Montgomery, Alabama-based Hartzell Engine Technologies LLC announced July 29 that it finalized an agreement to buy the assets of Granbury, Texas-based Plane-Power Ltd.
Hartzell will continue to produce all of the Plane-Power products under its current brand and the parts will be produced at the current factory in Granbury, until all of the FAA parts manufacturer approval (PMA) documentation can be put in place to transfer production to Hartzell’s facility in Montgomery, said President Mike Disbrow. “The Hartzell brand is strong in the alternator market and it will continue to be the product of choice for the custom OEM and direct-fit replacement markets that we have traditionally led,” he said. “The Plane-Power brand will represent the certified replacement and experimental markets at a lower price-point than the Hartzell Engine Technologies parts.”
Hartzell saw that the deal with Plane-Power would not only complement its family of alternators, but help it gain immediate access into new markets, said Disbrow. “In particular, Plane-Power is strong in the kit-built/experimental market. They also have several STC’d (Supplemental Type Certificated) generator-to-alternator conversion kits that will open new opportunities to us.” The deal does not include the Sky-Tec starter line of products, he added.
“This agreement will enable my partners and I to continue to, not only focus on Sky-Tec’s continuing success, but to pursue new innovations for our customers and additional growth opportunities in general aviation,” said Rich Chiappe, partner of Plane-Power Partners Ltd.
