Gurit becomes core kit design partner for leading wind turbine OEM

Source | Gurit

Gurit (Zurich, Switzerland) announces a major long-term supply agreement for core material kits with an unnamed leading wind turbine OEM. The landmark contract will ensure continuous core kit deliveries for the next 5 years valued at approximately CHF 250 million (~$320 million).

Gurit will provide OptiCore design services for all core kits covered under the agreement, whether supplied by Gurit or by third parties, ensuring consistency and continuity for the turbine manufacturer.

“This significant long-term agreement reaffirms Gurit’s continued strength in the global wind energy market and the depth of trust we have cultivated with our customers,” says Jesper Sloth, VP sales – wind materials, Gurit.

The company’s OptiCore parametric optimization platform is designed to advance the development of engineered core solutions for the wind sector. Through collaborative efforts between Gurit engineers and customers, OptiCore ensures that core use and treatment are precisely optimized, with every groove, cut and contour finely tuned to match the blade’s geometry. This results in an optimized fit that reduces resin consumption, and therefore the cost and overall blade weight. Additionally, OptiCore provides a data-rich model of the blade core, which can eventually help optimize the structural integrity of the blade, aligning with the wind industry’s ongoing commitment to more sustainable energy generation at a lower levelized cost of energy.

By having one design partner for all core kits, the customer will benefit from a streamlined process, reduced complexity, unified designs across factories and improved integration across its supply chain.

“Gurit’s PET extrusion and core kitting plants are strategically located near major wind turbine blade manufacturing facilities. This proximity enables close collaboration with blade manufacturers, allowing rapid issue resolution and day-to-day optimization when new kits are introduced,” adds Daniel Dahlqvist, general manager – Business Unit Wind Systems, Gurit. “Additionally, our global manufacturing footprint provides a more geopolitically stable supply chain.”