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TPI Composites opens US wind blade facility

19 September 2008

TPI Composites of Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, has opened a 316 000 ft2 facility in Newton, Iowa, which will manufacture composite wind turbine blades for the US wind energy market.

 TPI delivers blades to leading turbine manufacturers such as G.E. Energy and Mitsubishi. It also delivers products to the transportation and military vehicle markets.

The company uses the SCRIMP® (Seemann Composites Resin Infusion Moulding Process) vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding technology to produce the composite blades, but does not state what materials are used.
 
According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the US wind industry has already exceeded 20 GW installed capacity, and the US Department of Energy (DoE) has said that wind could provide 20% of US electricity by 2030.
 
The Iowa plant adds to TPI’s existing facilities in Warren, Rhode Island; Springfield, Ohio; Juarez, Mexico; and Taicang, China.

 

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