Formerly known as Mariah Power, Windspire Energy—developer of the Windspire® wind turbine—and MasTech Wind have announced the execution of a new long-term supply agreement. The new contract will extend production of the Windspire by MasTech Wind through 2014.

MasTech Wind began manufacturing the Windspire at their Manistee, Michigan, factory in April 2009 after retrofitting a plant formerly dedicated to the automotive industry. The Windspire is the only small wind turbine to be volume manufactured entirely in the United States. “With this new contract in place we remain committed to using American workers to make the Windspire a true ‘Made in the U.S.A.’ product,” says Windspire Energy’s president and CEO, Walt Borland. “We are confident that with MasTech Wind we have the right partner to make the best possible product for our customers around the world.”

“The Windspire has breathed new life into the Manistee factory,” according to Dave Boothe, one of the owners of MasTech Wind. “We are excited to be able to continue this strategic relationship and be in a position to demonstrate to the rest of the world what Michigan ingenuity is still capable of accomplishing.”

The Windspire wind turbine is a 30-foot tall, propeller-free, vertical-axis wind turbine designed to harness wind power in urban, suburban and rural locations. It is eligible for a 30-percent federal tax credit off the total cost of the installation and many local rebates. Homeowners, businesses, schools, and museums across the country and increasingly around the world have installed their own Windspire wind turbines to save on energy costs and reduce their impact on the environment. Adobe Systems recently announced completion of the installation of 20 Windspires at its corporate headquarters in San Jose, California. MasTech specializes in the design and manufacture of material handling equipment for systems involving automotive and other general assembly processes. To learn more contact Amy Berry, director of marketing at Windspire Energy, formerly Mariah Power, at (775) 857-4888 x231 or aberry@windspireenergy.com. Go online to www.windspireenergy.com. Also go to www.mastech-inc.com.

Broadwind Energy, Inc., has appointed Daniel E. Schueller as president of Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc., the company’s gearing systems business, effective April 12, 2010. He will report to Broadwind Energy CEO Cam Drecoll. “We are delighted to have Dan join our leadership team and expect that he will lead the gearing systems team with a robust combination of deep manufacturing experience, leadership skills and customer focus,” according to J. Cameron Drecoll, CEO. “As the anticipated upswing of the U.S. wind energy market creates new opportunities for Broadwind’s precision gearing system business, Dan’s proven success as an executive leader in manufacturing will be an asset to our customers and stockholders.”

Prior to joining Broadwind Energy, Schueller served as vice president and general manager of Vactor Manufacturing, Inc., a subsidiary of Federal Signal Corporation and a leading manufacturer of municipal combination catch basin/sewer cleaning vacuum trucks. He previously served in positions of increasing responsibility in operations with Tecumseh Products Company, a leading global manufacturer of compressors and related products. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and an MBA from St. Ambrose University. “I look forward to working with the Broadwind team as we capitalize on a rich heritage of more than 85 years of gearing leadership at Brad Foote,” Schueller says.

Broadwind Energy provides technologically advanced high-value products and services to the U.S. wind energy industry. Its product and service portfolio provides customers—including wind turbine manufacturers, wind farm developers, and wind farm operators—with access to a broad array of wind component and service offerings. They include wind turbine gearing systems, wind turbine structural towers, industrial products, technical services, precision repair and engineering services, and logistics. For more information go to www.broadwindenergy.com.

In an effort to help its dealers and potential customers, Polaris will begin offering financing for all wind turbine projects. The financing program will cover the total installed cost of the unit, minus any federal or state grant money. While many customers pay cash for the Polaris turbine systems, consider those who can’t or don’t. Presenting them with choices could open doors for them, and increase sales. For example, maybe they need a wind turbine but can’t spend the cash up front. When you offer financing options, your client’s purchasing power is increased and his money works harder and smarter.

“Preservation of capital is important to our customers in today’s economic environment,” according to Gerard J. Sposato, vice president of sales and marketing. “Financing allows them to upgrade their equipment infrastructure without depleting their capital. Polaris is happy to be able to provide our customers with access to financing our wind generation systems at one central location.”

If customers have their own sources for financing, the company will offer them an option and give them the opportunity to make a change. Customers are looking for a total business solution, and part of what Polaris sells is customer service. Payment options should be included in that service. The company believes customers will appreciate the one-stop shopping aspect of doing business with Polaris.

