JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #37 - December 2007 - 26

BUSINESS Market survey: China Gurit follows customers to produce in China Gurit officially inaugurated its purpose-built production plant in China and production is rolling successfully. Gurit, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-end composites and technological solutions for applications in the wind energy, transportation, marine, sport and civil engineering markets, officially inaugurated its new purpose-built production facility in China last August 22, in the presence of the local authorities and several customers and suppliers. production capacity could even double within the near future; the Chinese wind energy market is expected to show double-digit growth. The People’s Republic of China plans to bring up the installed capacity for wind energy generation from around 1,300 MW today to 30,000 MW by the year 2020. In Asia – and China in particular – there is a huge and growing demand for locally manufactured advanced composites. As prepreg materials have to be transported and stored in cooling containers, it is important to set up production sites as close to the end users as possible. Many important customers are located in or near Tianjin. Focus With its new prepreg and structural foam capacities in China, Gurit is able to supply its international customers locally in all major global market areas. The facility at Tianjin will continue to grow. of structural foam products had started in China already in April and has now been relocated into the Group’s own buildings. An additional 40 people will join Gurit (Tianjin) by the end of the year. When in full use, the site will produce a turnover of about CHF 50 million. The new plant is the Group’s third largest in terms of both size and production capacity. Most of the locally manufactured products will be delivered to international and local customers in the Asian wind energy market, while smaller volumes may also go into marine and transportation applications. Gurit (Tianjin) also supplies additional materials, such as specially formulated epoxy resins or gelcoats that are manufactured at other production sites. Closer to the market Located in the Yat-Sen Scientific Industrial Park, Wuqing, Tianjin, the new site is the Group’s first production unit in China. Since ground-breaking in late November 2006, the wholly owned subsidiary Gurit (Tianjin) Composite Materials Co., Ltd. was completed well within the targeted time frame and planned budget for building and machinery costs of CHF 18 million. Built in a mere six months, the production facility today comprises a building complex of 10,000 m2. Located on 30,000 m2 of land, Gurit (Tianjin) may thus be expanded further in the years ahead. According to General Manager Phil Harnett, Serving the wind energy industry At its new production site, Gurit manufactures composite materials for its rapidly growing Chinese and Asian customer base. Currently, the Group employs some 100 people and operates prepreg lines, as well as various expansion ovens and kitting lines for structural foam products. The kitting An international presence The companies of Gurit Holding AG, Wattwil/Switzerland, specialize in the development and manufacture of high-end composite materials that feature bespoke physical and chemical characteristics. The comprehensive product range comprises fibre-reinforced prepregs, Gurit production plant in China JEC Composites Magazine / No37 December 2007
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #37 - December 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #37 - December 2007
