Bocholt – Flender, an international provider of mechanical and electrical drive systems, has opened a new service location for its wind energy division Winergy in Campbellfield near Melbourne. The investment underlines the company’s commitment to the energy transition in Australia, according to a statement.
The German mechanical engineering company Flender has opened a new factory in Melbourne, Australia. The aim of the investment is to meet the growing demand for wind turbine services both in the country and in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a statement from the company. The location is intended to act as a central service hub for Australia while helping to reduce CO₂ emissions.
The new location is specifically designed to meet the needs of the wind energy industry. Flender says the facility is designed to meet the needs of the growing Australian wind energy market. In addition to supporting wind power installations on site, customers in the Asia-Pacific region will also be supported from there.
Andreas Evertz, CEO of Flender, emphasized the importance of local service infrastructure: “As wind energy capacity expands in Australia, local service infrastructure is becoming increasingly critical. This facility allows us to deliver our proven Service360 solutions with the speed and efficiency that only a local presence can provide.”
Largest test bench for multi-megawatt drives
The factory is equipped with modern technical facilities, including Australia’s largest test bench for multi-megawatt drives. This should make it possible to test wind turbine gearboxes under real load conditions. Heavy-duty cranes were also installed to handle components of new generations of turbines. In addition, measures to optimize logistics, storage technology and work processes were implemented.
Flender also sees the investment in the location as a contribution to the energy transition. Kareem Emara, Managing Director of Flender Australia and New Zealand, explained that the local service infrastructure enables faster response times and less transport effort. This reduces environmental pollution and at the same time creates qualified jobs. “With comprehensive local service capabilities, we not only support the Australian wind industry, but also contribute to reducing emissions,” says Emara.
Brand-independent service
Antti Turunen, Vice President Wind Service at Flender, explained that the site will also support operators of wind turbines, regardless of the turbine manufacturer. The so-called “Winergy Service360” concept enables a brand-independent service for an operator’s entire fleet.
According to the company, the Melbourne factory meets the required occupational health and safety certifications and follows a zero-accident strategy. In addition, modern IT and network security measures are integrated to secure the processes at the location.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) sees the location as an important step for the local energy industry. “Australia has ambitious goals for the expansion of renewable energy. Local service capacities such as Flender’s can help achieve these while strengthening the industry’s competitiveness,” said a spokesman for the IHK.
With the opening of the factory in Melbourne, Flender aims to expand wind energy and strengthen local infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing market.
