WinWinD to build large wind turbine factory in Hamina, Finland

Winwind Oy will invest in a new wind turbine factory to be built near the Hamina harbour on the South coast of Finland. The total value of the investment is approximately 20 MEUR. In the factory, 3-megawatt wind turbines will be assembled for the European market. The factory will employ approximately 240 persons in the first phase and significantly more in the subcontractor chain. 160 units (500 MW) will be manufactured per year, which will represent almost four times the current installed wind energy capacity in Finland (128 MW). By 2011 it will be possible to double the production capacity of the Hamina factory. The direct effect on employment would then amount to 350–400 jobs. Because a significant part of WinWinD's subcontractors are currently located in Finland, the indirect effect would be considerable in the country.

The contract for the new factory project was signed today between WinWinD, the City of Hamina, Cursor Oy and Oka Oy. At the same time, WinWinD and Haminan Energia signed a delivery contract for a 12 MW wind park to be built in the Summa region of Hamina.

WinWinD plans, develops and manufactures technologically advanced one and three megawatt wind turbines. The technological know-how of the company is internationally recognized, and it has great potential in strengthening its position towards new markets and of growing into a significant factor in the wind energy market. WinWinD’s head office is located in Helsinki with offices in Oulu, Finland and Chennai, India, where a large wind turbine factory is also under construction which will serve the Asian market.

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company owned by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi invested currently an amount of 120 million euros in WinWinD. WinWinD's owner and main shareholder is Indian company Sterling Infotech Group, other shareholders being Finnish Industry Investment Ltd and the company's key personnel.

"The demand for large 3 MW wind turbines is continually on the rise especially in Europe. The new production capacity will make possible a significant growth of the company's export market and also of expanding the customer base to include large energy companies. In addition, the factory project will also create hundreds of jobs and bring important new business know-how to the whole Hamina region", states WinWinD's Chairman of the Board, Lassi Noponen.

WinWinD has been preparing the project together with several partners of co-operation in the region. "Co-operating with the city of Hamina, Cursor Oy, Oka Oy and Haminan Energia Oy has been very smooth and resulted in a great outcome. Our experiences so far provide an excellent basis for future, long-standing co-operation, as WinWinD will feature prominently in the industry of the Hamina region", states WinWinD's Managing Director Jari Varjotie. "The wind turbines bought by Haminan Energia Oy will be manufactured within approximately one year's time in the Hamina factory, and they will be an excellent sign of the total synergy that we have been able to build for this project."