http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/wind/steel-manufacturers-form-wind-turbine-tower-jv.html

US metal manufacturer Worthington Industries and the renewable energy division of Spanish metal company Gestamp are to form a joint venture to produce wind turbine towers for the US and Canadian wind markets.

The NYSE-listed Worthington Energy Group subsidiary inked an agreement with Gestamp Renewables to create the equally-split joint venture, Gestamp Worthington Wind Steel.
The companies said the new venture will focus on producing towers for wind turbines constructed in North America and plan to position a factory to target the growing renewable energy market in western US states.
The partners have identified a 30-acre site in Cheyenne, Wyoming to locate its initial wind turbine tower production facility. The Cheyenne Logistics Hub is close to two major rail lines, which could aid exports from the region. The factory will be Gestamp Renewables’ first US production facility.
They plan to sign a further agreement within the next few months to formalise the new venture, for which they anticipate to hire 150 people.
‘This joint venture is the result of pursuing opportunities in the renewable energy field for the past nine months in a newly formed Worthington Energy Group,’ said Worthington Industries CEO John McConnell.
While Worthington brings its experience in the US manufacturing market to the table, the joint venture will benefit from Gestamp Renewables affiliate Gestamp Wind Steel’s global supply relationships in the wind turbine markets and manufacturing know-how.
Gestamp Renewables CEO Jon Riberas said, ‘We have wind tower manufacturing facilities in Spain, Turkey, and Brazil.’
The companies said they plan to produce utility-scale wind towers for 2MW and 3MW wind turbines at the proposed wind tower factory in Wyoming, initially targeting the production of at least 300 towers per year. They expect to ship between 80 and 100 wind turbine tower sections in the first quarter of 2012.