Seizing the need for a community sized wind turbine, Polaris America has turned its engineering and manufacturing capabilities loose on a whole class of innovative wind turbine designs that feature exclusive technologies and superior engineering. In introducing this new line of community wind turbines from 10kW to 1MW, the company will be addressing the needs of homeowners, businesses, schools and universities, governmental institutions, and other applications that its feels have been overlooked by current large wind turbine suppliers. Polaris corporate, sales and engineering offices are located in Columbus, Ohio. Financing applications can be handled online at www.polarisamerica.com.

Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology celebrated the official grand opening of the West Coast Tech Center (WCTC) in Irvine, California, in April. Set up as a production inspection facility with metrology systems running in a process support role, the two-day metrology event offered visitors a unique experience. Part measurement on its systems was displayed in a real-time production environment, and other demonstrations were presented as well.

“The goal in opening this 3,800 square-foot facility is to get closer to our customers in this region while providing local support in growing markets,” says Drew Shemenski, manager. “Not only does this facility allow us to offer traditional hardware support, but it can also help us focus on a higher level connecting machines together through software to manage inspection requirements and data.”

There is a wide range of metrology technology on hand at the Irvine center: optical, touch scanning, CT x-ray, and measuring software. The METROTOM 800 is an x-ray based computed tomography system specifically designed for 3D metrology of small, complex, low-density parts made of plastic, composite materials, or ceramic. The O-INSPECT is a multi-sensor system that features both tactile and optical scanning and provides tremendous flexibility for measuring parts that approach the micro range of size. Zeiss has a variety of surface form and geometry systems to round out its measuring and demonstration capabilities. In addition to this technology the company also offers in-house measuring services, software training, and application support. To learn more call (800) 327-9735 or e-mail at imt@zeiss.com. Go online to www.zeiss.com/imt.

The third generation of the RAPA G3 multi-processing system has been developed to reduce the time of all machining and finishing work for wind blades, aerospace components, and other oversized parts. The RAPA G3 is a robotic machine tool platform designed with a double workstation supporting a wide variety of applications and processes. The platform uses a high accuracy double modular rack and pinion drive system from Parker Hannifin to create any X-axis length required. The modular rack and pinion drive system is fixed to the factory floor. A workholding platform is moved by the rack and pinion drive system, above which is fitted an anthropomorphic KUKA robot with automatic tool change.

The wind blade-finishing robotic system works over a 50x15x6 m (164x49x20 ft) standard area and it performs scanning, measuring and inspection, blade machining and finishing quickly and repeatedly, increasing productivity and quality while reducing manual labor significantly. The RAPA G3 is designed to access any wind blade surface point by the anthropomorphic KUKA robot displacement over the rack and pinion drive system and the two rotation blade axes. A high-capacity vacuum system with spindle shroud is available to capture dust and chips. A drum-type tool changer holds 12-16 tools for automatic tool changes. RAPA G3 uses a guidance system for robots, developed by IDPSA that allows guiding a robot in space, with the theoretical wind blade model as the reference. The guidance system accuracy is less of 1 mm and is controlled by a distributed control system based on a net of INTEL Core 2 Duo industrial PC with color screen, handheld pendant, and hand-wheel controls.

IDPSA is an engineering company founded in 1986 that specializes in turnkey industrial automation processes. It services the aerospace, automotive, defense, wind power, solar energy, composites, fiberglass, general machining, and heavy equipment markets. For more information contact Angel Navarro Oriol at +34 637808595 or angel.navarro@idpsa.com. Go online to www.idpsa.com.

The wind turbine owner is responsible for ensuring that the safety equipment used by personnel working the towers is always maintained and in perfect working order. “But we get the impression that a number of turbine owners are not aware that such items as work cages/service lifts must be inspected, tested, and approved once annually to fulfil safety requirements,” according to Kent Pedersen, general manager for Avanti Wind Systems in the United States.

The law says that the owner must keep a certification journal with dates of the latest inspection and which describes the inspection and testing of all safety equipment in the turbine tower in detail. The certification journal must always be present when the authorities perform a check. There is some difference in legislation from state to state in the U.S., but in general the requirements for maintenance are the same. And it will always be the owner’s responsibility to ensure that safety equipment works and is regularly tested and maintained. “The owner is also responsible for ensuring that the personnel working in the towers are trained to use the safety equipment, and that their training is kept up to date,” he says.

