Mabey Bridge scores further wind tower deal

Mabey Bridge will produce steel tubular towers from 40 to 75 m in height, with the first EWT tower and anchor currently in production and destined for a 500 kW turbine for a site in Cornwall. Martin Dijkstra, global supply chain manager for EWT, said: "We have been impressed with the level of expertise and standard of finish at Mabey Bridge. We see this as an exciting and fruitful partnership. Our framework agreement with Mabey Bridge puts us in the ideal position to do business in the growing UK market. This is the second so-called framework agreement that Mabey Bridge has scored, following the official opening of its new facility in Chepstow. UK director of Mabey Bridge Alex Smale said: "EWT is the kind of high profile global player in the wind business that we are looking to do business with. This framework agreement will dovetail alongside our existing arrangements with our other clients, including RePower," he said. Mabey Bridge is part of the Mabey Group, a private family owned group of companies with a turnover well in excess of £100 million and which employs over 1,000 employees. Mabey Bridge has a turnover of £80 million and approaching 500 employees. Based in Chepstow, South Wales, the company's history can be traced back to the construction of Brunel's Wye railway bridge in 1849. Mabey Bridge operates out of two Divisions. The UK Division supplies, paints and erects high quality steelwork for bridges, sign gantries, monopiles, wind turbine towers and other heavy structures in the UK and Eire. The International Division markets the company's innovative range of pre-engineered modular steel panel bridge and car park systems worldwide. Mabey Bridge has three automated manufacturing facilities with a combined annual production capacity approaching 100,000 tonnes. The Lydney facility in Gloucestershire is dedicated to the manufacture of the company's modular steel bridge systems. The company's Chepstow facility specialises in the fabrication and protective treatment of plated and other heavy steelwork for the UK and Irish markets, while the Newhouse facility manufactures wind turbine towers, monopiles and heavy tubular steelwork.