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Wind energy as key driver for carbon fiber growth, SGL

04 Sep '08
5 min read

The combination of SGL Group's existing material know-how with Abeking & Rasmussen Rotec's manufacturing competencies will facilitate further material development and to optimize and automate the current labor-intensive rotor blade production.

SGL Group will contribute its expertise in automated production of composite components for automotive applications (Benteler SGL) and in the aviation industry (HITCO).

The global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and to lower the dependency on gas and oil, the wind energy sector is in a dynamic growth phase.

Wind energy is already cost competitive and is therefore regarded as one of the most important alternative energy sources.

The installed global capacity is expected to triple from 94 GW in 2007 to 288 GW in 2012, with Europe showing the highest growth in absolute terms.

Americas and Asia start from a lower base but the growth rates are expected to exceed 30% p.a. (Source: BTM Consult). Off-shore wind plants will increasingly contribute to this growth.

The wind energy industry is already the largest single consumer of materials based on industrial carbon fibers. SGL Group has already positioned itself as a leading materials supplier to this sector and strengthened its portfolio as the only integrated European carbon fiber and composites manufacturer through strategic acquisitions of epo and Kümpers.

SGL Group is planning to triple its carbon fiber production capacity up to 12,000 tons p.a. by the year 2012, to take advantage of the growing substitution of basic materials. SGL's carbon fiber production capacity will be 6,000 tons p.a. by the beginning of 2009.

Abeking & Rasmussen Rotec is one of Europe's leading independent manufacturers of rotor blades for wind turbines. The company is a subsidiary of the Abeking & Rasmussen Schiffs- und Jachtwerft GmbH & Co KG shipyard and has a long tradition in the manufacture of rotor blades.

It was the first manufacturer using carbon fibers in series production of rotor blades. In 2007, A&R Rotec generated sales of €32 million and expects for 2008 total sales of approximately €50 million.

The company currently has 300 employees in Lemwerder and holds a 49 % stake in Powerblades GmbH in Bremerhaven, a joint venture with REpower Systems AG for the offshore rotor blades manufacturing.

SGL Group

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