Avanti Wind Systems sells and installs service lifts and ladder systems with fall safety equipment in wind turbine towers. Avanti also runs safety courses for technicians. “All turbine owners naturally accept that the equipment in towers has to be correctly installed by authorized personnel. But a wind turbine tower is also a place of work, and in contrast to most other places of work, turbine owners often forget that safety equipment has to be regularly tested – and that must be done by authorised personnel,” says Pedersen, adding that Avanti Wind Systems’ warranty for lifts and ladders also requires test and inspection at least once per year by Avanti or personnel trained by Avanti. “Safety in wind turbine towers always has top priority at Avanti. That’s why it’s always important to us that turbine owners know their responsibilities.”

Avanti Wind Systems is a leading world-market producer of service lifts/work cages and other personal security systems for wind towers. For more information contact Pedersen at (262) 641-9101, kp@avanti-online.com, or www.avanti-online.com.

The first-ever SKF Solution Factory in the United States has opened in Houston to provide customers with ready access to a portfolio of services and competencies under one roof at one strategically located venue. The first-ever 25,000 square-foot facility joins a growing network of eight others around the world.

“This new facility can equip customers with value-added solutions and industry knowledge to optimize their machinery performance and maximize operating efficiencies,” according to Poul Jeppesen, president and CEO of SKF USA, Inc. “The facility further provides us with an unprecedented venue to advance our dialogue with customers in a working partnership to help solve their challenges.”

Among on-site competencies and services the Solution Factory houses applications engineering, spindle and ball screw repair, bearing application expertise, sealing solutions, lubrication system expertise, mechanical equipment services—including mounting, alignment, and balancing—remote condition monitoring and diagnostics, engineering consultancy services, and operator and worker training.

“All these resources under one roof allow us to deliver customized and timely product and service packages tailored for particular operations,” Jeppesen adds. “We expect that this Solution Factory will quickly become a key destination for customers striving to increase overall asset efficiency, reliability, and productivity.”

The newest SKF Solution Factory serves a wide range of industries in the region and beyond, including petroleum and gas, hydrocarbon processing, wind energy, and general manufacturing, among others. To learn more call (281) 925-2800 or go to www.skfusa.com.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar praised the work of the 22-member Wind Turbine Guidelines Federal Advisory Committee, which reached consensus on a set of draft recommendations aimed at minimizing the impacts of land-based wind farms on wildlife and its habitat. Salazar said he will review the recommendations and take them under advisement as he asks the service to develop guidelines for evaluating wind energy development on public and private lands.

“Wind power is one of the keys to America’s clean energy future, but its development must be balanced with the long-term protection of the natural resources under our management,” Salazar says. “I commend the committee for their two years of work developing these recommendations, which will help us ensure that wind energy is developed in a responsible manner.”

Highlights of the committee’s recommendations include a decision-making framework that guides all stages of wind energy development; reliance on the best available science when assessing renewable energy projects and their potential environmental impact; and use of landscape-scaled planning that recognizes the need to think long-term about protecting our nation’s economic and natural resources.

“The Interior Department is creating a new energy frontier for America by harnessing the renewable-energy potential of America’s public lands while protecting wildlife,” says Michael Bean, counselor to assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. “The committee’s recommendations will help us reach science-based decisions for future wind energy projects, while minimizing and mitigating local and regional impacts to wildlife.”

The group was created in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and represents varied interests associated with wind energy development as well as wildlife management professionals. The committee does not address offshore wind energy development. The committee reports to the secretary of the interior through the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It functions solely as an advisory body, providing recommendations on effective measures to protect wildlife resources and coordinate the review and evaluation of facilities by state, tribal, local, and federal agencies. The draft report contains both policy recommendations and recommended voluntary guidelines for siting and operating wind energy projects in order to avoid or minimize potential impacts to wildlife and habitat. To learn more about the Interior Department’s wind initiatives visit www.doi.gov/whatwedo/energy.

Regardless of the workplace—from a manufacturing plant to a diesel repair center, power generation site, or a wind farm—the portable Snap-on Industrial Digital Torque Tester (DTT) can do its job almost anywhere. Thanks to its light weight combined with an integral transducer and sturdy housing, the unit can be wall mounted or employed in a benchtop vise to allow the user to accurately test torque wrenches and torque screwdrivers.

