Skykon acquires Vestas wind tower manufacturing plant

(31/03/2009)

Danish company Skykon has announced that it has acquired the Vestas plant near Campbeltown. The agreement will save the seven-year-old wind tower manufacturing plant from closure, bringing long term job security to the 100-strong workforce.

Skykon now has ambitious plans to create a world-leading wind tower manufacturing facility which will supply innovative onshore and offshore solutions to the world's top tier turbine producers. The development strategy includes the expansion of the facility through a new purpose-built factory, with staff numbers expected to rise to over 300 as the company increases its market share over the next two years.

Skykon CEO Jesper Øhlenschlæger said the company has invested in the plant to exploit the growing demand for wind power throughout UK and Ireland as well as the USA and Europe.

Adding that the deal also included an agreement to supply towers to Vestas.

"Scotland is rapidly becoming the most positive and the most interesting renewable wind power market in Europe," he said. "The Scottish Government and local energy producers are now clearly focused on wind power and it is expected that up to three thousand megawatts of wind energy will be installed in the Scotland over the next four years.

"Skykon is firmly established in the wind power industry and has extensive experience in acquiring small and medium sized suppliers, developing them into major suppliers to turbine manufacturers across the world. The market growth is currently in Scotland and the UK, and Campbeltown offers a unique platform to build the leading UK tower supplier delivering to the large wind turbine generators."

Skykon is the parent company of group of companies in the rapidly growing wind power market. The business focuses on the acquisition of medium sized suppliers to the wind turbine industry and developing them to a position where they are a preferred supplier to the top five manufacturers in the world.

Mr Øhlenschlæger says the company is perfectly positioned to exploit the major growth opportunities within the wind power sector.

He said: "Wind power has become the leader in the field of modern forms of energy and politicians around the world are now realising that wind power is a major part of the solution to both climate change issues and sustainable future energy supplies. With broader political backing and a clear strategy among energy companies to incorporate wind power in their portfolios, the wind power sector is looking at robust annual growth rates throughout the next decade.

"It's is therefore crucial that the sector keeps pace with the increasing demand and rising requirements for operational reliability and return. Skykon is ready to meet these significant challenges head-on and we will continue to identify good companies and develop them into excellent companies capable of plugging some of the critical gaps in wind turbine manufacturers supply chains."

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