Siemens completes work on structural uprights for German nacelle factory

Siemens (ETR:SIE) held a topping out ceremony on Wednesday for the German industrial group’s new EUR-200-million (USD 212m) offshore wind turbine factory in Cuxhaven, Lower Saxony.

The ceremony marks the completion of erecting the structural steel uprights for the complex’s 56,000-sq-m (602,800 sq ft) production facility.

Siemens says that this factory is one of its most important investment projects in recent years and is the company’s first offshore wind turbine production plant in Germany. The facility will be manufacturing nacelles for Siemens’ next-generation 7-MW offshore wind turbines. Production is expected to start when the plant is completed in mid-2017.

"The new manufacturing plant is part of our efforts to establish offshore wind power as a key pillar of a sustainable energy mix. At the same time we're creating up to 1,000 attractive jobs here and thereby supporting sustainable structural change in the coastal region," said Markus Tacke, CEO of Siemens' Wind Power and Renewables Division.

The complex will also include a two-story building that will house offices and the site cafeteria.

Siemens noted that several suppliers that will serve the new plant have unveiled plans to set up local businesses.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.062)

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