a small price to pay for this relocation, expansion and improvement of our propeller systems.
Production TimeLine: Setup should be completed by the end of January 2010, along with the training of more employees. Therefore shipment of new orders will start in February, will full-scale production well in time for
Spring and a new Light Sport Aviation season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Changes to the previous POWERFIN system include…
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An online ordering system. This website service is currently available, and our “800” phone number was unable to be moved to Texas, so please use our new Texas phone #: 979-532-5525.
(Yes, I know that it was
frustrating when the phone # and the email system went-down. But soon all issues with the past service will be corrected and PowerFin will again be around to steadily and consistently service your propeller needs.)
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A web form for requesting propeller system recommendations – this form, by forcing required data, will improve our written response for prop recommendations.
(http://www.powerfin.com/PDF/Form_Required_Data_4Application_Recommendation.pdf)
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A web form for ordering propeller systems – again, with a written order form, we are better equipped to accurately, and consistently fulfill your propeller needs. (
http://www.powerfin.com/PDF/NEW_Orderform.pdf
)
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A new production schedule, so that delivery times can be within a week of ordering times. (At least as soon as we get up to production speed here at the Texas factory. We have already doubled the number of craftsmen to build
‘blade stock’ and ‘catch-up’ on back orders.)
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New product options already include: White Blades and a permanent pitching pin for faster and more accurate pitch settings.
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Research into a harder leading edge blade and a swept tip composite blade. (However, please keep in mind that ‘harder’ usually means ‘heavier’.)
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An online database that will allow designers and builders to compare current POWERFIN Propeller applications and a rating on efficiency.
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And perhaps best of all for the consumer…a decrease in the pricing!
POWERFIN wishes to thanks you-all for your continued support through this transition period, and as a small token of our appreciation of your patience, we have reduced the pricing of all of our Carbon-Fiber Composite Blade Models through the northern
hemisphere’s winter season. (see
our Pricing web page)
We look forward to fulfilling your propeller needs, and thanks again for your patience & understanding during this management and location transition.
Please let us know of anything that we can do to continue to support & improve the Light Sport/Ultralight worlds. Noting that our logo has made a few changes, but our email remains the same: Info@POWERFIN.com
.
Regards,
Fredrick Scheffel, SFIE, CEO of SkyTrails LSA/POWERFIN
Incorporating handcrafted integrity with carbon-fiber composite blade technologies!
Finally,
thanks
for taking the time to inquiry into our propellers. And if you get-a-moment, please share with us (Ph: 979-532-5525 or E-MAIL US ) . As your comments; as your feedback is the 'backbone' of our efforts towards excellences!
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