PALFINGER establishes a joint venture for the American wind market

• FairWind Renewable Energy Services, LLC will service American wind energy plants 
• PALFINGER will provide large access platforms 
• Competitive advantage through higher efficiency of work equipment

PALFINGER AG, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, and the US-based company Fairwind LLC, headquartered in Lawton, Oklahoma, have established a joint venture for the American wind service industry. The new company FairWind Renewable Energy Services, LLC, in which PALFINGER will hold a 51 per cent interest, will specialize in servicing wind turbines for the production of electricity. The use of large access platforms can double or even triple the efficiency of service and maintenance work. To date, workman baskets or rope access technicians have been the main methods of access.

The wind service industry has grown significantly in the USA and Canada. All in all, there are now more than 60,000 onshore wind turbines there, requiring regular cleaning, routine service, blade repairs, painting, and inspections. In order to enhance efficiency, large access platforms have been gradually ousting traditional methods in the USA.

Fairwind LLC is a young and dynamic company employing approximately 25 experts for the servicing of wind and oil industry equipment. The joint venture established with PALFINGER, will specialize exclusively in the maintenance of wind energy plants. In a first step, PALFINGER will supply access platforms as well as stability and financial power – indispensable assets for long-term contracts. The new company will be managed by Fairwind LLC’s owners Brett Bain and Brian Edwards and will start operations on 1 July 2015.

“This joint venture will open up an additional high-growth sales market for PALFINGER’s large access platforms in North America. What we and the owners and managers of Fairwind LLC have in common is a similar corporate culture. To us, this joint venture is a forward integration in the world’s largest market,” commented Herbert Ortner, CEO of PALFINGER AG.