Liebherr extends its components production for wind turbines to Brazil

The Liebherr Group is planning further investments to expand the production of large diameter bearings, which can be used as key components for blade and jaw adjustment in wind turbines. With an additional production area of 6,000m² on the Guaratinguetá site in Brazil, Liebherr extends the international production network for components. "We maintain close cooperation with our customers and business partners. Therefore, we focus on proximity to the leading manufacturers of wind turbines also with regard to the production of large diameter bearings in Guaratinguetá," says Oliver Wennheller, Sales Manager for Large Diameter Bearings and Wind Industry at Liebherr-Components AG. "At the same time, we see vast potential in further development of the South American market and other branches of industry."

Technical know-how and state-of-the-art technology in Guaratinguetá

The modern machine pool at the production site as well as the extensive know-how of the employees at Liebherr Brasil Ltda. guarantee high-quality components from Guaratinguetá. All future production workers on the Guaratinguetá site have been trained and instructed in the use of the technical equipment accordingly by Liebherr in Biberach (Germany) and Monterrey (Mexico). The machine pool extends from facilities for the machining and inductive hardening of bearing raceways through Liebherr machines for milling the gears of slewing rings to surface coating. Production will now commence with various product qualifications, so that the first large diameter bearings will be delivered to customers in the second half of 2016.

The large diameter bearings measuring up to 4,500mm in diameter are mainly designed for use in wind turbines for the adjustment of both rotor blade and azimuth pitches. “We call upon the same high quality standards for large diameter bearings as on our production sites in Germany and Mexico,” says Karl Glaser, Head of Business Unit Large Diameter Bearings at Liebherr-Components Biberach GmbH. “In this way, we can guarantee reliability and efficiency of bearings during their entire life cycle.”

Liebherr in Guaratinguetá since 1974

On the Guaratinguetá site, the Liebherr Group runs two other production companies: Liebherr Brasil Ltda., founded in 1974, manufactures excavators, wheel loaders, tower cranes, mixing plants and truck mixers, along with maritime cranes for the Brazilian market. Liebherr Aerospace Brasil Ltda. specializes in precision processing, surface treatment and assembly of high-tech parts for flight control and actuation systems, air management systems and landing gear systems for the aviation industry.