23.06.2011 – 14:38

Nordex SE

EANS-News: Nordex SE
Nordex industrialises production

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Company Information

Subtitle: Continuous quality improvement ensured / production time and rotating
stock reduced

Hamburg (euro adhoc) - Rostock, 23 June 2011. Nordex SE has modernised its
European production centre in Rostock in line with industrial principles. The
aim was to significantly improve the efficiency and production quality of the
plant. "We have introduced professional series production in order to make us
more competitive," explains COO Dr. Marc Sielemann. "The sector is developing at
a dynamic pace and customers expect more flexible deliveries from the
manufacturer." 

With this in mind, the company has converted the nacelle and switch cabinet
factory to continuous flow production. The introduction of stable and
standardised processes forms the basis of reliable deliveries to customers and
guarantees high-quality products.

The result of this modernisation is impressive: standardised work processes and
shorter throughput times have made it possible to triple capacity in the
two-shift operation from 330 to around 1,000 turbines a year. This equates to
output of 2,500 MW. The manufacturer has reduced the production time and
rotating stock by some 30 percent.

Overall, Nordex has set up three lines for the main components - the nacelle,
hub and drive train and three further lines for pre-assembly. The company
decided in favour of a rail system with friction wheel drive. For this the
technology had to be adapted to the existing hall layout. The most suitable
solution proved to be a skid system with an angular transfer unit designed to
take heavy weights. For construction of the switch cabinets the skids are moved
by a drag chain conveyor. In this way Nordex has converted the entire nacelle
assembly to continuous flow.

However, this new technology is only one part of the changeover. The
organisational changes made are of key importance. For example, dock assembly
made it difficult to determine the actual production status and the picture
presented by the production hall was that of rows of shelves full of material.
Now the assembly lines are designed in accordance with the principle of
synchronisation and the required material is available directly at the assembly
station - Nordex has minimised its stock-keeping and moved it out of the hall.

On top of this, large screens now inform all staff about progress in the
respective cycle and along the entire production line. Any disruptions in the
assembly process are immediately evident and can be remedied in good time. This
minimises downtimes and the error rate.

"For the efficiency programme in our production division we were able to adopt
many principles from other industries," said Dr. Sielemann. "We attached
particular importance to transparency and organised trouble-shooting as they
make it possible for us to continuously optimise production."


Further inquiry note:
Nordex SE
Sandra Jaekel
Phone: +49 40 300 30-1244
E-mail:  sjaekel@nordex-online.com

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 
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company:     Nordex SE
             Langenhorner Chaussee 600
             D-22419 Hamburg
phone:       +49 (0)40 30030-1000
FAX:         +49 (0)40 30030-1101
mail:         info@nordex-online.com
WWW:         http://www.nordex-online.com
sector:      Alternative energy
ISIN:        DE000A0D6554, DE0000A0D66L2
indexes:     TecDAX, CDAX, HDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share, ÖkoDAX
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
             Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München 
language:   English