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…
Free equipment for manufacturing composite blades
The manufacturer of large-scale and mobile fabric impregnators is looking for a turbine blade-manufacturing company interested in using, at no obligation, a fabric impregnator engineered to manufacture the blades. The equipment, from Magnum Venus Plastech, Kent, Wash., has been used to make large composite structures such as boat hulls, many for navies. “We believe with…
Lay-up equipment cuts 85% off time to manufacturer big blades
A manufacturer of equipment that places composite material quickly and a quick-cure-molding system for wind blades says the combination reduces labor content by two-thirds, doubles throughput, and produces a consistently high-quality blade. Manufacturing firm MAG Industrial Automation Systems, Sterling Hts, Mich., says its Rapid Material Placement System (RMPS) combines automation and repeatable process control for…
Blade manufacturing gets smart
England based Solent Composite Systems says its value proposition for the U.S. wind industry spans from turbine blade design, to molds, prototype development, and manufacturing technology transfer, along with training for new start-up blade plants. The company offers wind-turbine manufacturers with what it says are “Smart” engineering features such as its SmartMould, an approach to…
Laser inspection boosts blade production
Fiberglass and epoxy-based composites have replaced aluminum and steel as primary materials in the large blades of recent wind turbines. Production of large blades, some of which reach over 50m, also requires increased precision. To improve accuracy and production rates, Carter Products, Grand Rapids, Mich., has introduced its CPS 3D laser alignment equipment. “Hand measuring…