The Snap-on Industrial DDT features an easy-to-use 4.7-inch touch-pad screen to capture peak torque values during real-time testing and allows download of test data to a PC. All DTT torque testers are sold in a complete kit that includes the tester, hard carrying case, two socket driver reducer adapters, AC/DC power supply, AC adapter, and USB cable. The six DTT models range in capacity from ¼” drive, 10-100 in. oz. to ¾” drive, 60-600 ft. lbs.  All models will display readings in English, Newton meters and kilogram-centimeter units of torque. Accuracy is ±0.5% of reading ±1 count CW and CCW from 10 to 100% of full scale at 25ºC. Display accuracy of the unit is four digits, 9999 cycle counts.  It requires six AA Alkaline batteries, or it can be run off the AC adapter.

Snap-on Industrial is a division of Snap-on Incorporated, a leading global innovator, manufacturer, and marketer of tools, diagnostics, equipment, software, and service solutions for professional users. More information is available by calling (877) 740-1900 or visit int www.snapon.com/industrial.

Ingeteam will invest in the implementation of a combined production center in the United States. The company’s activity will focus primarily on the energy sector, specializing in the manufacture of wind power generators and converters, as well as solar photovoltaic converters, to meet the needs of the North American market. Ingeteam already has an office in Santa Clara, California, specializing in the sale of solar photovoltaic inverters. Likewise, another of the new affiliate’s objectives is the manufacture of motors, generators, and converters for other markets in which the company is active.

Ingeteam currently has a location in Mequon, Wisconsin, carrying out wind turbine operation and maintenance activities. Through this activity it manages more than 2,200 MW distributed over 60 wind farms all over the world. It should be stressed that Ingeteam’s wind power systems currently enjoy a market share between 12 and 15 percent. This share will increase in the coming years since the new factory is going to make possible the production of equipment for the equivalent of 7,500 MW each year, meeting the needs of its customers in this country. Several ranges of converter/generator products will be manufactured in the facilities, covering ranges from 1.5 to 5 MW of power for wind usage. In the medium term it is planned to endow the plant with the capacity to perform joint testing of complete equipment.

Ingeteam is a business group specializing in electrical engineering and the development of electronic technology that works in the energy, industry, marine, and railway traction sectors with the brands Ingeteam, Indar and Pine. It is made up of 28 companies spanning four continents—Asia, Europe, North America, and South America—and employing more than 3,500 people. To learn more contact Aitor Sotes at +1 262-240-9850 or aitor.sotes@ingeteam.com. Go online to www.ingeteam.com.

Indonesia-based Korindo has announced it has begun marketing utility-scale wind towers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico under the name Korindo Wind. To date it has delivered 550 towers to customers developing North-American wind energy projects, and nearly 1,000 worldwide. With its plant less than a mile from the Port of Ciwandan, Indonesia, and the ability to deliver sections to the port closest to a project site, Korindo Wind is able to develop competitive pricing for customers around the globe. Jakarta-based Korindo, founded in Jakarta in 1969, launched Korindo Wind with the construction of a wind tower manufacturing facility in 2006.

“With the expected upturn in wind energy development in North America, it has become important to more firmly establish Korindo’s wind energy division here,” says Ricky Seung, president of Los Angeles-based Kousa International, exclusive agent for Korindo Wind. “Now, as the U.S. economy rebounds and more financing becomes available for wind projects, Korindo Wind is in an excellent position to form long-term partnerships with companies that develop projects or source primary components such as Korindo Wind’s high quality wind towers.”

Korindo Wind is an ISO 9001:2000 certified wind tower manufacturer. Its technologically advanced plant in Ciwandan, Indonesia, features a highly efficient linear production line and has an annual capacity of 800 towers, or the equivalent of 2 gigawatts installed. The company also provides Precision LogisticsSM, a comprehensive, risk-free logistics solution based on Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping. Kousa International, Los Angeles, is the exclusive agent for Korindo Wind. For more information go to www.korindowind.com.

Shermco Industries has hired Mike Hancock as manager of business development for its Engineering Services Division. An electrical power industry veteran of over 17 years, he will work with all levels of the organization, applying his broad expertise on business development to the organization’s current operation and planned expansion. Hancock will focus on business growth and major project execution, as well as supporting and working with all of Shermco’s district operations managers, coordinators, sales engineers, and approximately 100 field operations personnel.

