Apr 18 2008
Broadwind Energy , Inc. announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Brad Foote Gear Works Inc. has signed a three year, evergreen supply agreement with GE Transportation to provide gear sets for use in wind turbine gearboxes, which GE Transportation builds in Erie, PA for the North American market. The gearing components will be produced in Brad Foote's new 270,000 square foot "lean factory" located in Cicero, Illinois. This recent expansion increases the Brad Foote's manufacturing space to nearly 600,000 square feet.
“Brad Foote is proud to have been a partner in GE Transportation’s development of this advanced design, highly reliable gear system”, said J. Cameron Drecoll, CEO of Broadwind. “GE Transportation has taught our people lean technologies as well as the value of Six Sigma. This has resulted in the transformation of a typical gear job shop into the third largest production center for wind gearing in the world.”
“Brad Foote has been with us from the start of our wind turbine drive program,” said Todd Wyman, Vice President, Supply Chain and GE Officer, “It has been enjoyable to watch them grow into a world class supplier to GE Transportation.” GE Transportation has been building megawatt class wind turbine gear drives since 2004.
In 2002, GE Transportation created its Drivetrain Technologies group in order to design, develop and produce megawatt class wind turbine gearboxes. It has since grown into a leading supplier to the North American market, experience that it is now leveraging as it expands into new markets with new customers. The long-term agreement with Brad Foote Gear Works is a key component of GE Transportation’s capacity build out.
No further details of contract were disclosed.