Perth-based utility SSE sold its 80% stake in the Machrihanish-based Wind
Towers Scotland (WTS) factory to global manufacturer of wind farm tower
structures, CS Wind.
The South Korean firm has now announced plans to invest up to £14 million
in Scotland and create around 70 new jobs in rural Argyll.
Set up in 2011, Wind Towers Scotland is a specialist supplier of wind
turbine infrastructure to markets across Europe. It also provides repair
and maintenance services to the wind industry.
CS Wind plans to extend operations at the plant to include the manufacture
of towers for the offshore wind market. The investment will result in the
first factory in the UK to commercially produce offshore wind towers. It
will secure the existing 134 jobs at the plant and create up to 70 more.
Sandy Biggar, SSE Director of Procurement, said: “We have been a committed
custodian of the Wind Towers factory for over five years and we’ve worked
hard to help the business keep going in a challenging economy and to help
it become a success for rural Argyll.
“Although turbine tower manufacturing is not a core area of business for us
as an energy company, we were nevertheless determined to demonstrate our
strong support for home-grown Scottish wind farm manufacturing by seeking
out an ownership stake in the Machrihanish factory.
“Another driver was our desire to retain a UK-based supply chain to service
our wind farm portfolio. Transfer of our stake in the business to CS Wind
at this point represents a renewed growth opportunity for Wind Towers and
job security for the staff there on top of increased employment
opportunities for skilled workers based in Argyll and Bute.
Grant McPherson, Managing Director, Wind Towers Scotland, commented: “We
are immensely pleased CS Wind has announced this major investment in Scotland.
“Machrihanish is an ideal location for wind tower manufacturing with an
excellent reputation and highly skilled workforce. The team at Wind Towers
is completely supportive of this development and already looking forward to
the opportunities to come as CS Wind has stated it has big plans to build
on the current success of the factory.”
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