“Mike has extensive experience in this industry and he has a very impressive track record of success,” says Thad Brown, vice president of Engineering Services. “He’s overseen some large scale projects in his career, including one related to Hurricane Ike relief efforts and another associated with the 2009 Iowa area floods.”

Shermco Industries is a provider of safe, reliable testing, repair, professional training, maintenance, and analysis of rotating apparatus and electrical power distribution systems and related equipment for the light, medium, and heavy industrial base nationwide. Founded in 1974 in Dallas, the company is comprised of two strategic business units; the Machine Services Division, and an Engineering Services Division. With a corporate location in Irving, Texas, a sales office in Brussels, and service centers in Austin, Texas, and Tulsa and Sweetwater, Oklahoma, Shermco has more than 250 full-time employees. The company is a member of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association, the American Wind Energy Association, and the International Electrical Testing Association. For more information go to www.shermco.com.

GE will invest approximately €340 million to develop or expand its wind turbine manufacturing, engineering, and service facilities in four European countries—the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and Germany—signaling GE’s deep commitment to the promising European offshore wind sector. “Offshore wind will play a vital role in meeting the growing global demand for cleaner, renewable energy and has a bright future here in Europe,” says Ferdinando (Nani) Beccalli-Falco, president and CEO of GE International. “These investments will position us to help develop Europe’s vast, untapped offshore wind resources, while also creating new jobs for both GE and our suppliers.”

At the core of GE’s European expansion plans is the development of its next-generation wind turbine, a 4-megawatt machine designed specifically for offshore deployment. As the largest wind turbine in GE’s fleet, it will incorporate advanced drive train and control technologies gained through GE’s acquisition of ScanWind. The 4-megawatt wind turbine will feature GE’s innovative technology that eliminates the need for gearboxes. This technology is already being demonstrated at a test site in Hundhammerfjellet, Norway, where the first ScanWind direct drive unit has been operating for more than five years.

“GE’s proven reliability on more than 13,500 land units coupled with ScanWind’s proven offshore, gearless design enables us to provide our customers the reliable solutions necessary for the offshore wind industry,” says Victor Abate, vice president of renewable energy for GE Power & Water. “These announcements lay the foundation for us to begin scaling our offshore business, technology, and supply chain locally in Europe where we see the greatest growth opportunity.”

The European Wind Energy Association expects that Europe’s offshore wind sector will grow more than 70 percent in 2010, with continued growth forecast over the next several years. If all of the offshore wind projects currently in development are completed, they could produce 10 percent of the European Union’s total electricity while avoiding 200 million tons of CO2 emissions each year. Overall, offshore wind is expected to make a major contribution in helping the European Union reach its goal to have 20 percent of its energy produced from renewable resources by the year 2020. For more information visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com.

Jens-Peter Saul has been appointed CEO of the Siemens Wind Power Business Unit headquartered in Brande. He succeeds Andreas Nauen, who is leaving Siemens at his own wish. He was previously managing director of Siemens Energy in the UK and also responsible for the North and West Europe regions.

Saul earned a degree in engineering at the University of Hanover in 1994. He joined Siemens’ Fossil Power Generation Division in 1996 as project manager, where he held various managerial posts. Following a short term as project manager with a consulting company in the automobile sector, he assumed managerial functions at Siemens in 2002, including responsibility for power plants sales and marketing in the Middle East. In 2005 he was appointed head of power plant business for the Siemens Power Generation Group in the UK.

“We would like to thank Mr. Nauen for his achievements for our company,” says René Umlauft, CEO of Siemens’ Renewable Energy Division. “In Jens-Peter Saul we have found the right successor to push ahead with achievement of our ambitious targets in the field of wind turbines.”

The Siemens Energy Sector is the world’s leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services, and solutions for the generation, transmission, and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion, and transport of oil and gas.

Learn more by visiting www.siemens.com/energy.

Mariah Power, developer of the Windspire® vertical axis wind turbine,  announces a corporate name change to Windspire Energy, Inc. The name simplifies the branding of the company and its lead product, while leveraging the innovation of the Windspire wind turbine. In conjunction with the name change the company  has also launched www.windspireenergy.com, a new buyer-focused Web site with information on the many available applications of Windspire wind turbines.

