Harman's Repair Station Inc., called a value-added business for the air cargo industry, relocated from its Bear Valley location in Anchorage to the Anchorage airport to better serve the cargo industry, owner Don Harman said.

"We were starting to get really busy, and didn't want to waste time going back and forth. And, really, we belong here anyway," Harman said.

Harman's, the first completely dedicated cargo container repair facility, recently moved to 3300 Postmark Drive into an expanded workshop, just minutes from some of the biggest cargo carriers in the world.

"We are right across the street from Northwest, UPS and FedEx and the new proposed (Anchorage Global Logistics Airpark Development) facility to make it easier to repair on site, or here in the shop," Harman said.

Harman's, started in 2004, specializes in repairing shipping igloos, or pallets, and aircraft tie-down straps that are damaged either en route or while being loaded or off-loaded. Damaged pallets or containers must be removed or repaired before being put back on certified aircraft, Harman said.

"This is just another example of a support-type business that adds value to the air cargo businesses at (the airport)," said Bob Poe, executive director of the Anchorage Economic Development Corp.

The business is also featuring installation of radio frequency identification devices, or RFID tags. An RFID tag is a device that has information encoded into a memory strip or chip that is activated by a an ultra-high radio frequency that reflects and sends the information back to a receiver.

"Our company's objective is to provide quality aircraft cargo component rebuilding and RFID tracking services to large and small cargo carriers," Harman said.

Another aspect to Harman's Repair Station is its ability to repair straps used on cargo aircraft for securing a load.

Using a commercial-quality sewing machine, Harman can whip out repairs to any design of strap, and if he doesn't already have the design, it can be programmed into the machine quickly.

After operating for two years out of his shop at his home in Bear Valley, Harman moved to the airport to be closer to operations.

"We have a van outfitted with everything we need to do on-the-spot repairs at the airport," Harman said.

The new location is well organized, and has a flow-through door-to-door, in- and-out-type shop, complete with booths for sandblasting and woodworking.

The repair station will continue to use its Bear Valley shop, which has special equipment specifically used for igloo floor repairs, called a press. The press compresses the balsa wood used in the bottom of the igloos floors while being glued over a several-day period.

Harman, who formally worked for Alaska Airlines, said that his Federal Aviation Administration Part 145- approved repair station can serve both commercial and military carriers.

Trained at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., Harman has experience as a repairman and as a line mechanic. He was also a a maintenance trainer at Embry-Riddle and the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a fleet mechanic for Southcentral Air before it ceased operations.

With five employees and more than 65 years of combined experience, Harman says that his business is filling a void that will eliminate the need for cargo carriers to waste valuable space and time shipping damaged containers to the Lower 48 for repairs.

Rob Stapleton can be reached at