Aggreko and ComRent International have signed an agreement to provide a specialized temporary power and load bank solution to the wind turbine industry.

The agreement covers the continental United States and Canada, and enables Aggreko and ComRent to combine efforts to offer complex wind turbine commissioning services that save significant time and money for owners and operators.

“Aggreko and ComRent are well-established in providing commissioning services to the wind energy sector,” said Neil Hamilton, National Manager, Corporate Accounts, Aggreko North America. “Working together, we will be able to capitalize on these market strengths and deliver an unrivaled solution to more users. This relationship represents another step forward in Aggreko’s global strategy to provide customers worldwide with leading-edge power products and technologies that allow them to succeed.”

Utilities that manage the grid where wind farms seek connections often require certification prior to grid operation — an often time consuming and expensive process. To address this issue, Aggreko and ComRent’s innovative solution will establish realistic conditions where the turbines are fully tested to their limits in a controlled environment prior to initial grid interconnection.  This unique offering reduces the time needed to commission wind farms by testing all associated transformers and switchgear as well as the substation. With the new process, the commissioning is reduced from months to just weeks for a fully compliant wind farm — with revenue opportunities realized immediately.

“This is an exclusive, combined offering which uniquely positions ComRent and Aggreko to deliver a strong, end-to-end solution to developers in the wind energy industry,” said Paul Clewell, Vice President, Global Development, ComRent. “Together the two organizations can offer the North American wind energy industry unparalleled technology and seasoned technical teams, comprehensively addressing clients’ needs.” For more information, visit www.aggreko.com or www.comrent.com.

Cable and wire manufacturer HELUKABEL has announced that its North American Headquarters is moving to a new location in the Chicago suburb of Elgin, Illinois. The new headquarters will house U.S. and Canadian corporate, sales and warehousing/distribution operations. HELUKABEL USA has been in their new facility since the end of October.

“Elgin’s location to one of North America’s busiest transportation hubs has been a great asset to us since we started our operations in 2007. Other than finding a larger building in order for us to keep up with increased customer demand, from a product and customer service standpoint, we felt that staying in Elgin was an ideal fit,” said Marc Luksch, president of HELUKABEL USA.

The 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse will now carry 3,600 line items in stock. The warehouse will also be equipped with a high-speed spooler for standard size cables and a heavy-duty spooler for kcmil (MCM) size cables to increase the speed with which orders can be processed, packaged and shipped out to customers. Both the larger warehouse and office space will accommodate the current staff and allow for future expansion as the company continues to grow its presence in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.helukabel.com.

In the construction of wind turbine foundations, accurate bolt templates are critical in the precise placement of bolts in the bolt cage.  Improper placement can result in delays while setting the tower base as well as resulting in bent or damaged bolts.  Bolt templates can also serve to form a grout trough, which is patented by Alan Henderson of Patrick and Henderson Engineering.
 
The traditional one-piece templates are heavy, expensive and difficult to transport.  Clearly, safety issues are also a concern.   To address these concerns, Norm Tooman Construction has developed and patented a segmented template that is lighter, easier to transport and safer to handle.

The “full-floating template” divides the traditional template into easy to manage segments.  Each segment is light enough, at approximately 40 pounds, for employees to safely handle by hand and the full set is easily moved from one foundation to another in the back of a pickup truck.  Yet, the full-floating template is strong enough to suspend bolts for leveling at the mud mate.  The full-floating template is designed to be absolutely parallel with the embed plate, making leveling quick and easy.  Using Norm Tooman Construction’s patent pending bolt spacers, Wiggle Bars™, in conjunction with the full-floating templates allows bolts to be tied horizontally at ground level, lifted and installed in the bolt cage in batches of up to 20 bolts at a time. 

Traditional bolt cage construction has changed very little over the years.  As the wind industry continues to mature, it should be our primary objective to seek out safer, less expensive and more efficient construction methods.  Norm Tooman Construction’s full-floating template is a straightforward, easy step toward enhanced safety, savings and efficiency.  For more information, visit www.normtoomanconst.com or call 760-408-9878.

Nord-Lock adds a new dimension of safety to bolt security with the launch of the Nord-Lock X-series washer. X-series combines Nord-Lock’s unmatched wedge-locking protection against spontaneous bolt loosening (due to vibration and dynamic loads) with an exclusive spring effect that protects against slackening due to settlement and relaxation. This unique combination makes X-series the first, true multifunctional solution — offering the highest security for critical joints, without compromise.

