Back in 1910, the earliest aircraft hangars were known as aeroplane sheds. Built with metal, wood or concrete, these structures provided protection from the weather, direct sunlight and the storage of aircrafts. The word “hangar” comes from the French word, “hanghart,” meaning ‘an enclosure near a house.’ This nostalgic building would be the central theme of an airport snack hub in Omaha, Nebraska.

Before travelers begin their ascent at Eppley Airfield, they are pleasantly greeted with the Eppley Airfield North Hangar Snack Bar. Built in 2007, this one-of-a-kind kiosk provides travelers the convenience of grabbing a snack or refreshment before hopping on their next flight.

Along with its convenience and service to those at the airport, its vintage aesthetic resembles the theme of the old hangar, luring the public to shop and make purchases before continuing their travel. To maintain its sentimental appearance, it required a protective coating that would last long into the future. Hot-dip galvanized steel checked every box related to its coating durability, low maintenance qualities, life-cycle cost, sustainability, and overall aesthetic in resembling an aircraft hangar.

The customer requested a quality product that could stand strong long into the future and be heavily used by millions of travelers every year. The galvanizer was able to meet and exceed this challenge because of its expertise in customer service and long-standing relationship with the airport.

To exemplify the longevity of HDG steel, the galvanizer took updated mil readings to record the coating thickness after 15 years in service. With an average mil reading of 6.2, the Hanger Snack Bar still has decades of use ahead of it. In fact, according to the Time to First Maintenance Chart created by the American Galvanizers Association, Eppley Airfield can expect the hot-dip galvanized steel to last another 100 years before requiring maintenance. As a visible centerpiece of the airport, millions of passengers will witness the strength of HDG steel and, hopefully, some will consider the same corrosion protection for their own projects in the future.

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of Eppley Airport stands a structure that will combat many years of use and provide convenience to everyday travelers throughout the United States because of hot-dip galvanizing.

"This galvanizer has done all the galvanizing at Eppley Airport because of customer service, quality, and long-standing relationship with Eppley Airport."

Coating Thickness