PRESS PACKET NORDEX USA, INC. NACELLE ASSEMBLY PLANT GRAND OPENING. October 29, 2010 Jonesboro, Arkansas

Transcription

1 PRESS PACKET NORDEX USA, INC. NACELLE ASSEMBLY PLANT GRAND OPENING October 29, 2010 Jonesboro, Arkansas

2 Nordex Plant in Jonesboro, AR Location 3100 Nordex Drive Craighead Technology Park Jonesboro, Arkansas Product N90 and N MW turbines nacelle assembly 300 turbines, or 750 MW, to be produced annually at full capacity About 700 American homes can be powered by one Nordex turbine Investment Estimated $100 million total investment $40 million toward nacelle assembly plant $60 million toward rotor blade manufacturing facility at later date Nacelle Facility On 187 acres in Craighead Technology Park 115,000 square feet of production space 35,000 square feet of office space 10,000 square feet for Training Academy Timeline October 2008: Jonesboro site selection announced July 2009: Ground broken on nacelle assembly plant September 11, 2009: Groundbreaking ceremony October 4, 2010: Nacelle assembly production started 2010/2011: Ramp up to full capacity Jobs Creation in Jonesboro Nordex will hire and train up to 700 people by hires as of October 2010, including first production crew Close to 70 hires in Jonesboro and 175 hires nationally by end of 2010 Extensive training program for first production crew in Germany On-site Training Academy to train Nordex-specific skills Partner program with Arkansas State University to train mechatronics mechanical and technical skills Job listings at Jobs

3 Nordex at a Glance Nordex USA Hewitt, MN With corporate headquarters in Glenmore, WI Chicago, Illinois and manufacturing in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Nordex is positioned to be one of the leading domestic producers of some of the Weld County, CO Chicago, IL Krayn, PA Garret County, MD most powerful and reliable utilityscale wind turbines in the US Palm Springs, CA Jonesboro, AR market. The US is one of the largest wind energy markets globally and boasts the greatest Headquarters Production Facility Installation wind resources in the world. The Jonesboro manufacturing plant is a key pillar in the company s strategy to generate 20% of global revenue in the US, increase its US market share five-fold and localize its supply chain by 80% or more. Nordex has completed and planned installations in several states, including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maryland and Colorado. The Arkansas facility will fill all future orders, shipping turbines to wind farms around the country. Nordex SE Founded in 1985, Nordex SE is parent company of Nordex USA and is a pioneer in wind energy. The company develops and produces modern wind turbines and supplies technical solutions for all aspects of wind power. Headquartered in Hamburg and Rostock, Germany, Nordex SE is a global player with manufacturing facilities in Germany, China and in the US. It has offices in 18 countries and employs about 2,400 people worldwide. Nordex has long been focused on large-scale, powerful turbines and has driven innovation in this class. With its 2.5 MW turbine, Nordex was the first to bring a turbine of this size (> 2 MW) to market and holds the longest track record for reliability in this multi-megawatt class. The new Gamma generation of the 2.5 MW product family (N80/2500, N90/2500, N100/2500) combines latest research and development with technical know-how and experience from a decade of operation to meet the latest market requirements. Today, Nordex has installed more than 4,200 turbines with an aggregate capacity of around 6,000 MW worldwide. The company has a current production capacity of 2,500 MW/year in Germany, 400 MW/year in China and 750 MW/year in the US. In 2009, Nordex achieved 1,183 million in sales.

