Vestas

Vestas Wind Systems,

Vestas Wind Systems is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines, currently the largest in the world with a 28% market share.The company operates manufacturing plants in Denmark, Germany, India, Italy, Britain, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Australia, China, and the United States, and employs more than 20,000 people globally.

After a sales slump in 2005, Vestas recovered and was voted Top Green Company of 2006. In December, 2008, Vestas announced a major expansion of its North American headquarters in Portland, Oregon. In late 2008 the company also announced a manufacturing expansion in Colorado.

History

Vestas was founded in 1945 by Peder Hansen as "Vestjysk Stålteknik A/S" (West-Jutlandish steel technology). The company initially manufactured household appliances, moving its focus to agricultural equipment in 1950, intercoolers in 1956, and hydraulic cranes in 1968. It entered the wind turbine industry in 1979.

In 2003, the company merged with the Danish wind turbine manufacturer NEG Micon to create the largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world, under the banner of Vestas Wind Systems. After an operational loss in 2005, Vestas recovered in 2006, and continues to have 28% market share.

In February 2009, the company announced the production of two new turbine types, the 3-megawatt V112 and 1.8-megawatt V100. The new models will be available in 2010.

Operations

Vestas has installed over 39,000 wind turbines in 63 countries on five continents.The company employs more than 20,000 people globally, and has built production facilities in more than 12 countries. It is currently expanding and opening up new production facilities in China, Spain and the United States. Vestas announced expansion of its North American headquarters in Portland, Oregon from 350 to at least 1200 employees on December 1, 2008. It employs a further 200 persons at a blade manufacturing facility in Windsor, Colorado, and plans to add 1400 jobs at a new blade and nacelle assembly facility that is under construction near Brighton, Colorado, and up to 125 engineers at a 47,675 square-foot product development site in Louisville, Colorado. Vestas also operates a tower facility in Pueblo, Colorado. Vestas said it decided to build its North American production facilities in Colorado because of the state’s central location, extensive transportation infrastructure and rail system, existing manufacturing base, and skilled workforce. Vestas wind turbine blades are made from high strength, light weight carbon fiber supplied by Zoltek Companies Inc. in St. Louis, MO.

Products

Some of the more recent wind turbine models made by Vestas are listed below. The rotor diameter (in meters) follows the V.

V47-660 kW

V52-850 kW

V60-850 kW (China)

V66-1.75MW

V80-1.8MW

V80-2.0MW

V82-1.65MW

V90-1.8MW

V90-2.0MW

V90-3.0MW

V100-1.8MW

V112-3.0MW

Business strategy

The Vestas protest on the Isle of Wight in 2009.

In July 2009, Vestas' operations on the U.K.'s Isle of Wight were announced to close due to lack of demand, affecting 525 jobs there and 100 jobs in Southampton. Approximately 25 workers at the wind turbine factory on the island occupied the administration offices in protest on 20 July 2009, demanding nationalisation to save their jobs.

In August 2009 Vestas hired more than 5,000 extra workers for its new factories in China, the United States, and Spain. The company said it was "expanding heavily in China and the US because these markets were growing the fastest, in contrast to the sluggish pace of wind farm development in the UK".

Sponsorship

In 2009 Vestas took over the shirt sponsorship of the Warrington Wolves from Omega. Warrington Wolves are a Rugby League Team currently competing in the European Super League and were Challenge Cup Holders Last Year [2009].

(source:wikipedia)