The Windspire is a vertical axis wind turbine designed for use in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The unique design of the rotor enables the turbine to generate energy silently while standing just 30 feet tall. Hundreds of Windspires are currently powering homes, businesses, schools, and museums across the United States. Recently the company announced the installation of 20 Windspires at the headquarters of leading software company Adobe Systems in San Jose, California (see article in this issue).

“We are focused on delivering renewable energy solutions that are elegant in their simplicity,” says Walt Borland, president and CEO. “The corporate name change is just one example of how we are simplifying everything that we do, including our brand.”

Designed and manufactured in the U.S., the Windspire is eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit and many local rebates that can be as much as $4,800.00. In 11 mph average annual winds a Windspire will generate about 2,000 kWh over the course of a year. The thin profile of the Windspire allows customers to easily scale-up the number of turbines to meet higher energy needs.

Windspires are currently manufactured in Michigan and are available through a network of certified dealers who are trained to do site evaluations, installations, and to facilitate permitting and local rebate redemptions. Visit www.windspireenergy.com to learn more, or to locate a dealer near you.

BASF has inaugurated a new section of its Technical Competence Center for intermediates at its Shanghai Pudong site. The new laboratory will specialize in epoxy systems for fiber-reinforced composites, which are used, for example, in wind turbine blades. BASF sells these systems under its Baxxodur® brand. The competence center integrates this new epoxy laboratory with BASF’s existing PolyTHF laboratory, which will also expand the scope of its services.

“With our local competence center we provide our customers in Asia a fast and reliable technical support tailored to their needs,” says Dr. Guido Voit, who heads the Regional Business Unit Asia Pacific in BASF’s Intermediates division. “We utilize BASF’s integrated global knowledge network to benefit our customers in the region.”

In the new epoxy laboratory BASF can simulate its customers’ production processes using Baxxodur epoxy systems under production conditions. BASF’s application engineers develop tailored solutions and provide onsite technical support to their customers. The rotor blades of today’s state of the art wind turbines are mostly made of epoxy-resin-based composites. Baxxodur epoxy systems from BASF allow blade manufacturers to reduce the cycle time to produce the blades, thereby enhancing their productivity. With their specific properties the BASF systems can be used to reliably produce high-quality key components like spar caps and root sections of rotor blades. BASF systems outperform traditional epoxy systems especially in the production of large rotor blades. The systems are approved by Germanischer Lloyd AG (GL), which offers assurance, consulting, and classification for the maritime and energy industries.

At BASF’s expanded Technical Competence Center various polymer synthesis facilities can be used to customize new formulations, improve existing ones and adjust mechanical and thermal properties of PolyTHF-based products to specific applications. Sample and specimen analysis as well as laboratory support for starting up customer plants round off the service offer.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company, with a portfolio ranging from chemicals, plastics, and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals, and oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, and mobility. Learn more by visiting www.basf.com.

The 53’ BT 2010 model blade trailer from International Specialized Trailers (IST) requires no forklift, crane, or equipment to extend or collapse. The new dual-purpose neck adjusts to the desired load height, allowing you to accommodate the new generation of wind turbine blades. This will allow the operator to lower the load height for bridges or raise it for rough job sites or railroad tracks. You can now load the pilot car, grab your remote, lower the front of the trailer, load the car, raise the trailer with remote, back the truck underneath, hook up, and go.

This new neck will retrofit to any brand of blade trailer, and the extension will allow the capability of hauling the new 200’ blades. 24”-60” load bunk height, capable of hauling one or two blades, and a 37-degree turning radius.

For more information call (866) 253-3144, send e-mail to nancyist@hutchtel.net or mikeist@hutchtel.net, or go to www.isttrailers.com.

AWS Truewind, LLC, a leading renewable energy consultant, has released advanced wind prospecting and site assessment tools via its Web-based windNavigator application. “In a remarkably short period of time, our windNavigator application became the go-to resource for energy developers and government planners looking to locate and confirm attractive wind development sites,” according to Bruce Bailey, president and CEO. “Over the course of the past year, however, it became increasingly apparent that our customers needed more tools to augment their resource-constrained teams. We developed windNavigator Siting and Assessment, a robust set of subscriptions and reports based on our trusted windNavigator dataset, to answer this need and support an expanded customer base.”