4 Management Thomas Richterich Nordex SE CEO Thomas Richterich has been Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Nordex SE since Richterich has worked in the manufacturing industry for 20 years. He has been with Nordex since 2002, serving as Chief Financial Officer ( ) and holding positions on the Management Board before taking his current position. Previously, he was Director and Head of Controlling at Babcock Borsig AG ( ), and in 2002 also served as Commercial Director at Babcock Borsig Power GmbH. From , he served as Commercial Director at Ferrostaal Industrial Plant Services GmbH, and in 1997 he headed Controlling at Ferrostaal AG. Richterich began his professional career at MAN Gutehoffnungshuette AG ( ), holding various management positions during his tenure, including Head of Controlling. With deep experience in the wind industry, Richterich is a member of the board of the Power Systems Association within the Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau (VDMA), as well as a board member of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Ralf Sigrist Nordex USA President & CEO Sigrist has been with Nordex since 2001, first as General Counsel as Head of the Group s Legal Department. In this role, Sigrist was charged with building the department and negotiating supplier and customer contracts. In 2004, he also became Head of Human Resources. His legal expertise and management experience have been invaluable assets in leading the growth of the Nordex Group over the years, expanding local operations in various countries and continuously expanding the supply chain. Sigrist began his career as in-house counsel in the legal department of Babcock Borsig AG, an international industry conglomerate, during which he supported the Nordex IPO. He has since worked in the power and wind industries. Sigrist graduated from the universities of Tübingen and Munich in Germany with a degree in law and admittance to the German bar and the university of Aix-en-Provence in France with a Masters in international law. He is also a graduate of the executive education Advanced Management Program at the Wharton School. Born in Pforzheim, Germany, Sigrist currently resides outside of Chicago, Illinois, where Nordex USA is headquartered. He is married and has two children.

5 Management Joe Brenner Nordex USA VP Production Joe Brenner was named Vice President of Production at Nordex USA in In this role, Brenner is charged with overseeing the plant in Jonesboro. He is heavily involved in the planning stages of the plant and setting up the critical components for production. As a mechanical engineer, Brenner began his career in his family s contract manufacturing business where he worked from 1980 to He held positions as Plant Manager, Director of Engineering, Vice President Operations & Business Development, and Interim President & CEO. In 2005, he entered the wind energy industry, holding director positions in operations, manufacturing and purchasing for Gamesa Wind. Brenner holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia. Brenner has relocated to Jonesboro from Pennsylvania. He is married with two children. William Pixley Nordex USA Nacelle Production Manager Bill Pixley was named Nacelle Production Manager for Nordex USA in January Bill is responsible for the daily production operations at the Nordex wind turbine plant in Jonesboro, and has been deeply involved in the production process development and set-up at plant. Prior to joining Nordex USA, Bill spent 25 years in operations and quality management in a variety of industries, including transportation, heavy equipment, automotive, and recreational vehicles. Bill s previous assignments have included Peterbilt Motors Co., General Motors Corp., SST Truck Co. (International Truck), and North American Bus Industries. In these assignments he has served as General Manager, Director of Quality, Plant Manager, and Plant Superintendent, as well as in various special project roles. Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kennedy Western in Boise, Idaho. He relocated to the Jonesboro area from Texas, and is married with one daughter.