The new multifunctional wedge-locking product from Nord-Lock offers bolt security without compromise.

With new technologies and demands, joints increasingly have to withstand stresses from multiple fronts, including vibration, dynamic loads, settlement and relaxation. Yet, no solutions on the market have previously been designed to secure bolts from all of these at once. This has left designers with the difficulty of figuring out which issue — spontaneous bolt loosening or slackening — will have the biggest effect on the joint, and choosing a solution to handle that single problem. Now, there is no need to compromise. Nord-Lock X-series ensures total bolt security while simplifying design and maintenance since there is no need to use and stock multiple solutions.

The principle of Nord-Lock X-series washers includes multiple functions that act on the bolted joint to maintain preload and prevent spontaneous bolt loosening.

How it Works:
As with Nord-Lock’s original washers, each washer pair has cams on one side and radial teeth on the opposite side to secure the bolted joint with tension instead of friction. The Nord-Lock X-series washers’ conical shape also creates an elastic reserve in the bolted joint to compensate for the loss of preload and prevent slackening. For more information, visit www.nord-lock.com.

The new ND 120 Quadra-Chek metrology digital readout (DRO) from Heidenhain is designed specifically for manual measuring machines such as optical comparators and measuring microscopes.  As an offshoot of Heidenhain’s ND 1200 Quadra-Chek, the ND 120 offers most of the functionality but at a lower price point.  It supports two- to three-axes with the third axis switchable between linear or rotary.

The new ND 120 Quadra-Chek has a monochrome flat-panel screen for displayed values, measured features, and graphical displays.  It combines the robust design and hardware of Heidenhain’s machine tool DROs with the software and functionality of the Quadra-Chek metrology units.  The rugged diecast aluminum enclosure makes the ND 120 perfect for harsh factory floor environments where production control takes place.  Meanwhile, the capability to measure and tolerance points, lines, circles, distances, and angles makes the ND120 well suited for the demands of metrology.

The appropriate combination of defined function keys and context-dependent soft keys provides the user with a clear overview and a simple-to-use system.  The user friendly GUI follows previous Quadra-Chek software, providing users with a simple, convenient, cost effective digital readout.

Finally, to keep up with market demands, the ND 120 is capable of direct USB communication with a computer.  This feature allows for easy storage of data and convenient interfacing with any current computer the user may have.  In keeping with Heidenhain tradition, the ND 120 offers reliability and ease of use now in a more economical package. For more information, visit www.heidenhain.com.

Northern Power Systems, a next-generation wind turbine company, announces that its NPS 100 permanent magnet direct drive (PM/DD) wind turbine fleet has achieved more than two million hours of operation. The Company’s 100 kW fleet has been operating at more than 98 percent availability since 2008, which means that turbine owners benefit from high-energy production and little downtime. Over 175 NPS 100 wind turbines are installed and operating in 25 states in the United States, Bahamas, Canada, Italy, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Just over one year ago, Hurricane Irene, a Class III hurricane, passed directly over two NPS 100 turbines in the Bahamas. As a testament to the robust design and safe operation of Northern Power turbines, the turbines detected high winds of up to 107.1 mph (47.9 m/s) and automatically entered safe mode. The following morning, the NPS 100 turbines returned to normal operation without any intervention. NPS turbines are designed to stand up to winds up to 133 mph (59.5 m/s).

As market leader, Northern Power Systems is continuously expanding its global fleet of NPS 100s, which require minimal infrastructure, provide easy installation and maintenance, and eliminate the need for transmission lines for grid connectivity.

“Our NPS 100 customers get clean, cost effective renewable energy from turbines that fit perfectly in remote locations as well as industrial areas and communities. The turbine’s reliable, safe and simple operation gives owners peace of mind and delivers the highest energy output in its class for the best return on their investment,” said Reinout Oussoren, Vice President of Global Sales at Northern Power Systems.

“We are very proud to have achieved the two million hour milestone while maintaining high fleet availability,” said Troy Patton, President and CEO at Northern Power Systems. “Northern Power’s PM/DD technology delivers the performance and reliability that are fundamental to the long term success of distributed power generation around the world.”

For more information, please visit www.northernpower.com.

