Horton Celebrates Building Its 10,000,000th Fan Clutch!
On the morning of July 23, 2024, at 11:30 AM in Britton, South Dakota, Horton Inc. reached an incredible milestone—building its 10,000,000th fan clutch. This momentous event was celebrated by owners and family members, Terry Gilberstadt, Lynn Brown, Horton’s CEO and President, Cordell Dietz, and Horton employees, as Tim Schock completed the assembly of the fan clutch. This Drive Master Fan Drive signifies more than just a numerical achievement; it represents the fulfillment of a dream envisioned by Horton’s founder, Hugh Schilling more than 65 years ago.
Horton’s journey from a small Minnesota-based company to the leader in thermal control for power systems is a testament to its commitment to quality and innovation. Serving customers in over 70 countries, with 15 facilities worldwide, and more than 900 distributor locations, Horton has established itself as a trusted name in the industry. With facilities and offices spread across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, Horton continues to expand its footprint and influence, one fan drive at a time.
In 1974, Horton broke ground on their fan clutch plant in Britton, SD. Since the plant’s inception, Horton has contributed over $600 million in wages, infrastructure, community spaces, and more. The building of the 10,000,000th fan clutch would not have been possible without the hard work, support, and dedication of the town of Britton and its people. To celebrate this remarkable milestone, Horton hosted a special event in Britton with employees and city officials, featuring the presentation of the 10 millionth fan drive, a beautifully designed custom fan drive cake from Key’s Cafe, cupcakes, and local barbecue.
“ The amount of fuel saved since the invention of the fan clutch to the creation of this 10 millionth clutch is worth around $200 billion.“
During the celebration, President and CEO, Cordell Dietz commented, “To help translate 10 million, if you stacked these clutches end to end, side to side, they would wrap all the way around the world. He continued, “the amount of fuel saved since the invention of the fan clutch to the creation of this 10 millionth clutch is worth $200 billion — when considering environmental sustainability, this speaks volumes to the positive impact Horton continues to have globally.”
The success of Horton Inc. is a collective achievement, attributed to the dedication of its employees. From the factory lines to the engineering labs, every individual plays a crucial role in the company’s operations.
As Horton celebrates this remarkable milestone, the company looks to the future with optimism and determination. Grateful for the support and contributions of its employees and partners, Horton is excited to explore new horizons and set its sights on even greater achievements. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, Horton is poised to continue its legacy of success for years to come.