Aeronautic produces the 750-kW turbine in Plymouth, Mass.
Indiana officials joined those from GBT USA to launch a mold, tooling, and prototyping manufacturing facility for wind-rotor blades in Evansville, Indiana.
GBT USA, the North American subsidiary of Global Blade Technology, focuses on design and production of custom wind rotor blades. The Netherlands based engineering company will lease and equip over 45,000 ft2 of space in the Park 41 industrial park in Evansville which will house the company’s engineering, design, and consultancy offices as well as the operation to manufacture blade molds and tooling. The plan also includes prototype and limited series blade production capacity, with space for tools and blades in excess of 100 meters.
GBT USA also has future plans for construction of an additional 200,000+ ft2 facility for full series production of rotor blades. The full scale manufacturing plan includes capabilities for advanced-technology blades targeted toward offshore wind as well as highly specialized small and medium wind applications. The plant will be production-ready as the wind market continues its recovery and the appropriate demand levels return.
GBT is also announcing a developmental partnership with Aeronautica Windpower LLC of Plymouth Mass. This contract will be to produce the production molds, tooling, and prototype 26 meter blades for the AWP 54-750 wind turbine targeted for community and distributed generated wind applications. GBT will produce the entire manufacturing process for Aeronautica.
GBT USA will produce molds for turbine blades and possibly manufacture the blades in a new plant in Indiana.
“Plans are still developing for the long-term production vendor of our new blade, but by supplying the molds and prototypes, GBT is letting us hold true to our conviction of being 100% made in America,” says Aeronautica President Walt Wunder. “Their Indiana location is ideal for our upcoming 54-750 installations in Ohio. This effort continues to show Aeronautica’s commitment to help other small businesses in America to get off the ground and show the world that we have resiliency and determination to compete in industries of the future.”
According to the American Wind Energy Association, the fast-growing wind energy industry has added more than 35% of all new energy-generating capacity in the U.S. over the past four years, more than coal and nuclear power combined.
Founded in 2009, Global Blade Technology is headquartered in Wieringerwerf, The Netherlands, with operations in India and the United States. GBT USA was incorporated in 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and focuses on designing and producing custom rotor blades for wind turbine generators for customers around the world.
Aeronautica Windpower is a mid-scale wind turbine sales and marketing company owning exclusive manufacturing and sales rights to the Norwin line of wind turbines. Headquartered in Plymouth, Mass., the company was founded in 2008 initially as a wind-turbine refurbishment purveyor. In 2009, the company acquired the license rights to manufacture and sell the Norwin wind turbines exclusively in the US and Canada. With the first turbines delivered in May, 2011, Aeronautica is now able to officially claim to be the only mid-scale wind turbines made in America.
GBT USA
www.gbtholding.com
Aeronautica Windpower
www.aeronauticawind.com
Filed Under: Blades, News, Projects
