Featuring Jaylin Krell on Manufacturing Runs The World
What if one of the most impactful innovations in HVAC didn’t come from a giant R&D budget — but from a farm?
That’s exactly what happened when Jaylin Krell’s family set out to solve a frustrating (and very real) problem: dairy cows overheating in the California sun. Traditional fans were loud, inefficient, and made the problem worse. So her father and grandfather went back to first principles — and unknowingly created a brand new category: HVLS — High Volume, Low Speed — fans.
In this episode of Manufacturing Runs The World, Jaylin tells the story of how that moment of problem-solving led to MacroAir Fans, a company that would go on to shape how large spaces are cooled in warehouses, gyms, churches, and stadiums around the world.
A Family Business That Changed an Industry
MacroAir didn’t follow the playbook — they wrote their own.
From the beginning, Jaylin’s family believed in practical solutions over flashy branding. While the world was chasing faster, smaller fans, they bet on a counterintuitive idea: bigger blades, slower speed, more comfort.
The result? A 24-foot diameter fan that quietly moves massive volumes of air with far less energy — and way less noise.
What started as an ag tech fix quickly became a revolution in airflow.
Why “Small But Mighty” Still Wins
One of the most powerful takeaways from this episode is MacroAir’s refusal to grow at all costs.
Jaylin and her sister now run the day-to-day operations of the business, which still employs just 50–60 people. Instead of chasing full automation or outside investment, they’ve doubled down on people, relationships, and culture. They work through regional distributors who know their markets deeply and maintain tight feedback loops that fuel continuous product improvement.
“We didn’t set out to be the biggest. We set out to be the best,” Jaylin says.
“And we’re proud of staying family-owned, hands-on, and rooted in what works.”
Lessons for Manufacturers Trying to Scale the Right Way
Jaylin also shares a tactical look at how MacroAir has continued to evolve without losing its soul:
- Lean product development that responds directly to customer feedback
- Innovations like direct drive motors and future-forward features like WiFi control
- Real talk about marketing: what works, what’s overrated, and why case studies still matter
- The surprising power of working with “mom and pop” clients over big corporate accounts
This episode is a masterclass for anyone looking to grow a manufacturing business — without giving up what makes them different.
Final Thought:
MacroAir’s story is a reminder that real innovation doesn’t always start in a lab. Sometimes it starts in a barn, with a simple question:
“Why isn’t this working?”
And sometimes, that question is enough to change an entire industry.
