Wilton Group has unveiled a £3 million ‘state of the art’ coatings facility in the Tees Valley for offshore wind-turbine components.
The Preparation & Coatings Facility, which is operated by group member Universal Coatings, is part of a continued investment programme by the company to meet the needs of the offshore wind industry.
Covering 2,256m
2 and 15m high, the new facility is used for the preparation and painting of steel transition pieces.
Wilton and Universal are currently delivering 21 transition pieces (each weighing 340 tonnes) that will be part of Ørsted’s Hornsea One offshore wind farm. The new facility was unveiled at a ceremony attended by around 80 representatives from the offshore wind industry and members of the business community in the North East.
The investment by Wilton (
www.wiltonengineering.co.uk) was supported by £600,000 from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, in addition to £3 million from the Tees Valley Catalyst Fund.
A further £300,000 was received from the Tees Valley Combined Authority to assist with the development of the site’s logistics.
Wilton CEO Bill Scott said: “The project we secured for Ørsted’s Hornsea One offshore wind farm demonstrates the capabilities of the UK supply chain to play a part in such a significant renewables development, which we have further enhanced through the investment in this important facility.
"The support we have received from the Combined Authority and the Catalyst Fund has been an important element of the on-going growth of our business.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, who officially opened the site, said: “Offshore wind is extremely important to the UK, and one of the really exciting things is that the industry is led from the front by the North East — and the Tees Valley in particular.”