With assistance from the Western Australian Government, RCR Advanced Technologies will undertake a $5.31 million project to drive a transition into the growing wind energy sector.
Leveraging the company’s deep manufacturing experience in materials handling products for the resources sector, the company will pilot manufacturing innovative transition flanges, modernise its Bunbury operations to seize new market opportunities, and play a key role in supporting Western Australia’s broader energy transition.
The 18-month project will deliver two key outcomes. It will enable RCR to develop local capability in producing transition flanges—a critical component in the base of wind towers that connects the turbine tower to its foundation and are currently sourced from overseas.
Related article: WA invests in wind energy component manufacturing
It will also make further use of investments in advanced machinery, such as robotic welding and painting cells, as well as an upskilled workforce to target the future refurbishment of wind turbine components like gearboxes and drive shafts.
To support the company’s diversification, $2.05 million in co-funding has been awarded via the Western Australian Government’s Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program initiative, designed and delivered in partnership with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
The project will link RCR with global wind energy manufacturer Vestas. In addition, RCR has held early discussions with renewable energy project developer Green Wind Renewables on possible future involvement in their large portfolio. Green Wind Renewables is currently developing a number of large-scale wind farms in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
The transition flanges that RCR are manufacturing represent an impressive solution that meets a current challenge: the scale of base sections for wind towers, reaching around 5.5m in diameter, and the logistical challenges at our ports associated with importing these for onshore wind farm projects.
“This project will have a significant positive impact in the area we operate in and offers opportunities for us, our workforce, and the region to adapt,” RCR Advanced Technologies manager Neville Kelly said.
“RCR is in a prime position to upskill local workers and provide employment related to modern energy sources, while leveraging our mining sector heritage in engineering projects to meet burgeoning demand from the onshore wind energy supply chain in Western Australia.”
Related article: Australian wind tower manufacturing would create jobs boom
The project is expected to create 48 jobs and $36 million in revenue at RCR over the next five years.
Administered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), RCR’s project is the second business to receive co-investment through via the Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, which was launched in late 2024.
The first co-investment made was with Australian Winders—Australia’s only maker of large coil components.
