New JV Secures Windflow 500 Supply Chain

16 June 2008

Windflow Technology and AH Gears, the Auckland based manufacturer of the patented Windflow 500 torque limiting gearbox, have entered into a joint venture agreement to consolidate their working relationship that has spanned seven years.

The new JV entity is named Wind Gears Ltd. and the new Board of Directors include directors of AH Gears, Gary Hitchcock and David Horsfall along with Heugh Kelly and Keith McConnell who are both serving and founding directors of Windflow Technology.

Windflow Technology has a forward workload of 60 new Windflow 500 turbines and AH Gears is the sole manufacturer of the gearbox in New Zealand.

“This new JV is in line with our strategy to vertically integrate our manufacturing operation into the two critical and formerly outsourced component parts – wind blades and gearboxes. Now that we have continuous production of nacelles at our factory in Christchurch it makes business sense to secure and bed down the Windflow 500 supply chain from both a quality control and inventory management perspective.” said Geoff Henderson, CEO Windflow Technology.

Wind Gears will work to obtain ISO 9001:2004 Accreditation as soon as possible.

50% of Wind Blades Ltd was bought from the JV partners in 2007, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of Windflow.  Wind Blades now has capacity to manufacture close to ten wind blades per month.  It is forecast that Wind Gears will be manufacturing five gearboxes monthly for installation in the Windflow 500 turbine.

For more information please contact:

Jane Arnott

P 03 377 9712 or  0274 715 785