The Western Australian Government’s $8 million Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program has made its first co-investment in Australian Winders—Australia’s only maker of large coil components.
The co-investment will deploy funds to manufacture components for electrical generators and motors to seize new opportunities in the renewable energy industry. The $976,408 project is being assisted by a $488,204 co-investment from the Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program, which is administered by Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC). The project is expected to lead to an estimated 25 new jobs and $17.8 million in new revenues over five years.
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Established in 2008, Australian Winders specialises in repairs and the manufacture of industrial motor windings. It keeps important power generation, mine sites, rail and other infrastructure running in Australia and internationally.
The investment will enable Australian Winders to upgrade its coil line with new equipment, including robotic taping heads, hydraulic hot presses, and automated testing systems, allowing the company to boost the speed and quality of coil looping, spreading, and wire insulation to meet international standards.
Over eight months, the company will partner with copper wire specialist Westral and invest in equipment and training to provide Australian wind farm operators with a local supply of coil components that help turbines generate energy from thin air.
The funds will have been made available through a co-investment and advice program co-created by the Western Australian Government and AMGC to enhance local businesses’ capacity and capability in wind energy, manufacturing and servicing supply chains.
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AMGC managing director Dr Jens Goennemann said, “Australian Winders is a great example of the latent manufacturing potential we have in Australia. With the right support and focus, we can help companies and this nation manufacture increasingly complex goods by leveraging the skills we already have.
“Through this project, Australian Winders will first offer local repair and maintenance of wind turbine coils, then as they skill up, they will be able to manufacture new coils for OEMs and wind farm operators replacing an entirely imported product. This is a highly worthwhile effort to back as the program’s first co-investment.”
