Searching Steel
As anticipated in this space last summer, the pace of hangar construction has increased substantially in response to two years of relative inactivity. The challenge has now shifted from getting projects off the drawing board to meeting customers’ demands timely and affordably.

Domestic buyers of steel have encountered limited supplies and unprecedented price increases since late last year. We have seen increases in our flat-rolled and structural steel raw material costs of as much as 75% over this time a year ago.

Reasons for this situation are many and include; record demand for scrap steel and steel products by Chinese and European manufacturers, shortages of coke and iron ore for integrated steel producers, US restrictions on imported steel, and the low valuation of the dollar to foreign currencies. It all adds up to rapid price increases and strict allocations of finished product to US steel consuming industries. Pricing has been so volatile, that often time our costs have not been determined until the date of shipment!

We realize hangar projects involve planning and budgeting over the course of several years and that significant price increases can lay waste to the best of plans overnight. While our competition has cancelled and renegotiated contracts, we have held our pricing on many jobs quoted prior to these staggering increases, but not yet supplied. We feel strongly about honoring commitments to our customers and hope the loyalty we display is returned with repeat business.

US steel mills have announced yet another round of price increases for May. While many industry experts anticipate less volatility through the balance of 2004, no one expects pricing to roll back to the levels of 2003. In fact, it is widely believed this was a long overdue adjustment critical to the future of the US steel industry.

We remain committed to providing the finest quality hangar products to the general aviation community and will strive to keep price increases to a minimum through this highly unpredictable period.

Introducing...

This winter, after several years of design and prototype construction and testing, we shipped and erected our first two new sliding door T-Hangars. Six unit Model SS42’s were constructed in Sylacauga, AL and Poteau, OK.

The “new generation” Fulfab slider combines a completely redesigned door system with the same post and beam structure used on our popular bifold door hangars. Building features that set us apart from our competition, such as extensive use of galvanized steel, 100% bolted connections and pre-punched sheeting and framework have also been incorporated into these new hangars.

We have always preferred a top-rolling, sliding door system because it shelters all track and trolleys inside the building. Bottom-rolling doors require expensive, foundation dependent track that is more susceptible to fouling from debris or harsh weather conditions. Our new door system utilizes time-tested Cannon Ball heavy-gauge, galvanized tubular track and galvanized, double-truck trolleys with DuPont Delrin wheels, which are pre-lubricated for maintenance free operation.

A common complaint of top-rolling doors is a poor bottom weather seal. Our new door uses polypropylene brush, developed specifically for aircraft hangar doors, which is installed at the top, bottom and jambs to seal each door section. The bottom seal is adjustable to adapt to varying floor elevations.

A unique rod-locking system, with built-in, keyed access to each unit, has been designed to meet fire code requirements without the need for personnel doors. Personnel doors, such as those shown here, can also be installed in sliding door sections as needed.

Chain Replacement Program

Recently, we initiated a program for Owners of older hangars to improve the safety of their single-chain driven bifold doors.

Since 1992, all of our bifold doors have been equipped with a dual-chain driven lifting unit, which provides redundant protection against a door free falling from a single-chain failure. At that time we also began offering retrofit kits for all previously supplied single-chain driven units. To date almost 60% of those single-chain drives have been retrofitted. We continue to encourage Owners of these older hangars to install or have us install these retrofit kits to substantially reduce the possibility of personal injury or property damage, which can result from a door falling.

Of course all bifold doors require periodic maintenance to insure safe and efficient operation – especially single-chain driven units. Roller chain strength and performance can be compromised by many factors including sprocket misalignment, inadequate lubrication and improper tensioning, which over the course of time, can result in a chain failure. We recommend that you inspect and lubricate your bifold doors at regular six- month intervals using our maintenance checklist reproduced here on page four and replace drive chains, at a minimum, every ten years.

All remaining single-chain driven bifold doors are at least twelve years old, with many in service for over twenty or thirty years. For the protection of users of these hangars and their aircraft, we are offering one-time, free chain replacements. We will supply replacement chains and connecting links for these hangars at your request.

Owners of all single-chain driven units have been notified of this offer by mail and we encourage you to return the postage paid post card included with that mailing. You can also call or email us to take advantage of this offer.

Bifold Door Maintenance Guide & Checklist

We recommend that you inspect and lubricate your Fulfab T-Hangars and bi-fold doors at regular six month intervals. Reproduced above is our maintenance checklist with procedures that should be performed on each bifold door.

Each procedure referenced on the checklist is described and pictured in our “Bifold Door Maintenance Manual.” We can provide copies of these manuals to you free of charge.

Any worn or damaged parts should be reported and replacement parts secured before the doors are used further. Fulfab maintains a complete stock of replacement parts.

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