Denmark's LM Wind Power studying various sites to build new blade manufacturing facility in Brazil; factory will be LM's fourth in the Americas, employ as many as 300 people when it opens in early 2012

Rachel Carter

KOLDING, Denmark , October 5, 2010 (press release) – LM Wind Power, the world’s leading independent manufacturer of blades for wind turbines, today announced plans to expand its manufacturing base in the Americas through the construction of a new blade manufacturing facility in Brazil. The facility will deliver blades to wind turbines in Brazil and throughout South America.

LM Wind Power is currently in negotiations with a number of wind turbine manufacturers who have expressed a need for blades between 37 and 70 meters length for installation on turbines in this growing market for wind energy.

The final location for LM Wind Power’s first factory in Brazil and fourth facility in the Americas region has not yet been determined and various locations are currently being studied. Randy Fox, Business Area VP of Americas for LM Wind Power commented: “A number of important customers have asked LM Wind Power, as the global market leader, to support their efforts in developing the market for wind energy in Brazil and the other countries in Latin America. We are pleased to make this announcement which confirms our commitment to our customers, so that they can use our technology and innovation to harness wind energy profitably and with maximum operational reliability.”

The new facility in Brazil will be based on LM Wind Power's proven modular factory concept recently used for construction of its facilities in the USA, Poland, Spain and China and will employ up to 300 people. It is expected that blade production will commence in early 2012 assuming successful completion of discussions with local authorities and customers that are currently underway.

LM Wind Power established its first factory in the Americas region in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1998. This investment was followed by two other factories in Gaspé, Québec, Canada and Little Rock, Arkansas.

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