The National Wind Technician Organization is able to provide safety training services for all personnel involved in the process of building, maintaining, operating, and managing wind turbines and wind sites.

Scott Battles, National Wind Technician Organization’s Northwest and Midwest Operations Manager stated, “My father was an OSHA compliance officer. I did not realize that having him hammer safety into my head when I was young would be such a strong focus later in my life.”

Battles is a professional wind technician and wind industry educator who carries a “great interest in and passion for the safety of the wind industry professionals.” In his role as educator, Battles follows his father’s lead, preaching safety to his students every day.

Battles holds certifications from FCC licenses to G.E. 1.5 wind turbines to Microwave which have been a surprisingly good mix of knowledge bases.

A solid and unique background in communication electronics, railway, wind turbines and wind farm construction enables Battles to provide professionals and students with first-hand knowledge, along with practical experience when discussing various aspects of products, service, and safety topics.

At the opposite side of the country Matthew Soto serves as National Wind Technician Organization’s Southwest Operations Manager.

“We are certified to train individuals in the use of the Skylotec Milan rescue and evacuation devices. We can train you and your employees in harness inspection, basic rescue techniques and evacuation techniques all at your site or location. Membership to the National Wind Technician Organization will entitle members to a discount on equipment, for example, harnesses, rescue devices, etc.”

Soto has been in the wind industry for more than six years and comes to the National Wind Technician Organization with experience in operations and maintenance, commissioning, site construction, large corrective, recruitment, technical and safety training. Recently, Soto has been focusing on the safety aspect of training entry-level wind technicians in the use of fall protection and working at heights training and has spent a year-and-a-half as a technical instructor and safety trainer. Soto is certified in the following areas:

• Miller Fall Protection Competent Person

• Skylotec Competent Person (Milan A-024 and A-020)

• Siemens Level 2 Basic Harness Instructor

• Siemens Safety and Rescue Instructor, basic rescue and basic evacuation 

• ICM Personal Fall Protection Equipment Product Knowledge

Additional members of the National Wind Technician Organization team are:

• Nancy C. Caralla, East Coast & International Operations Manager

• Mike Kyes, ITT Administrator

• Paul Bosworth, UK Division Administrator

• Tony DelMonaco, Organization Photographer

National Wind Technician Organization is preparing to open individual memberships for professional wind technicians, wind industry educators, wind industry safety professionals and construction professionals worldwide.

Memberships are expected to be available in September, featuring the National Wind Technician Organization “Turbine Card,” filled with tailored discounts from well-known vendors, franchises, and companies only for National Wind Technician Organization members and handpicked by the organization.

A few membership partners offering their tailored discounts are: La Quinta Inns & Suites, 1800flowers.com and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

The “Turbine Card” will be offered at the low one-year membership fee of  $50.00 USD. Students receive a 25 percent discount off the yearly membership fee: $37.50 USD. Student ID is required.

For more information, visit www.nationalwindtech.org or email: nationalwindtech@yahoo.com.

Catch the Wind Ltd., providers of predictive Optical Control Systems (OCS) for optimized wind energy generation, announces the complete rebrand of the company, now operating through its wholly-owned subsidiary (formerly Catch the Wind, Inc.) as BlueScout Technologies, Inc.

“Our name, BlueScout, is about the future,” said Jo S. Major, Ph.D, President and CEO of BlueScout Technologies, Inc. “Our passion is to use our technologies and skills to help our customers in the wind industry understand and manage their wind resource more effectively. We will use this rebranding to show our customers, investors and partners our commitment to helping turbines reliably produce cleaner, renewable energy. To us, the blue of the skies holds intelligence to be discovered and applied, and our passion for exploration is embodied within the concept of scouting what is ahead.” 

BlueScout reveals a new image, complete with a fresh logo, mission, vision, values, and domain name. The company’s optically based wind forecasting technology for control systems, the BlueScout OCS-210, is a next generation turbine control system for utility-scale wind turbines. From its position on top of the nacelle, it measures wind speed and direction in the approaching free-stream inflow and employs predictive control architectures to increase energy production and reduce harmful effects of wind turbulence on wind turbines. The optical wind sensor, BlueScout OWS-150, is a lightweight, portable, all-weather wind assessment tool that precisely measures wind speed and direction of vertical profiles above the ground or off shore water surface – reaching the full blade height of most utility scale wind turbines.

