Feb 19 2011
Worthington Industries declared that its Worthington Energy Group auxiliary has contracted a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Gestamp Renewables Group to form a 50-50 partnership.
The new partnership company, Gestamp Worthington Wind Steel will concentrate on the manufacture of towers meant for the wind turbines being built in the North American market. An agreement to the effect is expected to be signed in the next quarter. The new company will employ around 150 people when it becomes fully functional.
The initial production facility of Gestamp Worthington Wind Steel will be located over a 30 acres facility in Cheyenne, Wyo. The new facility will manufacture utility-scale towers suitable for 2.0 or 3.0 MW wind turbines. The company has plans to produce around 300 towers annually. The new company will function as a subcontractor to produce wind turbine tower structures for those companies that manufacture wind tower turbines. The company has chosen Wyoming for its strategic location feature to connect to the growing clean energy market in Western United States.
The new partnership company will be benefited by the worldwide supply relationships maintained by Gestamp Wind Steel with key wind turbine companies to provide the much needed operational experience for the production of the turbine towers. Worthington on its part will bring forth its production, and purchasing experience in North America and its human resources to benefit the joint venture.