CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/450689
TRENDS The University of Maine's (UMaine) Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC, Orono, ME, US) has completed static testing of a 56m wind turbine blade for turbine manufacturer and wind farm developer Gamesa (Zamudio, Vizcaya, Spain). The blade was manufactured in North America and delivered to UMaine in late August 2014. "We are honored to have served one of the world's leading wind turbine manufacturers," says UMaine's Composites Center director Dr. Habib Dagher, "This is the biggest structure we have tested to date, extending nearly 80% of the length of our blade test lab." "Our engineers, technicians, and students did a great job designing, building and operating the equipment needed to safely rotate and test the 56m blade," said John Arimond, who joined the UMaine Composites Center in 2013 after 28 years in industry, most recently as the CTO at a New Zealand-based manufac- turer of 500-kW wind turbines. Juan Diego Díaz, Gamesa´s marketing director, adds, "We are excited to be partnering with UMaine for blade testing. North America was a logical place to conduct this important step in our product development, supporting our grow- ing commercial opportunities in that region and globally. We were impressed by the testing quality, safety and attention to detail provided by the UMaine team in successfully testing our blade." The University of Maine's 9,300m 2 , US$110 million, ISO 17025-accredited laboratory has completed more than 500 product-development and testing projects over the past fve years. Learn more about UMaine's ASCC online | www.composites.umaine.edu ENERGY UMaine tests massive wind blade for Gamesa Source / UMaine WHETHER YOU'RE BUYING 2 OR 200... ...THERE'S A SUPERIOR TOOL IN YOUR FUTURE! Tools for Composite, Aluminum, Titanium, Steel. Quick Turnaround on Tools & Coating. ORDER RAPID CUSTOM MADE: 800.428.TOOL (8665) TO BUY ONLINE STOCK: SUPERIORTOOLSERVICE.COM FEBRUARY 2015 16 CompositesWorld