Mabey Bridge's new wind turbine towers facility creates hundreds of green energy jobs

(29/01/2010)

Mabey Bridge has announced a £38 million investment in a new facility which will see the engineering firm become the biggest UK manufacturer of wind turbine towers, both for onshore and offshore applications.

As a result of the investment, 240 new skilled jobs in South Wales will be created in addition to the 400 already employed by Mabey Bridge at its bases in nearby Chepstow and Lydney.

Mabey Bridge recently purchased South Wales' largest speculative industrial unit along with 18 acres of land, at Newhouse Farm Distribution Park in Chepstow, for £13m. The firm has now lodged a planning application with Monmouthshire Council to double the size of the existing warehouse to allow the new fabrication facility for the towers to go ahead.

Peter Lloyd, managing director of Mabey Bridge, said: “This is a significant announcement which will provide a boost for both the national and local economy, creating hundreds of jobs in South Wales and supporting hundreds more in the renewable energy sector across the UK. The investment goes against the grain of the decline in the manufacturing sector in the UK and will put South Wales at the heart of the move towards a low carbon economy. We are forecasting that production at the facility will provide around half the UK’s requirement for wind turbine towers, greatly reducing the need for developers to import.”

This 32,140 square metres facility, which has been fully forward-funded by parent company Mabey Holdings, will when completed, be capable of fabricating turbine tower sections up to 5m in diameter and 40m in length.

Mabey Bridge already has a number of relationships in place with major wind turbine manufacturers meaning the factory will be running at full capacity in a relatively short period of time.

The turbine tower manufacturing facility will be in addition to Mabey Bridge’s other local facilities at Chepstow and Lydney in Gloucestershire.

Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain MP said: "This is great news for Chepstow and the surrounding area and will have a significant impact on the South Wales economy. Mabey Bridge's expansion plans show that although some businesses are struggling there are signs of growth in the Welsh manufacturing industry. With the green, low carbon economy growing all the time it is vital that we attract and keep companies such as Mabey Bridge in Wales.”

Cheryl Gillan MP, Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, said: "The Conservatives have been extremely supportive of industries that look into harvesting green energy. Wind farms are an important part of that and I am very pleased by this major project in South Wales.

“The creation of 240 new jobs is extremely welcome. Wales has suffered deeply from the recession and with almost a quarter of the working population economically inactive, I am delighted by this investment.”

British Wind Energy Association chief executive Maria McCaffery MBE said: “This is tremendous news for South Wales but also for the UK as a whole. We are beginning to see the return of turbine manufacturing in the UK, making the low carbon economy a reality and bringing much needed jobs to local communities.”

The factory will use the latest manufacturing techniques including computer controlled cutting and rolling, robotic welding, steel blasting up to the highest quality and an automated painting facility. The new site will be ideally located for easy transportation across the UK. The factory has direct access to the M48, M4 and is five miles from the M5 along with good access to nearby ports at Newport Dock, Avonmouth, Bristol Dock and Cardiff Dock.

Leading the industry in Wales in developing a relationship with Mabey Bridge is Nuon Renewables. Piers Guy, head of development at major UK developer Nuon Renewables, said: "We are delighted to be leading the industry in our discussions with Mabey Bridge towards securing significant additional value and jobs to the UK economy for our portfolio of wind farm projects. Mabey Bridge's investment is a decisive move forward for the UK wind industry.

Related categories:  Wind power