23/03/2011
MVC, a Brazilian company leader in developing products and solutions in engineering plastics and belonging to Artecola and Marcopolo, has partnered with Gamesa, a Spanish manufacturer of wind energy systems. Initially, MVC will provide Gamesa Eólica Brasil with the nose of wind turbines (wind energy converters to electric power). At a second stage the body of the generator will also be developed, an integrated part of the nose.
According to Gilmar Lima, MVC's director, the supply forecasts revenues of US$ 3 million from 2012 on and marks MVC's entry into a new segment. "Our participation in this segment occurred due to its high growth around the world and because it uses high performance materials and technologies. Another important factor for this decision is that we believe we can contribute with innovative and differentiated solutions for this market", he explains.
MVC has been studying the wind energy market since 1998 with support from FINEP and from the Pôle de Plasturgie de L’est (French Technology Center), and has developed a new concept for manufacturing blades and other components in composites. "We developed the entire project, materials, processes, testing and controls and then we manufactured a scale part of the set. What was missing for this project to be complete was a client and now, with Gamesa, we found it", concludes Lima.
The noses for wind turbines took three months to be developed and will be produced at the unit in São José dos Pinhais through the infusion process with closed molds, suitable for large items - each nose is 4.2 m high - and high fiber contents. MVC's manufacturing procedure allows us to obtain components that offer the highest standards of performance and surface finish, greater weather resistance and better mechanical properties (strength and durability).
"It has been about six years that MVC and Gamesa are building this partnership. During this period, both companies have prepared for the start of production in Brazil. We invested in training abroad and in new technologies to produce parts and meet Gamesa's needs. The aim of the project is to supply the domestic market, mainly wind farms in the Northeast region, with a production of 150 parts by March 2012. Then, we'll extend our supply to other regions and countries”, Lima points out.
ABOUT GAMESA
With over 15 years of experience, Gamesa is a world leader in the market of design, fabrication, installation and maintenance of wind turbines, with 21,000 MW installed in 30 countries, on four continents, and other 13,600 MW under maintenance.
Gamesa has 30 factories in Europe, United States, China and India, and over 7,200 employees worldwide. The company is also a world reference in the construction, development and sales of wind farms with more than 4,000 MW and a 22,600 MW portfolio of wind farms in Europe, America and Asia. The annual production is equivalent to about 21,000 MW, which represents more than 5 million tons of petroleum (TEP) per year and prevents the emission into the atmosphere of about 31 million tons of CO2 per year.
In 2010, Gamesa announced the construction of a factory in Brazil, in Camaçari, State of Bahia. The plant in Bahia should start operations in April this year, will have a production capacity of 300 MW and will create 100 job posts.
