TPI Composites has signed a long term supply agreement with GE Energy to manufacture wind turbine blades in a new production facility to be established in Taicang.
"TPI is very pleased to have reached an agreement with GE Energy to manufacture wind blades in China for their use," says Steven C. Lockard, president and chief executive officer of TPI. "We are eager to provide our partners such as GE with growth capacity and a source of competitive advantage that can come from focused blade factories."
The facility will occupy 190,000 square feet with the ability to expand. Production will begin early in 2008 and TPI expects to employ approximately 450 people at this facility at full production rates. The agreement also provides GE with a license to TPI's patented SCRIMP process technology. The SCRIMP process is a highly advanced form of vacuum infusion.
GE Energy is a world leader in wind energy with over 9,100 worldwide wind turbine installations comprising more than 8,600 MW of capacity.