Major continued, “BlueScout aspires to develop a unique capability using an understanding of wind characteristics, gained through more than three years of controlling operational wind turbines, to fundamentally change the control philosophy of the wind industry. To realize these goals, we will consistently innovate in collaboration with our customers, always looking to push the envelope of thought leadership, and relentlessly work to use measurement data to dramatically improve reliable performance.”

In the coming days the company will provide an operational update – details to be announced separately. The company will continue to be traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the stock symbol “CTW” until such time as its trading symbol is changed to reflect this rebranding, which the company expects will occur later this month. In addition, at the company’s upcoming shareholders meeting the company will seek the approval of shareholders to change the name of the parent company’s name from “Catch the Wind Ltd.” to “BlueScout Technologies Ltd.” All prior trademarks of the company will no longer be used following this rebranding.

For more information, contact BlueScout Technologies at (703) 956-6554 ext 103 or email jgreen@BlueScout.com. 

One of France’s leading technical centers, CETIM, has recently acquired multiple LMS SCADAS Mobile Testing systems for NVH. With the new systems, CETIM engineers can efficiently perform numerous diverse measurement and analysis tasks ranging from in-vehicle measurements and vibration diagnosis to failure, vibro-acoustic and modal analysis.

“Our customer base covers all types of industries from defense and rail to marine and off-highway. We are definitely seeing a trend on forever more complex products and greater testing efficiency that require us to test with more data acquisition channels and perform more parallel measurements,” said Patrick Vincent, sales manager noise and vibration engineering department at CETIM. “Many of our customers are LMS users as well. Using exactly the same testing systems simplifies communication immensely.”

“With our robust LMS solution, we work with one centralized database. The team no longer wastes time looking for data or converting and transferring files. With a single testing platform, we also save time on training. Our team is ready to test in no time,” said Thomas Vervaeke, responsible for the LMS platform on the Noise and Vibration Engineering Department at CETIM.

A key asset for CETIM is flexibility. On average, a test set-up requires 40 channels, but certain customers require more channels than others. To solve this, CETIM simply chains separate LMS systems together to reach the additional channel capacity and handle simultaneous test runs.

“Since we have very limited time to test our customers’ prototypes, we need to work as fast and efficiently as possible. We recently linked 3 LMS SCADAS Mobile systems into a 120-channel configuration. This way we could do on-site parallel data acquisition and collect as much data as possible for later processing at the CETIM facilities,” Vincent said. In addition, the team noted various other positives in regards to the LMS SCADAS, including robust design that can handle extreme temperatures and environments as well as the GPS tool to locate critical test points, especially during long distance rail and road tests.

“At CETIM, approximately 30% of our tests are done in tough environmental conditions or without good accessibility. This is why the Bluetooth feature for remote operation is essential as well. Clearly, the LMS SCADAS is a rugged solution that meets our extremely diverse needs,” Vervaeke said.

For more information, visit www.cetim.fr or www.lmsintl.com.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has launched an easy-to-use glossary where engineers can find definitions for commonly used engineering and sealing terms at the click of a mouse or touch of a button. Free of charge, it is available online or via an app for both iPhone and Android, downloadable by searching for “Trelleborg” from the Apple app store or Google play.

The glossary is easily searchable by entering key words, with results displayed where the searched item is in the title or in the definition of the searched word. There is also the option of using an alphabetical listing. Robert Zahiri, Director Global Marketing and Communications, says: “The glossary is not just about sealing; it has been designed as a general engineering tool, perfect for anyone who wants a quick and simple definition of engineering terms. We’re always striving to develop new online and on-phone resources to make the engineer’s life easier. And this one should be a great addition to our existing offerings.”

The glossary joins a range of industry-leading e-tools for the Web and smartphones. These include:

• O-Ring Calculator: Calculates O-Ring dimension tolerances and recommends parts – iPhone, Web

• ISO Fits and Tolerance: Provides ISO fits definitions – iPhone, Android 

• Aerospace Groove Selector: Covers the most important SAE aerospace groove standards – iPhone

• Unit Hardness and Converter: Quick and easy conversions of both engineering-related and general units – iPhone, Android

• Seal Configurator: Provides the most suitable solutions for your application – Web 

• Electronic Catalog: Search for seals by item number, types of seal or by operating condition – Web 

• CAD Service: Easy access to 2D and 3D drawings – Web 

• Material Search: Quickly find suitable materials for your application – Web

• Chemical Compatibility Check: Find materials compatible with media utilized within an application – iPhone, Web

• Catalogs and brochures: Access to the full range of literature from Trelleborg Sealing Solutions – Web.

