In response to the continuing high demand for wind turbines worldwide, Siemens Wind Power A/S is expanding its production capacity. With this aim, the company has acquired a former LM Glasfiber factory at Engesvang in Denmark for manufacturing rotor blades. Siemens is investing heavily in the assembly plant at its headquarters in Brande and in the rotor blade manufacturing facility in Aalborg to obtain a further increase in capacity. The total investment volume amounts to more than EUR50 million.
"Expansion of our capacities in Denmark is the first step in building up a worldwide manufacturing network," said Andreas Nauen, head of the Wind Power division at Siemens Power Generation. The new manufacturing facility in Engesvang will provide jobs for about 100 to 150 persons. In addition, Siemens PG is planning to expand its assembly capacity and office space at division headquarters in Brande by late 2006. This is to be accompanied by expansion of the rotor blade manufacturing facility in Aalborg by more than 25,000 square meters.
"We have high expectations from the new factory, which will allow to provide a faster and more flexible response to market requirements. A further aim is to access the glass fiber manufacturing know-how and expertise available at this location," Nauen added.
The Siemens Power Generation Group (PG) is experiencing sharp growth in the wind energy sector. Compared to the previous year, in 2005 Siemens PG nearly doubled its wind turbine sales, with turbines of nearly 630 megawatts of output leaving the factory. Fabrication capacity for 2006 is almost fully booked. The new factory in Engesvang with floor space of 18,000 square meters is located half-way between the assembly plant at division headquarters in Brande and the rotor blade manufacturing facility in Aalborg. Series production of rotor blades in Engesvang is scheduled to begin in early 2006.
The blade factory will use the IntegralBlade technology patented by Siemens. With this technology, the blades are cast in one piece in a single step from glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin in a closed, environmentally compatible process.
Since the Siemens acquisition of Bonus Energy A/S in December 2004, more than 700 new employees have been hired in Denmark. Siemens Wind Power currently employs approximately 1800 people worldwide.
The Power Generation Group (PG) of Siemens AG is one of the premier companies in the international power generation sector. In fiscal 2005 (which ended September 30), Siemens PG posted sales amounting to approximately EUR8.1 billion and received new orders totaling EUR11 billion. Group profit amounted to EUR951 million. On September 30, 2005, PG had a work force of approximately 33,500 worldwide.
