Germany

Germany

Production to end at Enercon blade supplier

GERMANY: Enercon supplier and blade manufacturer Rotorblattfertigung Magdeburg (ROMA) will cease operations at the end of 2017, with the loss of 140 jobs.

The Enercon blade supplier will close at the end of this year (pic: Marc-André Assbrock)
The Enercon blade supplier will close at the end of this year (pic: Marc-André Assbrock)

ROMA exclusively supplies blades to German turbine manufacturer Enercon for its 1MW models.

Talks with the works council representing the employees have begun, Enercon said.

Like Enercon's larger exclusive blade supplier AERO Ems, ROMA is owned by Dutch firm International Blade Handling.

"The supplier cites economic reasons for closing the company as the market for small turbines in Germany and around the world has shrunk sharply," Enercon added.

The order book had halved in recent months, with no orders beyond the end of 2017, it added.

The introduction of Germany's tendering mechanism has now brought demand for 1MW class turbines in the country to a standstill.

Domestic customers prefer 3-4MW turbines because these are "significantly more powerful and efficient, bringing advantages in the bidding process".

Enercon sells 1MW machines in small numbers overseas, but local content requirements limit Roma's export potential, Enercon said.

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