Wind Energy

A new blade technology with a revolutionary, 100%-automated manufacturing process



Winner: GAMESA Innovation & Technology (Spain)
Partner: Grupo M. Torres (Spain)

 

 

 

 

 

 


Gamesa and M. Torres have developed a new blade technology with a revolutionary, 100% automated manufacturing process. The project focused on the following critical aspects: Blade design, structure materials adapted to the automated process, introduction of innovative tip and root solutions that will improve the aerodynamic performance of the blade (higher production capacity of the wind turbine), automatic lamination of dry glass fibre tape (tap developed by Gamesa and M.Torres).

World first for an industrial application development of moulds with moving part for the automated lamination of the entire blade automation of the infusion process fully automated assembly jig (including application of adhesive beads by robots, also a first in the wind industry) and fully-automated finishing and painting.

The project has been under development for the past 3 years. The solution will have a tremendous impact in the market. Gamesa will be the first blade manufacturer to introduce a fully-automated solution. Automated manufacturing, reducing non-quality cost and increasing the lifespan of blades. The reduced manual workload, together with the savings resulting from the new materials developed, will significantly reduce the overall cost of blades. The cycle time to manufacture a blade will be reduced to 1/3 of the manual process.


Other finalists in the Wind Energy category
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  •  Novel approach to the blade repair market presented by Gurit (UK) with its partners Renewable Advice (UK), Johnson and Allen (UK) and Sadechaf and Clearstone (Belgium).
  •  Affordable Innovative Rapid Production of Offshore Wind Energy Rotor blades presented by the University of Nottingham (UK) with its partners Moog Insensys Ltd. (UK), Gamesa Innovation&Technology (Spain), Hexcel Composites Ltd. (UK) BAe Systems (UK), GE Aviation Systems Ltd.(UK), Solent Composites Ltd. (UK), Magnum Venus Plastech LTD. (UK), NaRec Development Services Ltd. (UK), BCS-UK (UK) and Technology Strategy Board (UK).