Promote your company to the global vertical aviation industry through the VAI Member Spotlight, a free benefit for VAI member companies. Want to be featured? Contact Info@verticalavi.org to let us know. If you’re not already enjoying the many benefits our members receive, join VAI today! VAI Member Spotlight: Cantherm Distributors, Canada Provider of aircraft heaters and other ground power and air equipment also distributes a wide variety of portable products in North America. Extreme environments call for extra support to ensure the health and safety of crews and the continued operation of the helicopter. Parking a helicopter on a glacier is no exception. Frigid temperatures, such as those experienced in Canada and Alaska, require creative solutions to ensure that aircraft interiors and engines stay above freezing. Manitoba-based Canadian Thermal Dynamics, which was later renamed Cantherm Distributors, began in 1993 as a distributor for Italian company Biemmedue’s Arcotherm Heaters. They soon began to support aircraft operators with the heaters. “There were a bunch of clients in Alaska that were looking for heating solutions for when they were parked on a glacier at night,” explains Gennaro Scerbo, Cantherm director of sales. “The heaters can be thrown in the back of a helicopter, and we marry that with a portable generator, basically giving operators a package to keep their aircraft operational in extreme weather.” Started for Aviation Financed by an aviation professional, the company started out by selling its heaters to aircraft operators, as they were ideal for warming helicopters, airplanes, and hangars in cold environments. However, the features of the heaters—including being available in a variety of sizes and the ability to operate on diesel, kerosene, propane, or natural gas—led them to become popular in other sectors, including the construction, agriculture, ground vehicle maintenance, forestry, and natural resource–extraction industries. In 2019, Eddie Gortemaker, an entrepreneur with significant project management experience, purchased the company. Gortemaker has since focused on growing the business and expanding its product line. Today, Cantherm imports and distributes a variety of commercial products supporting the aviation industry and other sectors. Focus on Extreme Conditions Cantherm sources and supplies equipment that meets the specific needs of companies in Canada and the United States, particularly those working in remote or extreme conditions. In addition to heaters, the company has developed distribution relationships for various products, including those from Helitowcart, Air Covers, Start Pac (ground power units), TecnoGenUSA (mobile diesel generators), Yanmar (portable diesel generators and trash pumps), OceanAire (portable heating and cooling systems), Portacool (portable evaporative coolers), Walter Surface Technologies, and Njordair Fast Tent. “There’s really nobody pulling a lot of these products together and helping distribute them in North America,” Scerbo says. “We hand-select and vet these products, bringing together valuable solutions customers know they can depend on for quality and reliability.” Customer Support The company offers customer support based on the product. For established lines such as heaters, Cantherm provides direct assistance, while for newer offerings such as ground power units and tow carts, the company often coordinates with manufacturers to ensure that operators receive the technical support they need. Cantherm is also expanding its dealer network, especially outside the aviation sector, while maintaining direct relationships with aviation companies and operators.
