Two companies with Pittsburgh roots dating to the 19th century are making southwestern Pennsylvania known worldwide for its windmill component-manufacturing capabilities.
PPG Industries Inc. manufactures industrial coatings for windmill towers and blades, as well as Fiberglas used for manufacturing blades. And Converteam makes windmill-drive systems and automation/controls.
Both companies have long histories in the region.
Converteam traces its lineage to 1886 and Westinghouse Drive Systems. PPG has been a part of Pittsburgh since 1883. Today, they are among the world's elite in supplying parts used to make windmills.
PPG and Converteam have adapted products and production methods used in other industries to meet the demands of the rapidly expanding wind-energy industry.
How large is the wind industry? In Pennsylvania alone, a recent study issued by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club, projected that nearly 20,000 wind energy-related jobs could be created instate if the U.S. commits to a 10-year program to stabilize carbon emissions.
World-class wind-industry players -- including Spain's Gamesa and Iberdrola, along with PPG and Converteam -- employ thousands in Pennsylvania.
"We're leveraging our research and development in other industries, like aerospace, to meet the needs in the wind-power industry," said Cheryl A. Richards, a PPG market development manager, during a tour of the company's Coatings Innovations Center in Allison Park.
PPG and Converteam on Tuesday hosted a tour of their wind connections. The tour was sponsored by the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, in cooperation with the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
PPG's initial work in the wind industry occurred in Europe 20 years ago, supplying Fiberglas for windmill blades. Today, PPG supplies coatings for blades and the towers that anchor the blades and the nacelle -- which holds the windmill's working parts.
Converteam, known as Alsthom Power Systems until 2006, became involved with wind power in the early 1990s.
"We're the largest independent supplier of power-conversion equipment for wind turbines in the world," said James Esneault, senior business development manager for Converteam.
Demand for wind power to help satisfy power needs, while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from coal-fired power plants, has driven a hiring explosion at Converteam's headquarters in O'Hara.
Employment has doubled since 2007, with 100 new hires added this year to the previous 180. Another 30 engineers will be hired between now and year's end, with 100 more workers expected to be added in 2009.
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