£82m contract issued for design and build of Siemens Gamesa’s blade plant expansion

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An £82 million contract to build out the massive expansion to Siemens Gamesa’s Hull blade factory has been awarded.

Volker Fitzpatrick, behind the original build, will deliver the huge project, anticipated to complete in May 2023.

It involves two additional manufacturing facilities and repurposing of the current facility – work that will double capacity while enabling the offshore wind giant to produce larger blades.

Read more: Final turbine installed at Triton Knoll offshore wind farm

The buildings will cover a total footprint of 42,362 sq m. With a total cost of £186 million, it has received backing from the government’s Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support Scheme, with 200 jobs set to be created when complete.

Rob Bullen, Siemens Gamesa’s head of real estate in the UK and Ireland, said: “Siemens Gamesa is again delighted to be working with VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver an industry-leading infrastructure project. This project is more ambitious even than the initial factory build in Hull back in 2016, and Siemens Gamesa needed a partner that could match our aspirations for delivering the project. It’s evident, even from the early stages of working together on the project, that we have found that partner in VolkerFitzpatrick.”

Phase one will include pre-cast piling, drainage and foundations, and steel frame structures. The steelwork has been specially designed to allow 40m clear spans, with a working height of 18m and significant load-bearing capability, to accommodate the various gantry and console cranes required for the manufacturing process.

Phase two will involve modifications to the existing 34,217 sq m blade factory, to repurpose it from a production facility to a finishing area. This will include internal reconfigurations, as well as upgrading and replacing mechanical services. The team will also alter the building’s envelope, steelwork and doors, to allow for larger blades to be manoeuvred in and out.

The industry is scaling up significantly, with Siemens Gamesa at the fore, as an acceleration of domestic deployment is pushed by government.

Stuart Deverill, managing director of VolkerFitzpatrick’s building division, said: “VolkerFitzpatrick has a long-standing, collaborative relationship with Siemens Gamesa, having worked together on its original blade factory in 2016. I am delighted that we have now been appointed to deliver these two new facilities and look forward to seeing the works progress over the coming months.”

The Hertfordshire-based firm has pledged to hire trainees and a portion of its supply chain from the surrounding area. The team will also re-use stone from the existing site, helping to minimise waste material.

Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council said: “We at Hull City Council are proud to welcome VolkerFitzpatrick back to the city. We look forward to working collaboratively with them and Siemens Gamesa to maximise the benefits of this appointment for the region.”

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