Ziehl-Abegg, Inc.

Manufacturing has long been considered a male-dominated industry. At Ziehl-Abegg, that perception is changing. Five women at the company’s North American headquarters are not only thriving in their careers, but also reshaping what leadership, expertise, and growth look like in modern manufacturing. “We’re committed to building an inclusive environment where women thrive in manufacturing roles,” said Carmen Deese, Vice President of Human Resources, adding “These women represent the future of our industry — resilient, innovative, and dedicated to excellence.” For some, like Kristyn Belcher, a decade-long career began unexpectedly. With no prior exposure to manufacturing, she discovered her passion for quality through service and repair. Presently, she leads quality systems and supplier audits, and has contributed to all critical component localization projects in North America. Her advice for others: “Don’t let your fears become your setbacks.” Impact over decades Others have built their impact over decades. Mary Jane Beavers was among Ziehl-Abegg’s first U.S. employees. Now, with more than 15 years of service, she manages millions in global financial operations each week.  “Be humble, work hard, and always smile,” she says, reflecting on the lessons that carried her from a start-up-sized company of eight employees to one that now exceeds 400. Amanda Periman, Quality Manager, has driven growth and transformation in Ziehl-Abegg’s quality systems. She has grown her team, introduced new inspection processes, and helped the company achieve ISO 3834 certification. She thrives on continuous improvement and ensuring that customers receive the highest quality products. Her encouragement for women in the field: “Be confident — don’t let others convince you that you are not capable.” Shift to manufacturing Some found manufacturing after starting in entirely different industries. Eden Gauss, once a licensed pharmacy operations manager, made the leap in 2022. Within two years, she was promoted to Senior Service Administrator, a role she sees as proof of what’s possible when companies value diverse experiences. “Don’t disqualify yourself — if you’re willing to learn, take the leap,” she advises. Meanwhile, Cheryl Heppner Francis shows how quickly growth can happen. In just three years she advanced from an entry-level role to leading her line team in assembly. For her, manufacturing is about proving ability: “Recognition should always be based on merit, not gender.” Together, these women demonstrate the breadth of opportunity within manufacturing — from finance and service to quality and production leadership. Diversity of the world “Manufacturing is at its best when it reflects the diversity of the world around us,” said Joachim Ley, CEO of Ziehl-Abegg Group, adding “These women not only contribute technical expertise and leadership but also inspire the next generation to see a place for themselves in our industry.” Ziehl-Abegg hopes their stories will encourage more women to explore careers in manufacturing — an industry filled with challenges, creativity, and the chance to shape the future.

This National Manufacturing Day, Ziehl-Abegg, Inc. proudly celebrates the skilled, passionate individuals who bring innovation to life every day on the factory floor. From machinists and engineers to production leads and apprentices, the Winston-Salem team has played a pivotal role in making 2025 the company’s strongest year yet, hiring 178 manufacturing jobs, earning multiple global sales awards, and achieving record-breaking growth month after month. Ziehl-Abegg’s North American headquarters That future is taking shape inside Ziehl-Abegg’s North American headquarters in Winston-Salem “Our manufacturing team’s precision and dedication are what set Ziehl-Abegg apart,” said Joachim Ley, CEO, adding “They’re not just building fans, they’re building the future of our industry.” That future is taking shape inside Ziehl-Abegg’s North American headquarters in Winston-Salem, which opened in 2024 and was recognized as NAIOP NC’s 2024 Industrial Project of the Year. More than just a facility, the 522,000-square-foot site exemplifies what’s possible when advanced production capabilities, local talent, and a dedicated R&D department unite under one roof. But it’s the people inside who make it truly exceptional. Ziehl-Abegg’s investment in North Carolina “We’re proud to support skilled trades and create meaningful career paths in manufacturing,” said Jimmy Mitchell, Managing Director, adding “Whether someone is just starting out or leading a team, we emphasize training, mentorship, and long-term growth.” Ziehl-Abegg’s investment in North Carolina goes far beyond bricks and mortar. With 178 new manufacturing hires in 2025 alone, the company is strengthening the state’s economy by creating stable, high-quality careers that offer more than just a paycheck. These roles include benefits, advancement opportunities, and access to technical training that helps employees build lifelong careers, not just jobs. Strong partnerships with local community colleges This approach helps ensure that innovation, opportunity, and economic growth remain rooted in the local community Through strong partnerships with local community colleges and apprenticeship programs like GAP, LEAP, and FAME, Ziehl-Abegg is building a pipeline of skilled talent right here in North Carolina. This approach helps ensure that innovation, opportunity, and economic growth remain rooted in the local community. “We’re not just building products here,” said Jimmy Mitchell, adding “We’re building futures, for our team members and for our community.” National Manufacturing Day National Manufacturing Day is a time to recognize these efforts and the hands behind every fan that leaves Ziehl-Abegg’s Winston-Salem facility. “It’s our people who make innovation possible,” stated Joachim Ley, adding “And today, we celebrate them.”