6 Press Release Nordex opens for business in Arkansas with grand opening of wind turbine plant Chicago, Illinois/Jonesboro, Arkansas, October 29, Nordex USA celebrated the official opening of its flagship wind turbine manufacturing plant in the US today. Representing a $40 million investment, the 150,000 square foot plant is one of the most modern production facilities in the wind industry, optimized for lean flow and reduced lead times for customers. It positions Nordex as a domestic manufacturer of the highest caliber in one of the biggest wind energy markets in the world. There s no way around it, said Thomas Richterich, CEO of parent company Nordex SE. To play in the US wind market, you need a Made-in-the-USA strategy. Our turbines are some of the most powerful and reliable on the global market, and now we can get them to US wind farms quickly and costeffectively. Governor Mike Beebe and Arkansas senior senator, Blanche Lincoln, joined with state and community leaders for the event, following a tour of the plant. The total planned investment for the site is $100 million, with further manufacturing capacity to be added in a second phase in line with market conditions. The Nordex plant will build nacelles for 2.5 megawatt turbines that belong to Nordex s new third generation efficiency class the Gamma generation. Production began earlier this month, and the first assembled nacelle was on display. Nacelles house the engine and other key turbine components and sit high atop the turbine tower. The assembly time for a nacelle is about two weeks, and the Nordex plant has the capacity to produce 300 per year. One Nordex turbine can power about 700 American homes. Energy is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today, including the United States said Ralf Sigrist, President and CEO of Nordex USA. These turbines will help America secure a new domestic energy supply without compromising national security or the environment. Since breaking ground on the plant last September, Nordex has hired 54 employees, about 80% locals, including the first production crew. Job functions range from production assembly, process engineering, supply chain management, facilities management, training, quality assurance, safety, administration and management. Nordex plans to grow its ranks to nearly 70 in Jonesboro and 175 nationally by the end of It has the potential to create a total of 700 jobs in Jonesboro and 1,000 nationally over the next four years, not including indirect jobs created by suppliers and service providers. Earlier this year, steel components manufacturer, Beckmann Volmer announced it would build a $10 million dollar factory and employ 500 in neighboring Osceola to supply parts to Nordex. Part of Nordex s strategy is to make its supply chain 80% domestic within the next nine months. Governor Mike Beebe, who has led Arkansas s bid to become a wind turbine manufacturing hub, addressed the audience. The clean-energy sector has great potential for creating high-quality jobs in Arkansas and across the United States, he said. Nordex has recognized that Arkansas has the right location and workforce to produce American-made components for the North American wind industry. The Jonesboro production crew is undergoing extensive practical training. The team spent 10 weeks at Nordex s German factory in Rostock, and now their German counterparts have set up residence in Jonesboro for four months to work side-by-side with the crew on their home turf. Jonesboro crew members spoke about their experiences so far at the ceremony. When Nordex first announced they were coming to Jonesboro two years ago, said Brad Scott, I started submitting resumes. I pursued the opportunity for two years, and am thrilled to be a part of the team today. Senator Lincoln also shared remarks: I am proud that Nordex is helping make Arkansas a leader in wind manufacturing, and they chose well in selecting Jonesboro, she said. I know that the hardworking people of this community are ready to get to work, and I look forward to the job creation and economic growth that are sure to result from Nordex s investment. Nordex has also built a 10,000 square foot training academy on site, and has a partnership in place with the Arkansas State University to teach mechatronic skills, which combine mechanical and electrical know-how and are specific to windturbine manufacturing. We re making a long-term investment in our workforce, said Joe Brenner, VP of Production. These are not just jobs, they are careers. Arkansas has become a success story for the wind industry, said Ralf Sigrist in a keynote address that stressed the huge potential for wind in the US home to the best wind resources in the world. Now, we have to water what we ve planted. We have to ensure that the industry we have all worked so hard to establish takes firm root in the national market via strong, sound renewable energy policies. Our success is your success, he continued, and with rising demand for energy around the corner, the only thing that can get in our way is shortsightedness. Nordex has both completed and planned installations in several states, including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Maryland and Colorado. The Arkansas facility will fill all future orders, shipping turbines to wind farms around the country.

7 Press Release Nordex begins production at Arkansas plant Jonesboro, October 4, Today marks the official start of production at Nordex s newly built wind turbine manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The plant s first production crew will go to work this morning assembling a wind turbine nacelle, which houses the engine and other key components and sits high atop the turbine tower. Two years ago, we announced our intention to make Nordex wind turbines in the US, for the US, said Ralf Sigrist, President and CEO of Nordex USA, Inc. Today we re putting our hands to the metal and doing it. We hope Congress will do the same, he added, by finally passing meaningful renewable energy legislation. The first Jonesboro production crew, hired earlier this year, just completed a 10-week intensive training program at Nordex s flagship plant in Rostock, Germany. Training will continue during the early phase of production, with the team s German counterparts now taking up residence in Jonesboro for several months to work alongside their new colleagues. There s no way to do this without international exchange, said Joe Brenner, Vice President of Production for Nordex. Wind energy has tremendous potential in the US, but it s about more than just creating green jobs. We have to transfer expertise in order to build a wind industry workforce. Nordex is investing in such a workforce and bringing the needed skills to America. Nordex broke ground on its manufacturing plant last September, completing construction in July of this year. The company has hired 150 employees in the US to date, including 42 in Jonesboro, and has plans to employ up to 1000 nationally over four to five years. About 80% of the workforce in Jonesboro are locals. Construction on a second facility for assembling rotor blades is also planned for the future.

