Steel contractor makes renewables investment

Mabey Bridge has announced a £38M investment in a new facility which will allow the firm to become the biggest UK manufacturer of wind turbine towers, both for onshore and offshore applications.

The investment will result in 240 new skilled jobs to be based at Mabey Bridge’s recently purchased 32,140m² industrial unit in Chepstow (pictured).

Peter Lloyd, Managing Director of Mabey Bridge, said: “This is a significant announcement which will provide a boost for both the national and local economy while supporting hundreds more jobs in the renewable energy sector.

“We are forecasting that production at the facility will provide around half the UK’s requirement for wind turbine towers, greatly reducing the need for developers to import.”

The new facility has been fully forward funded by parent company Mabey Holdings and will be capable of fabricating steel turbine tower sections up to 5m in diameter and 40m in length.

British Wind Energy Association Chief Executive Maria McCaffery MBE said: “This is tremendous news for South Wales but also for the UK as a whole. We are beginning to see the return of turbine manufacturing in the UK, making the low carbon economy a reality and bringing much needed jobs to local communities.”

The factory will use the latest manufacturing techniques including computer controlled cutting and rolling, robotic welding, steel blasting and an automated painting facility.