Transmission systems manufacturer ZF has signed a contract with global wind energy company Vestas to supply wind turbine gear boxes. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2012 at a new facility under construction in Gainesville, Georgia, with the goal of eventually producing 2000 gear boxes a year for the growing wind power industry.
In addition, ZF will add manufacturing test stands for the wind gear box industry to its substantial experience in providing engineered end-of-line and development test benches.
"We will leverage our expertise and leadership in designing and building world-class drivelines for the transportation sector to enter the growing and exciting field of alternative energy. This will diversify our core business and expand our product portfolio," said ZF Group CEO Hans-Georg Harter.
And Soren Husted, president of Vestas Nacelles, said: "We are delighted that ZF has chosen to enter the wind industry and work with Vestas as gear box supplier. ZF's global position as transmission supplier in the automotive industry and its high quality and productivity standards are fully in line with our manufacturing and sourcing strategy and the cooperation with ZF will strengthen our supply base of gear boxes."
ZF is currently constructing a loading test rig with a 4MW performance capacity. Serviced gear boxes will be driven under simulated load conditions to measure both structural and airborne noise levels. ZF Services says it is the industry's only independent, multi-brand services provider with such a test rig.
