Senvion acquires RodPack blade tech

GERMANY: Turbine manufacturer Senvion has acquired RodPack technology from US materials firm Chase Corporation.

The RodPack composite material has been used in blades for Senvion's 6.2MW turbine

RodPack uses aligned fibre reinforcement as a substitute for glass fabrics as the main girder in blades.

Senvion said the technology would be able to speed up blade production and improve quality allowing for greater energy yield and lifetime.

RodPack uses "cured pultruded rods" on a non-woven fabric, said Senvion.

The composite material has already been used in the blades for the Senvion 6.2M152 offshore turbine.

It is also likely to be used in the 3.4M140 onshore turbine Senvion launched at Husum in September.

The new 3.4MW machine uses 68-metre blades, among the longest onshore blades available.