The windNavigator Siting and Assessment module features three subscription packages (Developer, Prospector, Advocate), three levels of reports (Site Surveyor, Site Analyst, Site Analyst Pro), discounts on high-resolution GIS data and related products, and advanced account administration features to improve workflow and reduce overhead costs. Subscriptions are thoughtfully designed to support a broad range of customers from utility-scale developers with internal GIS capabilities to small wind developers and industry advocates furthering the wind agenda in their community. Developer, the most robust package available, features 200 m resolution on-screen wind resource browsing and speed queries, four hub heights (30, 60, 80, and 100 m), deep discounts on GIS data and reports, and multiple users.

The windNavigator report suite features three reporting options from high-level assessment to in-depth analysis. The Site Surveyor report provides a high-level summary of the wind resource at a project location based on a user-defined turbine model and hub height. The Site Analyst report takes the assessment one step further with 200 m resolution data, energy estimates for up to three turbine models, and detailed information on the monthly and annual wind resource characteristics. Site Analyst Pro offers the most in-depth analysis of a project site featuring all of the information in Site Analyst plus monthly breakdowns of speed distribution, wind rose, and diurnal patterns. The reports will help developers of all shapes and sizes expedite prospecting and initial site analysis processes so they can prioritize business opportunities and move projects forward with confidence.

“Our main objective for windNavigator has always been to provide a resource for customers that is truly suited to their needs while maintaining the level of quality AWS Truewind is renowned for,” says Amber Trendell, director of sales and marketing. “With project development timelines shortening and funding resources tightening, our customers have to remain nimble to keep their pipeline full. It’s our job to provide tools and resources our customers can rely on so they can work smarter, faster, and make sound business decisions.”

To learn more contact Trendell at (518) 213-0044 ext. 1020 or atrendell@awstruewind.com. Go online to www.awstruewind.com.

KMT Robotic Solutions, Inc., and FANUC Robotics America, Inc., has announced a multi-year extension of their decade long exclusive relationship agreement. This agreement continues to provide KMT Robotic Solutions with the exclusive responsibility to apply FANUC robots in waterjet and routing/drilling applications for customers manufacturing plastic, composite and soft-trim products in the Americas.

“Our 10-year exclusive relationship with FANUC Robotics in the waterjet and routing markets has enabled both KMT and FANUC Robotics America to enhance our mutual products and services to the substantial benefit of our customers,” says Kevin McManus, president and CEO of KMT Robotic Solutions. “FANUC’s willingness to entrust KMT with the sole responsibility to develop standard and unique product and technology solutions for companies manufacturing plastic, composite and soft trim products has enabled us to significantly advance the related technology, and in turn, help our customers make more money and improve the safety of their plants. In return, FANUC Robotics has been an excellent partner. Their products are innovative and reliable which leads to strong customer satisfaction and reinforces FANUC’s leadership position in the robotics industry. FANUC Robotics America has the industry’s largest product development group in the Americas. KMT and FANUC Robotics work together as a team to incorporate the needs of our customers in their product development plans.”

“We are pleased to continue to work with KMT as our exclusive partner in the Americas for these applications and materials,” says Kevin Ostby, vice president of FANUC Robotics America. “KMT has worked closely with FANUC Robotics for 25 years and has spent the last decade significantly advancing this technology and satisfying customers. They are a premier member of our Integrator Network, and have helped us achieve a leading market position for robotic waterjet and routing applications in the Americas. We look forward to continuing our work with them to help even more companies in the Americas improve the cost, quality and overall performance of their manufacturing operations through the proper and creative application of our robots for waterjet and routing applications.”

KMT Robotic Solutions was formed in December of 2006 with the union of KMT Cutting Systems in Ronneby, Sweden, and Robotic Production Technology in Auburn Hills, Michigan. KMT Robotic Solutions has more than 3,500 robots installed around the world and more than 25 years experience developing, designing, building, servicing, and supporting robotic cutting, trimming, and cleaning solutions for manufacturing customers. With direct and relationship partner locations in Europe, the Americas, China, and Japan, KMT is strategically positioned to serve the global market. For more information go to www.kmtgroup.com/robotic.

