REpower investiert in deutsche Produktionsstandorte

Quelle: Unternehmenseigene Pressemitteilung vom 13.09.2011

Hamburg, 13. September 2011. Die REpower Systems SE (WKN 617703) richtet seine deutschen Produktionsstandorte für Windenergieanlagen neu aus. Am heutigen Dienstag, dem 13. September, feiert das Unternehmen in Bremerhaven Richtfest für die Erweiterung der Maschinenhaus- und Naben-Produktion. Ab dem Geschäftsjahr 2012/13 können dort jährlich Windenergieanlagen mit einer Leistung von 900 Megawatt (MW) montiert werden. Bisher betrug die jährliche Produktionskapazität 600 MW.

Zeitgleich wird am Standort Trampe bei Eberswalde (Brandenburg) die Montagehalle umgebaut, so dass dort zukünftig an vier Montageplätzen REpowers Drei-Megawatt-Baureihe 3.XM gefertigt werden kann. Insgesamt investiert das Unternehmen rund 10 Millionen Euro in den Ausbau der beiden Produktionsstandorte.

„REpower ist führend im Bereich der Multimegawatt-Offshore-Anlagen und auch unsere 2008 eingeführte 3.XM-Baureihe wird im Markt sehr gut nachgefragt“, so Gregor Gnädig, Chief Operating Officer (COO) der REpower Systems SE. „Wir müssen unsere drei deutschen Werke neu aufstellen und rechtzeitig zusätzliche Kapazitäten aufbauen. Auch das europäische Offshore-Geschäft wird in den nächsten Jahren deutlich anziehen.“

Derzeit montiert REpower in Trampe ausschließlich Anlagen des Typs MM mit zwei Megawatt Nennleistung. Für die Umstellung auf die neue Plattform müssen hauptsächlich die elektrischen Test-Einrichtungen angepasst werden. „Die Kapazitäten zur Produktion des internationalen ‚REpower-Bestsellers’, der MM-Baureihe, werden wir nach Husum sowie an die Standorte in Portugal und Padubidri übertragen“, erklärt Gnädig.

Bis Jahresende werden die ersten 3.XM-Maschinenhäuser und -Naben in Trampe gefertigt.

Redaktionelle Anmerkung: REpower Systems ist mehrheitlich im Besitz des indischen Windturbinenherstellers Suzlon Energy Ltd.

REpower Invests in German Production Sites

Source: Company press release, dated 13.09.2011

Hamburg, 13 September 2011. REpower Systems SE (WKN 617703) is realigning its German production sites for wind turbines. Today, Tuesday, 13 September, the company is holding the topping-out ceremony for the expansion of nacelle and hub production in Bremerhaven. Starting in 2012/13 financial year, it will be possible there to assemble wind turbines each year with an output of 900 megawatts (MW). Up to now, the annual production capacity was 600 MW.

At the same time, the assembly hall at the Trampe/Eberswalde (Brandenburg) location is being converted to enable production of REpower’s 3.XM three-megawatt series in four assembly areas in future. The company is investing a total of some EUR 10 million in expanding the two production locations.

“REpower leads the way for multi-megawatt offshore turbines and our 3.XM series, which was launched in 2008, is also in great demand on the market”, commented Gregor Gnädig, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of REpower Systems SE. “We have to re-position our three German plants and expand capacities in good time. The European offshore business will also increase significantly over the next few years”.

At present, REpower only assembles MM-type turbines with 2-megawatt nominal power at Trampe. To convert to the new platform, the electrical test facilities in particular have to be adapted. “The capacities for producing the international ‘REpower bestseller’, the MM series, are to be relocated to Husum and the locations in Portugal and Padubidri”, explained Gnädig.

The first 3.XM nacelles and hubs will be produced in Trampe by the end of the year.

Editor’s note: REpower Systems is a subsidiary of India’s Suzlon Energy Ltd.

Infosys reportedly gave up China investment plans for IPR fears on clients‘ side

According to a news item appearing the Economic Times (7th Sept. 2011) Indian IT major Infosys gave up its plans for increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in China as its major customers in Europe and the USA had apprehessions about their data procession and/or software-related work being done in China owing to fears about the protection of intellectual property rights.

The report cites as source a US diplomatic cable which has been released by WikiLeaks. It also narrates an incidence, which N.R. Narayana Murthy, Co-founder of Infosys reportedly told US diplomats:

Murthy said he understood the misgivings of his clients and narrated his experience in China to show how rampant piracy was. Stepping out of his central Beijing hotel to go for a stroll with Peter Bonfield, then CEO of British Telecom, they encountered a sidewalk vendor selling pirated Microsoft and Windows products.

Bonfield jokingly asked the vendor if he had Finacle (an Infosys banking software product) and the vendor replied: „I can get it for you tomorrow.“

Murthy, was at the same time quite clear about China’s potential, its qualities, and HR problems that it faces, as is clear from the next section:

Murthy, however, was optimistic about the long-term potential of China. As per the cable, he stated: „There is nobody better than the Chinese at solving a problem once they are serious about it.“ Murthy said it would take four to five years for the Chinese to overcome that reluctance.

There were other concerns for Infosys to expand in China. Murthy told the diplomats that though qualified graduates were available, those with sufficient English skills commanded a high premium. He said retention was more difficult in China than in India, as Chinese professionals are more willing to leave for a higher salary where Indian ones value institutions a bit more.

The whole report is available at: The Economic Times (11.09.2011)