Trade winds in Portugal

25 Jul 2005

A growing demand for wind generated power in Portugal has resulted in increased business through Corus International’s Lisbon office. Orders for 1000 tonnes of plate, ex CC&I, in 2004 for the fabrication of two towers by customer Martifer Energia have risen by a further 3,500 tonnes for three more towers in 2005. Of the five towers, two were manufactured for end users Gewind and three for Repower - now part owned by Martifer Energia’s parent company Martifer.

Ranging in size up to 100metres in height with a maximum diameter at the base of 4.5 metres, a diameter of 82 metres across the blades and an output of 2 megawatts, two of the towers of this specification were supplied to Repower for the Parque do Mogadouro in northern Portugal.

Martifier Energia was created in order to meet the high potential of the wind energy market. Its core business lies in the production and marketing of wind towers and other equipment for power generation. Facilities are now in place for the production of towers of larger dimensions for both on-shore and off-shore wind generated power.

After beginning work with Martifer over 18 months ago Corus International Lisbon Manager Claudia Esteves Mills is pleased with the way the business was won against stiff competition and that the first wind towers produced by the company have been manufactured with 100% Corus steel. She says: “We achieved our goal mainly through the strong relationship we have with this customer and the assistance we received from CC&I through Neil Stewart Sales Manager International Shipbuilding and Wind Towers and his colleague, James Griffiths.