New turbine blade factory

Posted on 26 Jul 2010 by The Manufacturer

Former workers of the closed Vestas wind turbine factory on the Isle of Wight have created a new turbine blade business, Sureblade.

Set up by former worker, Sean McDonagh, the company is looking to commence manufacturing in September with the first order going to a wind energy firm in Ireland. The new factory is on the same industrial estate as the former Vestas site and McDonagh hopes to employ almost 50 staff within two years.

“It has been hard work but I always knew it was the right thing to do because it was crazy to lose jobs in the renewable energy industry,” says Mcdonagh.

More than 400 staff lost their jobs last year when the the Vestas factory shut down a year ago. Unemployment on the Isle of Wight stands at 3,500 with only 200 job vacancies on the island