REpower Systems SE has signed projects with an overall capacity of more than 1 GW in the United Kingdom following today’s announcement of an additional five onshore contracts. In 2012, the company signed about 200 MW in the United Kingdom. With a market share of 12 per cent in 2011 REpower is the United Kingdom’s third largest wind turbine supplier.

The contracts announced today add a further 66 MW to REpower UK’s fast growing portfolio. They include the supply of 10 MM92 turbines – each with a rated output of 2.05 MW – for RidgeWind’s wind farm at Wandylaw in Northumbria, North West England; and eight MM92 turbines for the Yelvertoft wind farm in Northamptonshire, Central England, developed by AES Wind Generation.

REpower has also signed three new Scottish contracts. The company will supply five MM82 turbines – rated output 2.05 MW each – for FIM Services and Whirlwind Renewables’ Wathegar wind farm in Caithness, as well as six MM92 turbines for the Blantyre Muir wind farm in South Lanarkshire and four MM92 turbines for Barlockhart Moor wind farm near Glenluce in Dumfries & Galloway, both International Power (GDF SUEZ Group) developments.

“Reaching 1 GW of signed contracts is a huge achievement for us,” said Andreas Nauen, CEO of REpower Systems SE. REpower UK is enjoying a period of steady growth having signed contracts totaling 190 MW since the end of last year. I believe this demonstrates the growing reputation of REpower turbines in the British market, and is a solid indication that the wind sector remains in good health.”

Since its launch in 2004, REpower UK has delivered 39 onshore wind farms in Scotland, England and Wales and two offshore wind farms: Project Beatrice in the North Sea and its largest offshore contract to date, Ormonde wind farm in the Irish Sea. Owned by Vattenfall, this offshore wind farm consists of 30 REpower 5M wind turbines with a total rated output of 150 MW. 

For more information, visit www.repower-uk.co.uk.

Western Pacific Crane & Equipment (WPCE) is pleased to announce a new facility in Kapolei, Hawai’i in order to better meet the equipment and maintenance needs of customers in the Pacific Rim region. WPCE is an authorized distributor for Manitowoc, Grove and National Boom Truck that is expanding rapidly throughout the Pacific Rim, the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada.

“We bring decades of knowledge and experience in heavy equipment gained from our sister company, Walter Payton Power Equipment, one of the leading Manitowoc Crane distributors in the US,” said Robert Johnson, president of WPCE. “Walter Payton Power Equipment has set the standard for sales and service in the industry, and we are applying the same basic principles at Western Pacific. Foremost is our commitment to building strong relationships with our customers and always striving to exceed their expectations.”

The new WPCE facility will offer regional sales, maintenance, and parts distribution for our customers in Hawaii, Guam and the Marshall Islands. The grounds will feature a full-service shop and almost an acre of yard space in the Campbell Industrial Park. In addition to Manitowoc, Grove and National Crane equipment sales, Western Pacific will provide these customers with a modern parts center and state-of-the-art service bay staffed with factory-trained technicians.

Dennis Piatek has been named the Branch Manager of the new WPCE Hawaii facility. “I am pleased to have joined Western Pacific Crane and Equipment a year ago and to have the opportunity to continue representing the premier leader in lift equipment – Manitowoc Crane Group,” he said. “As part of the Lanco Group of Companies, WPCE has demonstrated their commitment to the Hawaiian ‘Ohana’ with their dedication to their customers in the Pacific Rim region”, says Piatek. “I look forward to continuing working hard for our Hawaiian, Guam and Marshall Islands customers to fulfill their lifting and service needs.”

For more information, call (808) 682-7263 or visit www.wpcrane.com.

The new Werner Fall Protection product portfolio reaffirms Werner’s commitment to safety and position as a professional products manufacturer. Werner is extending their promise to end-users by providing safe access at any height with the introduction of this new category. 

Werner has complemented their extensive line of climbing equipment with a wide range of Fall Protection products. The complete line includes a variety of anchors, connecting devices, harnesses, vertical lifelines, compliance kits and accessories.