As summer heat intensifies and HVAC systems operate under maximum load, Ziehl-Abegg Inc. is spotlighting its line of advanced retrofit solutions—engineered to improve performance, reduce energy consumption, and extend the life of existing systems without the cost, disruption, or downtime of a full replacement. With utility rates rising and building systems aging, Ziehl-Abegg’s retrofit approach offers a smarter, more strategic path to summer efficiency. Ziehl-Abegg retrofit fans Ziehl-Abegg retrofit fans are ideal for high-demand applications such as data centers, healthcare facilities Ziehl-Abegg retrofit fans are ideal for high-demand applications such as data centers, healthcare facilities, educational buildings, office spaces, shopping centers, and industrial factories, where uninterrupted airflow and temperature control are mission-critical. These installations benefit significantly from Ziehl-Abegg’s ability to tailor each retrofit solution to match the system’s operating conditions, performance goals, and infrastructure limitations. Retrofit solutions “Our retrofit solutions deliver measurable value—energy savings, lower operating costs, and system stability—all without replacing an entire unit,” said Florian Braun, Managing Director of Ziehl-Abegg Inc. “Customers are looking for smarter, faster ways to meet performance and sustainability demands. We provide exactly that—efficient solutions that integrate seamlessly into what they already have.” Ziehl-Abegg’s retrofit program Ziehl-Abegg can design retrofit configurations that ensure systems remain fully operational What makes Ziehl-Abegg’s retrofit program unique is the level of customization offered. Each project begins with a system assessment by one of their experts, who evaluate airflow requirements, system redundancy needs, control compatibility, and existing fan layouts. From there, Ziehl-Abegg engineers select or configure fans to meet those exact demands. For customers requiring N-1 redundancy—a critical design standard in mission-critical systems—Ziehl-Abegg can design retrofit configurations that ensure systems remain fully operational even if one component fails. N-1 redundancy and tailoring solution “Retrofit isn’t just about energy efficiency—it’s about resilience,” said Jimmy Mitchell, Managing Director of Ziehl-Abegg Inc. “By building in N-1 redundancy and tailoring every solution, we’re giving customers peace of mind during peak seasons. Our team works to make sure these upgrades aren’t just technically sound, but also practical, fast to install, and fully supported.” Energy standards and regulatory goals Ziehl-Abegg fans are designed for drop-in compatibility, reducing installation complexity and enabling upgrades without shutting down entire systems. These fans are equipped with high-efficiency EC motors, operate at low noise levels, and offer smart control integration, making them a future-proof choice for customers who want to align with energy standards and regulatory goals. Maximum ROI and long-term value Beyond equipment, Ziehl-Abegg offers comprehensive support throughout the retrofit process Beyond equipment, Ziehl-Abegg offers comprehensive support throughout the retrofit process. This includes airflow analysis, product selection, delivery coordination, and post-installation support—ensuring each project delivers maximum ROI and long-term value. Customers across North America benefit from the company’s new Winston-Salem headquarters, which includes in-house testing capabilities and dedicated customer service to support every retrofit installation. How a retrofit solution can improve cooling capacity Retrofit also supports broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. By optimizing instead of replacing systems, customers reduce waste, minimize carbon impact, and get more from their existing assets—an ideal solution for sustainability-focused operations with budget or space limitations. This summer, Ziehl-Abegg invites facility managers, HVAC contractors, and building engineers to explore how a retrofit solution can improve cooling capacity, reduce energy strain, and extend system reliability.