Changes in rotor blade production for wind turbines over the last few years, away from the use of prepregs and towards infusion technology, has induced composites specialist Gurit (Wattwil / Switzerland; www.gurit.com) to shift Gurit UK 's prepregs production from its site in Newport / UK to its sister plant in Albacete / Spain. Around 70 of the 300 jobs in Newport will be lost, although production of formulated products and the automotive technology centre at the site will not be affected. The move is scheduled for completion by mid-2018. Gurit expects one-off costs of around CHF 3.9m (EUR 3.4m).

With this step, two plants operating below capacity would be combined in one, said a company spokesperson to Plasteurope.com. Automotive and boat building applications had not been able to make up for the decline in the wind power segment. The relocation of production will not, however, lead to any overall reduction in volume. In Albacete, new jobs were to be created, said the Gurit spokesperson, but it was not yet clear how many.

Following the closure of prepreg production plants for rotor blade manufacture in China and Canada over the last few years, Albacete will, from 2018, be the only production facility for these materials worldwide within the company. Gurit also operates two prepreg plants in Kassel / Germany and Zullwil / Switzerland that are specialised in aerospace applications.