Vestas to cut 85 R&D jobs in USA

Nov 2, 2012 - Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) plans to close a number of research and development (R&D) operations in the US, a move that will affect a total 85 employees, US media reported on Thursday citing a statement by the company.

Instead of consolidating its US R&D operations in Brighton, Colorado, as it was announced in September, Vestas has now decided to shut down a number of operations, spokesman Andrew Longeteig said in an e-mail sent to renewable energy news source Recharge. The closure, which is expected to be completed by the second half of 2012, will affect the facilities in Houston, Texas, Marlborough, Massachusetts, and Louisville, Colorado.

So far this year, the Danish company has also closed R&D sites in China, Denmark and Singapore. Thus its global R&D workforce has been slashed by some 20% from the 2011 level.

The decision to reduce the R&D presence in the US is aimed at further cutting operating costs, Vestas said in its statement, according to Recharge. The company plans to focus its R&D operations to six other locations around the world but did not specify which.

Currently, Vestas has some 1,200 employees in Colorado, compared with 1,700 a year ago, Recharge said.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!