THE INSIDE OF FACTORY

MHI and MPS (Mitsubishi Power System, Inc.) have agreed to establish a JV. This agreement includes the establishment of a new Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) blade plant in Mexico with an FRP manufacturer, TPI Composites Inc. (US), for the purpose of manufacturing a Wind Turbine Generator component.

The joint venture, named VienTek, LLC., will begin operations in a 200,000 square foot facility in Juarez, Mexico and will have an initial production capacity of 1,200 blades a year.
“Viento”, the Spanish word for wind and for technology were combined to create the name of the new company.
The use of TPI’s proprietary, patented SCRIMP (Seeman Composites Resin Infusion Molding Process ; Details are described hereinbelow as Notes) manufacturing process results in lighter, stronger, and more reliable composite structures.
The joint venture combines the wind turbine experience and strength of MHI with the composite manufacturing know-how of TPI.

THE VIEW OF VIENTEK FACTORY

MHI has traditionally manufactured WTG components, including WTG blades, at its Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works (Nagasaki, Japan). However, FRP blades are too bulky and difficult to transport over long distances. MHI will handle the main system components such as generators at Nagasaki. It will manufacture WTG blades in Mexico from next summer.

MHI is the only Japanese Wind Turbine Generator manufacturer. Though the company has delivered more than 1000 WTGs to the US to date, it has only a 15% share in US market.

The “Wind Power” business is a high-profile topic in the US due to interest in global ecology issues. With the establishment of the new plant, MHI is planning to double its sales.


Notes ;
This technology uses a technique to seal the glass fiber in a silicon bag and to impregnate it with resin by pumping out the air contained inside. This technique makes it possible to mold homogenous, high density FRP because the resin does not become dispersed.