Unique features of the Werner equipment include WebAlert Inspectable webbing with contrasting colored fibers embedded in the harness and lanyard structure to provide an instant visual indicator of wear, impact or damage. INSPECT™, a safety label/tag system, is also featured on all harnesses to ensure safety monitoring, maintenance and data recording.

The harness family includes the LITEFIT™ safety harness, the Blue Armor 1000 inspectable harness designed to meet the needs of pros, and the Blue Armor 2000 manufactured for serious professionals with the most demanding jobs. The harness line also offers a complete range of safety levels with the right harness, the right fit and the right value based on the user’s working conditions. Harnesses come in standard, climbing, positioning, retrieval and construction styles with alternate attachment hardware for specific applications.

Lanyards are available in DeCoil™ energy absorbing, DeCoil™ Stretch with energy absorbing elastic, and SoftCoil™ internal energy absorbing models with various configurations and lanyard hook options. AutoCoil™ self-retracting and vertical lifelines, along with a variety of anchor connectors, accessories, and compliance kits round out the new Fall Protection line by Werner.

For more information, visit www.wernerfallprotection.com.

Torkworx, a leader in bolting solutions, introduces an electronic digital torque control solution for the wind energy industry. The E-RAD system provides a safer, more repeatable and user-friendly tooling solution that increases accuracy and includes torque data recording capabilities, where not previously available in older hydraulic methods.

The E-RAD system uses electricity directly from the WTG along with digital torque control firmware to insure high accuracy and repeatability. This eliminates the possibility of hydraulic failure that may result in injury or environmental contamination in the WTG.

With user-friendly controls that are completely programmable by the operator. In addition, the E-RAD electronic torque system operates at 75 db reducing the noise level considerably from older hydraulic torque systems. With exceptionally low vibration levels and a lightweight pistol grip style design, the E-RAD is ergonomic.

The E-RAD’s capability of real time torque data collection enhances the traceability of critical bolts that require regular maintenance torque checks. It also includes torque and angle bolt torque operation as a standard in a single actuation eliminating possible user error and incorrect torque being applied.

The unsurpassed power-to-weight ratio and the convenience of a lightweight ultra-durable portable carrying case eliminate the need to move heavy hydraulic pumps and reduce operator fatigue.

The E-RAD is available in several models with torque ranging from 200 to 6000 foot-pounds and accurate to +/- 3%. The E-RAD electronic series pistol-grip torque wrenches are lighter, faster, quieter, and more reliable than older hydraulic means of bolting, which insures that each bolt is tightened to exacting standards. 

For more information, visit www.torkworx.com.

Klüber Lubrication’s analysis service is now available for lubricants in generators, blades and main bearings of wind turbines. It examines several aspects of a grease‘s current condition, including overall status, oxidation, wear particles and behavior of additives, mixing with foreign matter and oxidation and the extent to which old and new lubricant are mixed after changeovers. A sampling kit with a detailed description is available from Klüber Lubrication. The company also will provide a report on the results of the analysis, along with future recommendations. 

In addition, Kluber introduces a new line of lubricants. The new versatile adhesive lubricant, Klübersynth AG 14-61 is designed for girth gear/pinion drives and plain bearings, or yaw bearings, in wind turbines. The wide service temperature range of the synthetic lubricant, which is also spreadable at low temperatures, ensures trouble-free operation. Klübersynth AG 14-61 can be applied by central lubrication systems down to -30 °C. The product ensures excellent wear protection and contributes to longer girth gear/pinion drive lifetime due to its combination of selected solid lubricants and additives. Furthermore, the new lubricant is very versatile. 

The synthetic gear oils of the Klübersynth GEM 4 N series offer high scuffing load capacity, micro-pitting resistance and wear protection, meeting the specific requirements of the wind industry. They are also resistant to ageing and oxidation and have good viscosity-temperature behavior. Additionally, the synthetic gear oils of the Klübersynth GEM 4 N series also have excellent anti-foam properties, as they contain raw materials with low tendency to foam combined with highly effective anti-foam additives. 

For more information, visit www.klueber.com. 

Wind Systems magazine has applied for business publication membership in BPA Worldwide. The magazine is published by Media Solutions, Inc. (Pelham, AL).

BPA Worldwide will track circulation for Wind Systems based on business/distribution, demographics and geographic coverage. The magazine will have 12 months to complete its initial circulation audit.

