All Siemens gas turbines for 60Hz markets such as North and South America, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, the Philippines and Japan will be produced in Charlotte. With the start of production in Charlotte slated for the fall of 2011, gas turbine manufacturing, as well as service and other production-related activities, will be concentrated in one location in the US.
Siemens said that it will create a global production hub for manufacturing, servicing and other support functions related to the supply of its gas and steam turbines and generators to 60Hz markets.
Peter Loscher, president and CEO of Siemens, said: “This decision underscores our commitment to the US. Over the next five years, we expect employment at the Charlotte site to grow to nearly 1,800 people, with more than 1,000 of those positions new to Charlotte.
“Furthermore, just in the past three years, Siemens has opened – and subsequently expanded – a wind turbine blade manufacturing plant in Fort Madison, Iowa, now with over 400 employees, and a second production plant for wind turbine gearboxes in Elgin, Illinois, with up to 350 new jobs.”
The production of 60Hz gas turbines at the Hamilton site in Canada will be phased out. This decision does not impact the production of gas turbines for 50Hz markets, which remains at the Berlin hub in Germany.
