© RACA Journal www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 13
LOCAL MANUFACTURING
FAN MOVEMENT BUILDS LOCAL MANUFACTURING FUTURE FOR INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION
By Eamonn Ryan business
In an industrial park in Johannesburg South, the hum of newly installed machinery signals more than routine production.
Supplied by Fan Movement
It marks a decisive shift for Fan Movement( Pty) Ltd – from distributor to manufacturer – and a bold statement about the future of local engineering capability in South Africa.
Founded in 2015 by mechanical engineer Zinziso Xhallie, Fan Movement has grown from a specialist distributor of Howden industrial ventilation equipment into an emerging local manufacturer of high-performance air-movement solutions. Born in Cradock in the Eastern Cape, Xhallie built the business on nearly two decades of experience spanning engineering, sales, distribution and manufacturing operations. Today, his focus is to scale up local production, deepen technical capability and position the company as a credible African supplier in a competitive global market.
Prior to founding Fan Movement, he served as a sales agent for Howden( Howden Donkin division), where he successfully expanded market penetration. Following the closure of the Howden Donkin division in 2021, Xhallie executed a strategic acquisition of distribution inventory, enabling continuity of supply and immediate revenue generation while strengthening customer retention.
“ Fan Movement established its facilities in 2021, during which time we operated solely as a distributor of products. Our transition into manufacturing started in 2024, and since then we are actively implementing systems to strengthen our
Model Number: MAXFLO / 630 / 250 / 7 / 1440 / 25 – performance curve @ 1.2Kg / M ³.
RACA Journal I May 2026 quality control processes,” Xhallie explains.
That transition has been strategic rather than abrupt. For several years, Fan Movement operated through strong relationships with leading international suppliers, ensuring access to globally benchmarked products and technologies.“ We are differentiated by our
Fan Movement owner and mechanical engineer Zinziso Xhallie.
strong relationships with leading international suppliers, which enable us to remain aligned with global trends and technological advancements. This strategic support allows us to deliver cuttingedge solutions both locally and across the African continent,” says Xhallie.
The company continues to operate on what Xhallie calls a hybrid model – combining international sourcing with growing local manufacturing capability. However, bringing cased axial flow fan production in-house in 2024 marked a significant operational milestone. The move reduced dependence on external lead times, strengthened supply chain resilience, and shortened turnaround times for customers in mining, heavy industry and the built environment.
The impact is measurable. Previously outsourced, components such as fan casings are now manufactured internally. As a result, approximately 60 % of component value in certain product lines is locally produced. This shift not only reduces costs but also improves production control and flexibility.
Fan Movement’ s shop floor reflects a company in technical transition. Alongside fabrication equipment, an upgraded testing bay now measures real-time amp draw during fan performance tests – part of a broader focus on energy efficiency and compliance with South Africa’ s recently introduced Minimum Energy Performance Standards( MEPS).
© RACA Journal www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 13