Cranes currently being manufactured by Sparrows Group (
www.sparrowsgroup.com) and destined for Scottish Power Renewables’ East Anglia ONE wind farm off the coast of Suffolk were recently showcased to local MP Colin Clark at the company’s base in Aberdeen.
The firm is supplying 102 of its WindMaster cranes — one for each of the wind farm’s turbines. Sparrows is currently the only company in the UK with the capability to design and manufacture luffing cranes that are suitable for the offshore wind industry.
The WindMaster range was launched in 2016 to provide a solution to offshore wind farm developers that require luffing cranes for use in deeper waters.
CEO Stewart Mitchell said: “Sparrows Group has become a key player in the UK renewable-energy industry over the last 24 months, following strategic diversification that is now paying dividends for the business.
"This project showcases the capabilities we have here in the UK. At least 95% of our crane parts are sourced from the UK, and we are building the cranes here in Aberdeen.”
Mr Clark said: “It was fascinating to get an insight into the full manufacturing process at Sparrows’ facility and understand how its WindMaster cranes are supporting the UK offshore wind industry.”