Nordex opens for business in Arkansas with grand opening of wind turbine plant

Nordex USA celebrated the official opening of its flagship wind turbine manufacturing plant in the U.S. October 29. Representing a $40 million investment, the 150,000 square foot plant is one of the most modern production facilities in the wind industry, optimized for lean flow and reduced lead times for customers, the company reports.

"There's no way around it," said Thomas Richterich, CEO of parent company Nordex SE. "To play in the US wind market, you need a Made-in-the-USA strategy. Our turbines are some of the most powerful and reliable on the global market, and now we can get them to U.S. wind farms quickly and cost-effectively."

Governor Mike Beebe and Arkansas senior senator Blanche Lincoln joined with state and community leaders for the event, following a tour of the plant. The total planned investment for the site is $100 million, with further manufacturing capacity to be added in a second phase in line with market conditions.

The Nordex plant will build nacelles for 2.5 megawatt turbines that belong to Nordex's new third generation efficiency class — the Gamma generation. Production began earlier this month, and the first assembled nacelle was on display. Nacelles house the engine and other key turbine components and sit high atop the turbine tower. The assembly time for a nacelle is about two weeks, and the Nordex plant has the capacity to produce 300 per year. One Nordex turbine can power about 700 American homes.

Since breaking ground on the plant last September, the company has hired 54 employees, about 80 percent locals, including the first production crew. Job functions range from production assembly, process engineering, supply chain management, facilities management, training, quality assurance, safety, administration and management.

The company plans to grow its ranks to nearly 70 in Jonesboro and 175 nationally by the end of 2010. It has the potential to create a total of 700 jobs in Jonesboro and 1,000 nationally over the next four years, not including indirect jobs created by suppliers and service providers.

Nordex has also built a 10,000 square foot training academy on site, and has a partnership in place with the Arkansas State University to teach "mechatronic" skills, which combine mechanical and electrical know-how and are specific to wind-turbine manufacturing. "We're making a long-term investment in our workforce," said Joe Brenner, VP of Production. "These are not just jobs, they are careers."

Nordex has both completed and planned installations in several states, including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maryland and Colorado. The Arkansas facility will fill all future orders, shipping turbines to wind farms around the country.