“The strong growth of Wind Systems magazine has made it a perfect time to apply for membership with BPA Worldwide,” said Publisher David Cooper. “Our firm commitment to our recipients and advertisers will be enhanced by our future membership in BPA.”

“We are pleased that Wind Systems magazine has applied for membership in BPA Worldwide,” said BPA president and CEO Glenn Hansen. “We applaud the publisher for providing advertisers and prospects with the solid assurance of an independent circulation audit conducted according to our world-respected, uncompromising standards. With a BPA audit, media buyers can be confident that circulation claims are accurate, and that they have the verified data that they need to assess a publication’s effectiveness in serving its market.”

BPA Worldwide is a not-for-profit organization since 1931 and headquartered in Shelton, CT, USA. BPA has the largest membership of any media-auditing organization in the world, spanning more than 30 countries. The organization conducts 2,600+ audits for media brands in print, online/digital and live events. Additionally, under the iCompli brand, BPA documents compliance to defined standards including data protection, provides assurance of sustainability reporting, and verifies technology, service and privacy claims. BPA is supported by 2,700 advertiser and agency members.

For more information, visit www.bpaww.com.

As the importance of wind power increases, so will the challenges to be met by wind power plants, also in terms of efficiency. Downtime, short maintenance intervals, complex supplier management, high storage costs for lubricants and gear oils are just some of the challenges influencing operators’ success. Klüber Lubrication will present high-quality speciality lubricants and tailor-made services for the wind energy industry under the motto “Wind beneath your wings” at the HUSUM WindEnergy 2012 in hall 3, stand 3E 08.

The new adhesive lubricant Klübersynth AG 14-61 has been especially designed for girth gear/pinion drives and plain bearings, e.g. yaw bearings, in wind turbines. The wide service temperature range of the synthetic lubricant, which is also spreadable at low temperatures, ensures trouble-free operation. Klübersynth AG 14-61 can be applied by central lubrication systems down to -30 °C. The product ensures excellent wear protection and contributes to longer girth gear/pinion drive lifetime due to its combination of selected solid lubricants and additives. Furthermore, the new lubricant is very versatile.

Besides this newly developed product, visitors can also find out about Klüber Lubrication’s speciality. The synthetic gear oils of the Klübersynth GEM 4 N series offer high scuffing load capacity, micro-pitting resistance and wear protection, meeting the specific requirements of the wind industry. They are also resistant to aging and oxidation and have a good viscosity-temperature behavior. Additionally, the synthetic gear oils of the Klübersynth GEM 4 N series also have excellent anti-foam properties, as they contain raw materials with low tendency to foam combined with highly-effective anti-foam additives.

Klüber Lubrication will also present a wide range of services in the field of speciality lubrication. The Grease Condition Analysis (GCA) service has been added to the portfolio this year. Availability is a key factor for operators of wind turbines. Lubricant analysis can provide information that helps to optimize availability. Bearing grease condition analyses by means of standardized methods on a regular basis provide information on the current condition of the grease. Based on analysis results, the failure risk of expensive components or systems can be reduced and useful life be increased. Grease condition analysis is available for selected lubricating greases from Klüber Lubrication.

For more information, visit www.kluber.com.

Ecotech Institute, the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in clean technology and sustainability, held its first graduation on Thursday, June 21, 2012. Forty-two students received their associate’s degree, which prepares them for a career in the clean technology industry. The graduates received degrees in Wind Energy Technology, Solar Energy Technology, Renewable Energy Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology. Former Governor Bill Ritter, who currently serves as the Director of the Colorado State University Center for the New Energy Economy, delivered the commencement speech at the graduation.

“As Governor, I was proud when Ecotech Institute chose Colorado as the place to locate the country’s first private technical institute devoted solely to preparing the workforce for the clean energy economy,” said Ritter, “It is a privilege to play a role in Ecotech’s first commencement, and to see the efforts of the staff and faculty come to fruition.”

Students in this first graduating class began classes in a temporary facility in June 2010 as Ecotech completed an overhaul of an existing vacant building. In January 2011, they moved to the current LEED gold-certified campus in Aurora, Colorado. Today, Ecotech has more than 500 students and continues to grow.

