Engineer Timken expands into wind industry under $26m contract with Xinjiang Goldwind

30 July 2010

Global engineer Timken has expanded its foothold in the wind industry with a $26m contract to supply turbine products and services to equipment manufacturer China’s Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology that represents the start of an ongoing collaboration between the two companies.

In 2009, Goldwind received new wind power capacity orders for about 2,722MW, accounting for approximately 19.7 per cent of the wind generation added in China during the year.

Goldwind’s contract with NYSE-listed Timken will support more than 1,500MW of new wind power capacity, the company said.

Timken said the contract reflects its long-term commitment to develop wind energy technology and will contribute to its expansion in the wind industry; with Timken providing engineering support and the company’s advanced bearings for Goldwind’s current 1.5MW and 2.5MW platforms.

The company’s product offering also includes a full complement of seals, lubrication and online condition monitoring and support services for the life of the equipment.

Leong Fang, president of Timken China, said, ‘Combining Timken’s century of experience with Goldwind’s leading innovation in large-scale wind turbines, we are prepared to serve China’s needs for renewable energy, and to promote global development as well.’

Christopher Coughlin, president of Timken Process Industries, noted the companies have agreed to collaborate further on development programmes, including using Timken’s advanced engineering design to reduce cycle times for new platforms.

‘We’ve established wind power manufacturing and service capabilities on three continents, which is important as Goldwind looks to grow globally,’ he said.

Wu Gang, chairman and CEO of Goldwind said that Timken earned the opportunity on its performance during the company’s test period last year.

‘We look forward to working with Timken to expand the rapid development of the wind energy industry in China and abroad,’ he said.

Timken supplies a range of wind-power solutions for the global market including engineering design, development and testing support. In addition it supplies high quality alloy steels, gearbox components and systems as well as monitoring and technical services.

The company recently began producing ultra-large bore bearings for wind turbines in Xiangtan, Hunan Province, and retooled and expanded its US facilities in Asheboro and Tyger River.

These facilities add to Timken’s existing wind-bearing production in Wuxi, China as well as Chennai, India and Ploiesti, Romania.

The company also provides Timken steel from its facilities in Canton, Ohio, for its own production and for various wind-energy components for other customers. It posted sales of $3.1bn in 2009.

Copyright © 2010 NewNet

Tags: wind

This story was published on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 12:11 pm and is filed under Asia, deals, wind. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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