Gamesa continues to expand its presence in fast-growing markets, this time in India, where the company has announced that it will invest more than 60 million euros through 2012 to build new manufacturing plants.
Gamesa plans to open a turbine blade factory this year, with initial production capacity of 300 MW, and will localise production of its G9X-2.0 MW turbine in India in 2012.
The new factory, in northwest India's Gujarat state, will make blades for the G5X-0.850 kW turbine. Furthermore, in future the facility may produce components for higher capacity machines, such as the G9X-2.0 MW.
Gamesa intends to open additional manufacturing plants in India in coming years to produce nacelles and towers (via joint ventures) at several locations in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu states.
As part of its strategy for cementing its Indian business with footholds in both manufacturing and technology, Gamesa has also inaugurated its first technology centre in the country, in Sholinganullar, in Chennai.
Gamesa plans to recruit a total of 100 engineers in 2011 as it conducts research and development (R&D) activities in India, though it may double that number in 2012. The tech centre will work closely with the local supply chain and collaborate with energy experts, universities and institutions to research and develop manufacturing materials and processes.
A strategic market, now accounting for 8% of company sales
Gamesa in February 2010 began production at its first manufacturing site in India, in the area of Red Hills, adjacent the city of Chennai in southeast India. The facility, which makes Gamesa G58-850 kW turbines, was initially outfitted with annual production capacity of 200 MW.
However, the plant's manufacturing capabilities were expanded more quickly than planned due to the need to meet sharp growth in demand. Said demand prompted the company to boost the factory's assembly capacity to nearly 500 MW by the end of 2010.
Gamesa in 2010 sold turbine capacity totalling 196 MW to customers in India, which accounted for 8% of the corporation's total sales. Meanwhile, the company expanded its workforce in India nearly fivefold, to more than 330 people (direct jobs).
Gamesa's 2011-2013 Business Plan targets average annual sales growth of 166% in India (based on 2009-2013 guidance), with manufacturing capacity forecast to exceed 800 MW in 2013.