“This initial group of students are visionaries, as they signed up for classes before they were able to see the beautiful campus and cutting-edge labs,” said Mike Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “Now, a variety of clean tech companies are offering them excellent positions and their forward-thinking commitment is paying off. We applaud each of them and look forward to watching their success.”

At Ecotech all students develop soft skills (communication, workplace etiquette), and math and science basics and technology skills, but the educational emphasis is on hands-on, practical training.  Ecotech’s prestigious national board of advisors, who all work in clean tech industries, helped design the school’s curriculum, providing coursework that reflects what the students will experience upon graduation. For a demographic breakdown of this first graduating class, please visit http://www.ecotechinstitute.com/pdf/ecotech-graduate-information.pdf.  

“Ecotech is producing well-prepared graduates that are highly sought in industries such as ours,” said Jesse Masters, Recruiter from M-I SWACO, a Schlumberger Company. “Its curriculum and practical labs offer complete training that makes new employees ready to hit the ground running. We were very impressed with the interviews we conducted with students from this graduating class and are excited to have several of these graduates join our team.”

Ecotech’s campus is LEED-gold certified and supports a commitment to sustainable living. The school generates approximately 5-10 percent of its energy from on-site clean, renewable energy sources such as rooftop wind turbines, solar panels, integral thin solar technologies embedded into the glass of the building canopy, and solar trees.

Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, offers five highly practical associate’s degree programs that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers.

To learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit us online at www.ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576.  The next round of classes begins in July and applications are being accepted now. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.

AWS Truepower, LLC, an international leader in renewable energy consulting and information services, announces the release of “Wind Resource Assessment: A Practical Guide to Developing a Wind Project” (Wiley, 2012). The book provides authoritative, practical guidance wind energy planners, managers, developers, tower installers, and others involved in wind monitoring and resource assessment for utility-scale wind projects around the world.

Michael Brower, PhD, lead author and Chief Technical Officer of AWS Truepower, noted, “Every industry needs standards to succeed. This is especially true of wind resource assessment. This new book – representing the knowledge of a team of AWS Truepower experts who have assessed over 60,000 MW of wind projects – will help readers avoid costly mistakes in a project’s development.”

The book explains how readers can achieve a high standard of resource assessment, reduce the uncertainty associated with long-term energy performance, and maximize the value of their wind assets. Topics addressed include siting, installation, and operation of a high-quality wind monitoring program, methods of data quality control and validation, extrapolating measurements from anemometer height to turbine height, adjusting short-term observations for historical climate conditions, and wind flow modeling to account for terrain and surface conditions. In addition, special topics such as remote sensing (sodar and lidar), offshore resource assessment, climate change, uncertainty, and plant design and energy estimation are reviewed.

Visit http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118022327.html or www.awstruepower.com.

Availon, Inc, announces that it is now a certified ASP (Authorized Service Provider) for Winergy Drive Systems Corporation, USA. Winergy offers a full range of components for the wind turbine drive train including gearboxes, couplings, and generators.

To gain ASP Certfication, a team of Availon’s engineers and technicians attended extensive training at the Winergy Plant in Elgin, IL. The subject of hands-on training was the up-tower gearbox repair for GE 1.5 wind turbines. As a result, Availon’s personnel are certified in borescope services for identifiying of the gear and bearing damages inside the gearbox; high speed bearing replacement; high speed shaft replacement; intermediate speed bearing replacement (generator side only); intermediate speed shaft replacement; low speed bearing replacement (generator side only); pitch tube replacement and/or repair.

All works performed by factory-trained Availon technicians are covered under the Winergy standard one-year warranty. In addition to the certified services, Availon is stocking Winergy-manufactured parts needed for repair and replacement of gearbox components at Availon’s Service and Distribution Centers in Des Moines, Iowa, and Sweetwater, Texas.

Availon and Winergy plan to continue training and the certfication process to allow Availon’s wind technicians to perform up-tower services for other wind turbine brands and makes.

John Brown, Availon North America’s Special Projects Manager and a Winergy-certified technician said, “The gearbox converts the low speed high torque energy produced by the blades into a high speed low torque energy that drives the generator, and as such it is truly the central component of the drive system. If any component in the gearbox has been damaged, the entire drive system may be compromised causing serious loss of production.

The ability to perform up-tower gearbox repairs helps cut crane costs and significantly reduces a turbine’s downtime. For more information, visit www.availon.com.