Canada - Traditionally crafted in Europe, Aeolian hubs will now be casted and crafted in Quebec

AAER’s President, Mr. Dave Gagnon, was particularly happy to announce the signing of a five-year supply agreement with Metallurgy Castech and Plessitech, respectively administrated by Jennifer Poiré and Allen Poiré. For the first three years, Quebec will proceed with the casting and crafting of 320 Aeolian hubs, a Canadian first, since this activity was, until now, mainly done in Europe. This partnership will create more than 40 direct jobs at their Thetford Mines and Plessisville facilities, and represents an order of more than $ 55M over three years.

“It’s a long-term partnership because we also have the intention of working with Metallurgy Castech and Plessitech for the production of the Aeolian’s platforms and cases. We want to concretely participate in Quebec economic development and in particular to the regions’. From this viewpoint, we are looking for entrepreneurs who will grow with us” declared AAER’s President, adding that the geographic proximity of suppliers is certainly an asset for the company.
For the past year, hoping to see this partnership come alive, Metallurgy Castech and Plessistech invested $ 3M to answer the norms AAER established. Thus, Metallurgy Castech and Plessitech both successfully completed the different steps of AAER’s rigorous evaluation to which an outside firm submitted them to, to make sure they properly answered the Aeolian industry’s highest quality standards.

In order to answer AAER’s requirements, Metallurgy Castech and Plessitech made the acquisition of three very large capacity induction ovens, and machinery necessary to the production of enormous parts that measure 2,5 meters of diameter and that weigh about ten tons each.

During the announcement, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister for the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the Centre-du-Quebec region, Mr. Laurent Lessard, reminded that “we are always proud when the expertise acquired by our entrepreneurs and workers shine abroad, and today, we have an eloquent example of our exceptional capacity to innovate and to be amongst the best in a sector of promise and sustainability. This partnership will encourage the Chaudière- Appalaches and Centre-du-Quebec regions’ economic dynamism, to the benefit of all its citizens”.

The general manager of Metallurgy Castech, Mrs. Jennifer Poiré, rejoiced at being able to join her team’s unique expertise with that of AAER’s to cast the parts that meet the producer’s expectations and high European standards.

“We are privileged to work with AAER that is aiming on long-term partnerships, which allows us to develop business relationships that, in the end, our common clients, employees and population of our region will benefit from” concluded Mrs. Poiré.

Plessitech will also benefit from the repercussions of this agreement, and will produce the hubs on which the blades of the Aeolians will be attached. An important team work effort, from Metallurgy Castech and from Plessitech, was made to conquer the multiple technical constraints. “The engineers, the designers and all the workers affected to the creation of this project deployed all their ability and their creativity to develop pertinent solutions and to meet up to the expectations that we had decided upon from a quality and reliability standpoint”, said Mr. Allen Poiré, Plessitech’s President.

The production will start rapidly, and the first parts to be cast this year will be delivered to Bromont according to AAER’s production calendar for 2008.

About AAER Inc.
AAER, who has its headquarters in Bromont, in Quebec, has for mission to carry out the design and maintain Aeolians at a high capacity of 1 MW, particularly for the North American market. The company uses a portfolio of proven European technologies, thus insuring a high return from its Aeolians in different wind conditions and complex terrains. Its shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (AAE).

About Metallurgy Castech:
Since its creation in 1931, Castech, who works in the massive iron parts casting sector, possesses a unique expertise in Canada. Renowned for the quality of its production, its innovative culture and the efficiency of its customer service, this company now employs 100 people in its Thetford Mines plant.

About Plessitech:
All over the world, for more than 25 years, thousands of people daily use the services of Plessitech, which specialises in the transformation of very large iron parts. Its cutting edge technology and its expertise are put to contribution in the forest, paper and mining industries, but also in those of aluminium and hydro-electricity. Currently employing fifty people at its Plessisville plant, the company participates in the execution of the largest industrial projects around the world.