Tower Tech to add plants

South Dakota, Texas on agenda

Herald Times Reporter

NAPERVILLE, Ill. —Broadwind Energy Inc. announced Wednesday that its wholly owned subsidiary, Tower Tech Systems, will expand its wind tower manufacturing operations to Sioux Falls, S.D., and Abilene, Texas.

Tower Tech Systems operates a manufacturing facility in Manitowoc, 500 S. 16th St., which has been producing wind towers since 2004.

Broadwind Chief Executive Officer J. Cameron Drecoll said transportation and logistics for tower sections have become increasingly complex and costly to the wind energy marketplace.

Broadwind and Tower Tech will provide tower production capabilities close to major wind energy development areas and supply logistical services to project sites.

Drecoll said Broadwind would be able to reduce risks associated with long-distance transport.

"Our customers will be able to depend on Broadwind to provide a more complete and cost-effective supply-chain solution," Drecoll said.

"Our existing Manitowoc facility continues to perform well, and will increase tower production capacity, and it will be supplemented by these new facilities in the heart of wind energy markets," Drecoll said.

"This expansion to new regions, combined with our recent acquisition of a transportation and logistics provider to the wind industry, will result in the introduction of significant savings into the marketplace and ensure that we continue to deliver the highest level of quality," Drecoll stated.

Lars Moller, Broadwind's chief operating officer, said, "The factories are specially designed, single-piece-flow production units that capitalize on lean technologies."

He said the facilities will be the first of their kind in North America specifically built for tower manufacturing, allowing for optimum production efficiencies for Broadwind customers.

Each facility is expected to initially employ more than 150 workers, with significant expansion options available.

Both sites also have direct rail access, ample tower storage and modern tower production equipment. Both plants will begin production by early 2009.

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