FANUC Robotics America, Inc., designs, engineers, and manufactures industrial robots and robotic systems for a wide range of applications including arc and spot welding, material handling (machine tending, picking, packing, palletizing), material removal, assembly, paint finishing, and dispensing. The company also provides application-specific software, controls, vision products, and complete support services. After 27 years of success, FANUC Robotics maintains its position as the leading robotics company in the Americas. A subsidiary of FANUC LTD in Japan, the company is headquartered in Detroit and has facilities in Chicago, Los Angeles, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Toronto, Aguascalientes, Mexico, and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Over 210,000 FANUC robots are installed worldwide.

Visit online at www.fanucrobotics.com.

American Electric Technologies, Inc., announces the introduction of the wind energy industry’s first switchgear solution designed specifically to provide safer, more-reliable, higher-performing wind farm operations.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 212 workers lost their lives in 2008 from contact with electric current. In 2007, 250 fatal worker injuries occurred and in 2006, 256 deaths were reported. These statistics include deaths from arc flashes, which are electrical explosions caused by low-impedance faults between ground and another voltage phase in an electrical system. Arc flashes tend to occur during initial power equipment start-up and during equipment maintenance. Injuries from arc flashes range from minor injuries to third-degree burns, blindness, hearing loss, nerve damage, cardiac arrest, and even potential death. Approximately 65 percent of arc faults occur during electrical maintenance when the equipment doors are open and an operator is standing in front of the equipment. Conventional arc-resistant switchgear, which channels the arc flash through vents away from the equipment and the operator, has limited arc-management capability, significantly compromising wind farm maintenance worker safety in confined areas and putting assets at risk. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports they investigated 32 arc flash-related accidents in 2009, 38 in 2008 and 25 in 2007. Some industry reports estimate that the average cost a company incurs for medical treatment on behalf of each arc-flash survivor is $1.5 million, and total costs of litigation could reach up to $10 million.

AETI is leveraging their 60 years of experience in deploying custom-designed power distribution equipment in the world’s harshest environments with the company’s wind farm services experience, introducing a switchgear that is designed specifically for the wind power industry that breaks new ground in safety, performance, and reliability. More than 50 percent of arc faults injuries occur during electrical maintenance when an operator is standing in front of the equipment. By designing remote circuit breaker racking, maintenance workers can rack in and rack the circuit breakers from a safe distance away. The switchgear also incorporates a ground safety switch, interlocked with the circuit breaker, enabling the operator to ground incoming cables during maintenance, reducing exposure to accidental electrical back feed. Most significantly, AETI’s wind farm switchgear provides protection for high impedance faults, where fault currents may not reach the required level to trip conventional breaker trip settings. The system uses proven light-sensing technology to detect the arc-flash, and sends a signal to open the circuit breaker, isolating the arc-fault within approximately 50 milliseconds.

AETI’s wind farm switchgear is designed to enable maximum wind farm power delivery to the grid. Unlike traditional 38kV switchgear with limited peak duty, it provides 40kV power distribution at 3000A continuous duty, enabling more wind power to be delivered to the grid per collector line. The switchgear also has a 40kA interrupting rating, enabling wind farm developers to connect to high-capacity power grids. The system is designed for wind farm reliability. By offering industry leading 170 kV basic impulse level (BIL), the substation and wind farm are provided increased resilience lightening strikes. The system also uses vacuum-based circuit breaker technology that eliminates use of toxic sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas and continual recharging maintenance services.

“We are pleased to bring our rich history of manufacturing first-rate power distribution gear to the wind and renewable energy markets,” says John Skibinski, AETI’s vice president of renewable markets and chairman of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) wind reliability task force. “We are even prouder to provide safer, higher performance and more reliable switchgear to the industry.”

American Electric Technologies, Inc., is the premium global supplier of custom-designed power delivery solutions to the traditional and renewable energy industries. AETI offers M&I Electric™ power distribution and control products, electrical services, and E&I construction services, as well as American Access Technologies zone enclosures and Omega Metals custom fabrication services. South Coast Electric Systems LLC., a subsidiary, services Gulf Coast marine and vessel customers. AETI is headquartered in Houston and has global sales, support, and manufacturing operations in Beaumont, Texas; Keystone Heights, Florida; and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. In addition, AETI has minority interests in two joint ventures, which have facilities located in Xian, China, and Singapore. AETI’s SEC filings, news, and product/service information are available at www.aeti.com.