GE Renewable Energy and LM Wind Power have announced plans to acquire and expand the WMC wind turbine blade test facility in Wieringerwerf, Netherlands. The facility will provide rotor hub testing for new GE turbines while continuing to offer blade and other testing, digital tools, research and similar services to the wider wind industry in the Netherlands and elsewhere. LM Wind Power is planning to expand and develop the facility over time, retaining the current workforce of 23 highly-qualified experts in composites and rotor blade testing to help grow the business. The transaction is expected to close within a few weeks' time subject to certain pre-completion conditions.
LM Wind Power has a growing presence in the Netherlands, with its global management office located at the World Trade Centre in Schipol and a research facility at Heerhugowaard. The company was acquired by GE in April 2017. It continues to grow at pace, providing advanced wind turbine blades to customers all over the world.
“The acquisition of the WMC wind turbine blade test facility in Wieringerwerf secures a promising future for the 23 employees and ensures growth and opportunity for this important Dutch facility” said Aart van der Pal, Chairman of the Board of WMC. “We look forward to playing a key role in the future developments of advanced wind turbine rotor blades”.
Duncan Berry CEO, LM Wind Power, added that the new test facilities will further contribute to LM Wind Power's research and development capabilities for the design and manufacture of advanced wind turbine blades and other components.
“We are delighted to retain the talented existing workforce and supplement LM Wind Power and GE's growing presence in a strategic green industry in the Netherlands” Mr Berry said. “These are valuable, senior, technical jobs and we provide employment to a significant and increasing number of graduates and post graduates from the best Dutch Universities including Delft, Twente, Eindhoven and Amsterdam.”
Image: The WMC wind turbine blade testing facility at Wieringerwerf, Netherlands
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