Nordex preparing for continued expansion
Norderstedt (euro adhoc) -
Extensions to Rostock facility to annual output of 2,000 MW / investment volume of EUR 85 million
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capital investment
Nordex preparing for continued expansion Extensions to Rostock facility to annual output of 2,000 MW / investment volume of EUR 85 million
Hamburg, April 17, 2007. The Nordex Group (ISIN: DE000A0D6554) grew by an average of 65 percent in 2005 and 2006 and thus twice as quickly as the market as a whole. "Of the industry top ten, only two other companies aside from Nordex achieved this," says Thomas Richterich, CEO of Nordex AG. The Management Board plans to remain on this growth path in the medium term and to double the Groups sales (2006: EUR 514 million) every two years or so.
For this reason, it will be investing in extensions to its production capacity in Germany as of 2007. Total investments in its Rostock plant will come to EUR 85 million by 2009. In three years time, turbine assembly capacity will have reached 2,000 megawatts (MW) per year and rotor blade capacity around 1,000 MW. Last year, production output at Rostock stood at around 600 MW. In addition, Nordex has further production facilities in China, which, after being established last year, are to be extended to an annual capacity of around 400 MW following the completion of the ramp up phase.
Says Richterich: "Our order intake has improved steadily over the last two years, pushing us to the edge of available capacity. These investments mark a key step in efforts to continue on our growth course." At the end of 2006, firm and conditional orders were valued at around EUR 1.2 billion. This was joined in the first quarter of the current year by further orders worth EUR 361 million. Nordex projects fullyear sales of at least EUR 750 million in 2007.
The greater capacity utilization will also help to improve profitability substantially. Together with wider margin contributions from new projects, this will ensure that the EBIT margin doubles to 6 percent this year, with a margin of 10 percent being aimed for in the medium term. Says Richterich: "This presupposes upbeat market conditions." On the basis of current forecasts, however, this is likely to be the case. Thus, analysts at the renowned BTM Consult research institute have raised their forecasts for average annual growth in the wind power industry to 17.4 percent for the period until 2011. At the same time, they have identified the onshore multi-megawatt class as a key growth segment, an area in which Nordex has an above-average presence.
About Nordex
As one of the technological leaders in multi-megawatt wind power systems, Nordex is benefiting from the trend in favor of large-scale turbines. The range comprises one of the worlds largest series-produced wind power systems (N80/N90 2,500 kW). To date, around 400 turbines of this type have been installed around the world. This experience with multi-megawatt turbines gives Nordex a decisive lead over most of its competitors. Nordex has installed a total of around 3,000 turbines with an aggregate capacity of more than 3,000 MW (January 2007) all around the world. With exports accounting for around 80 percent of its business, Nordex AG plays a key role in international high-growth regions. The Company has offices and subsidiaries in 18 countries around the world. At the end of 2006, the Group employed around 1,000 people.
end of announcement euro adhoc 17.04.2007 11:16:22
Further inquiry note:
Ralf Peters
Head of Corporate Communication
Tel.: +49 (0)40 50098 522
rpeters@nordex-online.com
Branche: Alternative energy
ISIN: DE000A0D6554
WKN: A0D655
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