14:30 | 04.05.2010
New Renewable Energy Business Unit Powers MAG Industrial Automation Systems
MAG
Industrial Automation Systems is powering up on green energy,
announcing the formation of a new Renewable Energy Business unit to
design/build automated manufacturing systems for solar panels and wind
turbine components. The new business’s operations are based in
Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and Hebron, Kentucky, and are headed by Dr.
Siegfried Schmalzried in Europe/Asia and Joe Jones in the Americas.
According to Jones, the renewable energy business is off to a strong
start. “In recent months, we have secured $30 million in contracts,
representing an approximate 30 percent share of our targeted market,
putting us on track for our goal to produce 10 percent of MAG’s annual
revenue,” he stated.
“While our business unit is new, MAG itself is already firmly
established in the renewable energy sector, having quietly built a
worldwide leadership position in automated manufacturing systems for
solar panels, not to mention composites processing,” Jones added. “MAG
has supplied more than 30 automated production lines for solar panels in
all regions of the world in the last five years, and our systems have
reduced manufacturing costs for solar panels to record lows.”
MAG is currently sharing in a $7 million grant from the state of
Michigan to develop a revolutionary wind hub machining cell for
high-volume manufacturing, and pursue development of carbon-fiber
turbine blades.
MAG is also focused on expansion to serve customers in emerging sectors
in key markets, Jones added. “We opened a new Composites Technical
Center in Göppingen, Germany, in 2009, and a new plant in Changchun,
China, earlier this year, so now have 24 worldwide facilities, 15 of
them in Europe and Asia.”
The new Renewable Energy Business unit will make its debut at worldwide
shows this year, including Solar Power International 2010 (Los Angeles),
HUSUM WindEnergy 2010 (Husum, Germany), and Windpower 2010 (Dallas).
About MAG
MAG is a leading machine tool and systems company serving the
durable-goods industry worldwide with complete manufacturing solutions.
Key industrial markets served by these technologies include aerospace,
automotive and truck, heavy equipment, oil and gas, rail, solar energy,
wind turbine production and general machining.
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