Nordex extending local production in China
New Rotor blade production / total investment of EUR 20 million
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Nordex AG is continuing to invest in extensions to its production capacity. Currently the company is building a rotor blade production facility worth around EUR 20 million in Dongying, in the east of the Peoples Republic of China. Thanks to the direct access to the sea port, this location is ideally suited for the shipment of large components and the import of commodities. Initially, Nordex will be producing rotor blades for turbines in the 1.5 megawatt (MW) class. These blades measure up to 37.5 meters in length and weigh around 5.8 tons each.
Together with two regional utilities, Nordex started work on building assembly facilities for 1.5 MW turbines in the spring. The Company is also preparing similar partnerships in other provinces, which will then source their rotor blades from the Dongying facility. Series production is to be ramped up as early as in January 2007, with output in the first year of operation planned to comprise 225 blades for 75 turbines (110 MW).
With an area of 8,400 square meters, the facility in Dongying will reach full output in the late summer of 2007. Assuming that everything goes ahead as planned, capacity is to be doubled again provided that this is justified by demand. With a total area of 90,000 square meters, there is sufficient space for this. During this phase, output could then be increased to around 400 MW. The total investment budget for the site stands at EUR 20 million, with around EUR 10 million earmarked for the first phase.
Nordex has been producing rotor blades in Germany since 1999. A year ago, the company established its first blade production facility in China for a smaller series. Nordex expects further growth in demand in China in particular. However, business from China is tied to the condition of a local content level of 70 percent. Nordex already exports around 80 percent of its output and plans to grow by around 50 percent per year between now and 2008.
end of announcement euro adhoc 24.08.2006 09:00:00
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Further inquiry note:
Ralf Peters
Tel.: +49 (0)40 50098 522
rpeters@nordex-online.com
Branche: Alternative energy
ISIN: DE000A0D6554
WKN: A0D655
Index: CDAX, Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / regulated dealing/prime
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