8 Op Ed The Myth of Cheap Fossil Fuels A Roadblock for Renewable Energy By Ralf Sigrist, Nordex USA August 20, 2010 Recently, when Senator Harry Reid put forth a "spill bill" rather than an energy bill, my theory that the energy debate in this country has been framed upside down seemed to be confirmed. Arguments for renewable energy legislation have mixed messages on jobs creation with those of climate change, national security, energy independence and environmental disaster. After two years of debate and millions spent in lobbying, no one has been persuaded. Why? Because clean energy got stuck on the wrong side of the cost debate. Guardians of the carbon economy have promoted the axiom that traditional energy is cheap, renewable energy is expensive, and you can t replace cheap with expensive, especially by way of the taxpayer. That s the kind of flawed thinking that could allow Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell s spokesperson to say Republicans are more than happy to protect Americans from a job-killing national energy tax," in reference to cap and trade. Keep it cheap is a winning argument, but it s dead wrong. It appeals to today s strained pocketbooks while jeopardizing tomorrow s economic footing. The truth is that traditional energy costs us dearly and is only artificially cheap. In contrast, wind energy is already cost-competitive in many locations in North America. If meaningfully integrated into the U.S. energy portfolio, it can help build a more stable, long-term energy supply based on a predictable pricing model. But the public doesn t feel the high costs of fossil fuels, and therein lies the public perception problem for renewable energy. In the public mind, money paid at the gas pump and to utilities reflects the true price of energy set by what s assumed to be a free market. In fact, the federal government pours billions of dollars annually into fossil fuels, grossly distorting the energy market. This framework is so deeply imbedded into our historicallegal energy structure that it is imperceptible to consumers and industry. We just don t see it, feel it or even know about it, but it s right there under our feet, holding up the entire foundation of our economy. That foundation is beginning to crack. We need to invest in a new foundation now, but our Congressional leaders have lacked the resolve to do this, opting instead to perpetuate the cheap fuel myth. The hidden costs of fossil fuels are three layers deep. They include current costs, future costs and socio-environmental costs. Let s start with current costs. The Environmental Law Institute has calculated $70 billion in subsidies for fossil fuels in the period of , in the form of tax breaks, direct spending and even health care costs, like the treatment of black lung disease for coal miners. If those subsidies were to vanish, shock waves would surely shake the nation out of its energy apathy, and we would understand the value of a kilowatt-hour. Renewable alternatives like wind would suddenly look like a bargain deal. Then there s the problem of the future. Artificially low as they are, traditional energy costs will rise due to tighter supply, challenges in exploration and extraction and regulation. Today s slump in energy prices, stemming from the global recession and relaxed demand, is a temporary mirage. No one, however, can predict the next debilitating price spike or even say what our favorite fuels will cost in years. This veil of uncertainty exposes the economy to great risk. In contrast, wind is predictable, allowing prices to be locked-in for up to 25 years. The perception of cheap fuel is further perpetuated by the fact that taxpayers and society-at-large are unknowingly underwriting the ecological hazards of fossil fuels, and I m not even talking about climate change. To some extent, the Gulf has brought this reality to light, but I fear it overshadows the everyday, imperceptible damage still off the radar. For example, putting hefty carbon emissions aside, the coal production lifecycle makes a toxic mess of our water and air. But cleaning up after coal would be the end of cheap electricity. With good intentions, the renewable energy camp has tried to win over the nation with the promise of millions of new jobs. I do believe wholeheartedly in the economic power of renewable energy. And how could I otherwise, since we are investing $100 million in a wind turbine manufacturing plant in Arkansas. We ve hired 130 people nationwide in the past two years, and have plans to grow our operations to over 1,000 employees by In addition, we have attracted other suppliers and contractors who are creating more jobs in the hundreds. But the promise of jobs cannot by itself overcome the main roadblock to progress the false perception of cheap fuel. Renewable energy has to get on the right side of the cost debate if lawmakers are to support investing political capital in it. We need a widespread shift in public thinking in order to build a real, long-term energy strategy for this country. Ralf Sigrist is President and CEO of Nordex USA Inc. a leading wind turbine manufacturer headquartered in Chicago with a manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas The information and views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on its Web site and other publications. Copyright RenewableEnergyWorld.com All rights reserved.

9 Contacts Nordex US Locations Nordex USA, Inc. Headquarters 300 South Wacker Drive, Suite 1500 Chicago, Illinois 60606, USA T Jonesboro Office 5501 Krueger Drive Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401, USA T US Career Inquiries E JobsUSA@nordex-online.com See available job opportunities at Media Inquiries For the US Felice Ahn CNC - Communications & Network Consulting (US) Inc. T F M E Felice.Ahn@cnc-communications.com For Nordex SE Ralf Peters Head of Corporate Communications T F E RPeters@nordex-online.com Images High Resolution Downloads For media use only Members of the media may download images from