• Eickhoff inaugurates its assembly facility for wind gearboxes in Chennai, India, driving further its growth and internationalization strategy in Asia
  • Key functions of the new site include assembly and testing of wind gearboxes as well as logistics
  • Initial expansion stage will enable assembly of up to 900 gearboxes p.a., with a second expansion stage planned to cover up to 1,500 gearboxes p.a.
  • Plant will assemble gearboxes of up to 8 MW

Eickhoff Wind Asia, a 100% subsidiary of the Bochum based family-owned company Gebr. Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik u. Eisengießerei GmbH, announced the official opening of its new manufacturing facility in Chennai, India. Eickhoff Wind Asia is part of the Eickhoff Wind division of Gebr. Eickhoff Maschinenfabrik u. Eisengießerei GmbH, that supplies gearboxes for wind turbines as well as industrial applications and offers customized service concepts. The new assembly facility for wind gearboxes strengthens Eickhoff’s geographical footprint in Asia and marks an important milestone in its growth and internationalization strategy.

The company has signed a MoU with the Government of Tamil Nadu, to invest Rs. 639.78 crores in India. The group plans to employ about 700 persons directly and indirectly with this investment.

Since the ground-breaking ceremony in July 2021, construction work has progressed rapidly, local staff has been trained and the plant is now fully prepared for operations. The utilized area of the plant covers 24,000 m², with the majority being used for operational work related to the assembly of the wind gearboxes. In addition, the facility contains an administration building of around 2,000 m². The main functions of the new site include assembly, storage, and testing of the gearboxes up to a size of 8 MW. In the first stage of the expansion, which has now been completed, up to 900 gearboxes per year will be assembled, with plans to assemble up to 1,500 gearboxes per year in the second stage.

Dr. Ulf Achenbach, CEO of Eickhoff: “At Eickhoff, we have always been early to internationalize as a company and it is an integral part of our corporate history and DNA. With the new assembly plant in India, we have now reached a central corporate milestone in a very important growth market. With the plant in Chennai, we can serve the dynamic growth market of wind power even better and grow locally in India together with our customers. We are pleased that the construction work remained on schedule despite the impact of a global pandemic. Our planned expansion stages will enable us to expand our supply and provide international assembly at a very high level.”