According to Global Trade Consulting’s President, Kenneth O. Eldib, “demand for wind turbine gear boxes is finally living up to expectations, as many countries have recovered from the recession and others are following through on decisions to invest heavily in wind energy.” Global Trade Consulting also argue that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is also making governments and business leaders re-think the actual cost of over reliance on oil and other fossil fuels.
Leading manufacturers of wind turbine gear boxes worldwide include: Winergy, GE Transportation, Hanson (Suzlon) and Bosch-Rexroth. A growing number of U.S, Japanese and European companies are targeting this market in an attempt to exploit the opportunity to supply major wind turbine OEMs such as; Vestas, GE Energy, Siemens and others.
Global Trade Consulting estimates the worldwide market for wind turbine gear boxes to be $ 3.8 billion, with a growth rate exceeding 16% per annum.
The company’s new study also includes data on which gear box makers produce their own gears, and who are the gear, gear blank and steel companies supplying those who rely on other companies to make critical gears for them.
US companies have been slow to capitalise on the exploding demand for wind turbine gear boxes, but there are some firms exploiting this opportunity, chief among them is GE Transportation’s Drivetrain Technologies division and newcomers such as Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc.
European companies like Rexnord, Metso and Maag have supplied the gear box makers with large precision gears for many years, while US companies like Horsburgh-Scott and Indiana Gear are making inroads into this market recently.
Due to the enormous stresses encountered in this application, steel for the huge gears used in wind turbine gear boxes must be of the highest quality in the world. Important steel suppliers include; Ascometal, Timken and the Ellwood Group, while major Japanese companies are eyeing the market as well.
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