Vestas to build two new factories in Colorado

Vestas announced on August 15, 2008 plans to further expand its American manufacturing presence by establishing a new blade factory and a nacelle assembly factory in Brighton, Colorado. The nacelle factory, where the turbine housing containing vital components such as the gearbox, generator, and transformer is assembled, will be Vestas’ first in the USA. The new blade factory will supplement the existing blade factory in Windsor, Colorado.

The decision to establish manufacturing in Brighton follows a thorough placement analysis conducted in cooperation with the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and Upstate Colorado Economic Development. Among the reasons for choosing Brighton are its central location, easy access to rail services and highway infrastructure, and proximity to the plant in Windsor. Creating manufacturing efficiencies and access to a large pool of qualified workers were also important factors in selecting Brighton.

“I am delighted that we have found the location for our new blade factory and we look forward to beginning operation in our first manufacturing cluster in the USA,” says Ole Borup Jakobsen, President of Vestas Blades A/S and continues: “I am confident we will maintain our good relationships with the authorities in Brighton and Weld County as we continue to develop this new Vestas site.”

“We are extremely pleased to be building Vestas’ largest nacelle assembly factory to date. Denver and the surrounding areas give us direct access to a large, qualified workforce, and this was one of the primary reasons for choosing Brighton,” says Søren Husted, President of Vestas Nacelles A/S. “Our new factory will be designed according to the most efficient Lean manufacturing principles, and we expect Brighton to become the center for Vestas Nacelles’ activities in the USA.”
In order to establish a complete supply chain for the factory in Brighton, Vestas Nacelles will set up a purchasing office in Chicago, Illinois to be close to the extensive northeast network of suppliers. A combined Technology and Production Engineering office will also be established at the Brighton facility to equip the factories with the right quality and continuous improvement competences.

“On behalf of the people of Colorado, I am grateful that Vestas has chosen to once again invest in our state,” says Bill Ritter, Governor of the State of Colorado. “This is a tremendous boon for all of Colorado, not just Brighton. By bringing more than 1,350 additional jobs here, Vestas is cementing its standing as one of Colorado’s pioneering partners in the New Energy Economy. I look forward to continuing the relationship for years to come. My administration has worked closely with Vestas to make the Brighton project a reality. This only adds momentum to our efforts to diversify our economy and grow these modern-energy industries of the future.”

The nacelle assembly factory will have an annual production capacity of 1,400 nacelles. With an output of 1,800 blades per year, the blade factory in Brighton will match the annual output of the Windsor plant, bringing the company’s production capacity for wind turbine blades in the USA to 3,600 per year. Vestas’ tower factory, also to be built in Colorado, will have a production capacity of 900 towers per year.

Once fully operational in the first half of 2010, the blade factory will bring 650 new jobs to Brighton. The nacelle factory, which is expected to run at full capacity in mid 2010, will create an additional 700 jobs.

“Vestas’ increased manufacturing and R&D footprint in the USA will enable us to even better serve our North American customer base,” says Jens Søby, President of Vestas Americas A/S, the company’s North American sales and service business unit. “As of today, the United States Congress has still not extended the federal Production Tax Credit, but Vestas believes they will take action. Wind power is poised to become a major form of energy generation in the USA, and Vestas is positioning itself to meet the demands of a rapidly growing market for wind power.”

According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the American market for wind power grew by 45 per cent in 2007, injecting over USD 9 billion into the economy. AWEA expects the growth figures for 2008 to top the figures for 2007.

About Vestas
With a 23 per cent global market share in 2007, Vestas is the world’s leading supplier of modern energy solutions. The company’s core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale and maintenance of wind technology that uses wind energy to generate electricity. Vestas has installed more than 35,500 wind turbines in 63 countries, and has a track record of installing more than 9,600 wind turbines on American soil.