Milan Lumber is a family-owned wood mill in New Hampshire, producing around 70 million board feet of timber annually. The company operates several large industrial facilities, including its 5,200m² Planer Sorter Building with 11-metre ceilings.
The Planer Sorter Building struggled to maintain stable temperatures during New Hampshire’s severe winter climate. Despite operating furnaces with a combined output of 930,000 BTUs, the space frequently failed to reach required heating levels. Engineers recommended increasing capacity to 1.5 million BTUs, leading to the purchase of additional furnaces.
However, significant stratification persisted. Warm air accumulated at high level, forcing the heating system to cycle excessively, increasing energy consumption and operational costs. Operations Manager Steve Halle needed a reliable solution that would improve heat distribution and reduce reliance on mechanical heating equipment without further HVAC investment.
Following consultation with Airius, the Onyx Series was specified. Incorporating side-intake bypass technology, the Onyx Series draws additional air through side vents that bypass the fan motor and combine with the primary airflow column, significantly increasing airflow output, air movement and overall performance.
Initially cautious, Steve installed half of the recommended units to evaluate their impact. The improvement was immediate. By recirculating warm air from the ceiling back into the occupied zone at the floor, the system significantly improved comfort and heating effectiveness. Satisfied with the results, Steve proceeded with the full installation.
With the Onyx Series operating, the building consistently maintained a floor-level temperature of at least 15.5°C, even when outdoor temperatures fell to -33°C. The enhanced thermal distribution eliminated the need for the additional furnaces, which were subsequently removed. Encouraged by the success, Milan Lumber now plans to extend Airius systems to its corporate office, sawmill and other facilities to further improve energy efficiency and employee comfort.
"The fans are awesome, I'm impressed and love them. I don't know why anyone would buy a ceiling fan when this is available.”
Download the PDF version of the Milan Lumber case study.
