A leading steel firm has bought equipment to manufacture wind towers and
large-scale tubular steel fabrication.
Liberty House said the move takes forward its plans to build a
fully-integrated steel and engineering business across the UK.
The equipment will form the heart of a new manufacturing centre which will
eventually supply the growing offshore wind market and turbine casings for
tidal lagoon power.
The company will recruit a workforce of more than 100 for the new
enterprise, including engineers, welders, fabricators, assemblers, blasters
and painters, with further jobs expected.
Liberty’s newly-acquired steel plants at Dalzell and Clydebridge in
Scotland will make the heavy-duty steel plate required for the towers.
The mothballed Scottish plate mills began recruitment last week with a view
to re-starting production in September.
Liberty bought the steel tower production equipment which was closed down
in September 2015 by Mabey Bridge Renewables at Chepstow, South Wales.
The company will announce the location of its new manufacturing centre
within the next few weeks.
The group’s executive chairman, Sanjeev Gupta, said: “We are very excited
about this new opportunity. It is an excellent example of how we are
integrating our steel production and manufacturing supply chain to create a
robust industrial eco-system.
Read more: Steel firm chairman calls for ‘radical’ reshape of
‘unsustainable’ industry
“It is particularly appropriate that this new business will supply the
renewable energy market in view of our own Greensteel strategy, which
involves investing in green energy as the basis of a competitive UK steel
and engineering industry.”
Liberty is one of a number of firms interested in buying Tata Steel’s UK
business.
The Indian conglomerate is still assessing bids.
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “Following this week’s announcement
of over 100 new jobs at Nigg on the Cromarty Firth to support the
construction of an offshore wind farm, it’s great to hear of the potential
for even more jobs linked to renewables.
“This news underscores the type of jobs benefits that will come as the UK
transitions to a zero-carbon economy.
“However, to ensure we reap the maximum benefits of becoming a zero-carbon
nation, Government must put in place the necessary policies to fully
support this important transition.”
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