The new plant will create approximately 300 new jobs in production and 55 new office jobs over the next three to four years — which is more than double the current number of employees in Elgin.
The plant, one of the first in Illinois to receive environmental LEED certification, was built using recycled steel and designed with Siemens energy efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems, which are expected to save $500,000 annually in energy costs and reduce annual water use by 250,000 gallons.
"This facility is a great example of how sustainability has helped transition a traditional industry into a newer, greener one — increasing production, creating ‘green’ jobs and reducing its environmental footprint," noted Parthiv Amin, president of Winergy Drive Systems Corp. "It is also a fine example of the company’s commitment to providing technologies that are produced in an environmentally responsible manner and promote energy efficiency."
"I salute Siemens and Winergy for the investment in clean, renewable energy and for providing green jobs in our state," said Governor Quinn. "Together we are taking another step to make Illinois more sustainable through alternative energy sources such as wind power."
"I am proud Winergy and Siemens are here in Elgin. They will create good, high-tech jobs and help grow our economy for years to come," said U.S. Congressman Bill Foster, Illinois 14th District. "This is exactly the kind of growth and success we need to stay competitive globally, and I look forward to continuing the pursuit of solutions that will ensure long-term economic prosperity for the 14th District."
"Winergy and Siemens are providing important ‘green’ jobs to our area as business and industry shift toward conservation and renewable energy models," said Elgin Mayor Ed Schock. "The city of Elgin can provide skilled workers for these jobs while also ensuring the right policies and procedures are in place to provide for smart growth and sustainable development."
The state of Illinois and the city of Elgin provided a number of incentives to Siemens to help secure the investment including a Wind Energy Development Grant and Employer Training Investment Program job training funds.
Siemens invested more than $20 million to build the infrastructure needed to equip the new plant for production. The new plant will be used for the assembly and testing of mechanical gear drives. The existing plant will be maintained to manufacture the gears and components that will be assembled and tested in the new plant. It will also house the services and repairs business. The new plant located at 1401 Madeline Lane, Elgin, Ill., is 170,000 square feet, expandable up to 330,000 square feet.
About Winergy and Siemens:
Winergy is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of drivetrains, including gearboxes, couplings, generators and inverters, for the wind industry and wind power.
Siemens Drive Technologies is also the world’s leading supplier of products and services for production machinery and machine tools and offers integrated technologies that cover the entire drive train with electrical and mechanical components. This includes standard products, but also encompasses industry-specific control and drive solutions for metal forming, printing and electronic manufacturing as well as solutions for glass, wood and timber, plastics, ceramics, textiles and packaging equipment and crane systems. With around 39,900 employees worldwide, Siemens Drive Technologies Division posted revenues of EUR 8.9 billion in fiscal 2008.
Siemens AG (NYSE: SI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 428,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide sales of $116.6 billion in fiscal 2008. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA reported sales of $22.4 billion and employs approximately 69,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more information on Siemens in the United States, visit www.usa.siemens.com.
Siemens is a leading provider of efficient infrastructure solutions, and has one of the largest environmental portfolios today. In FY2008, revenue generated from its environmental portfolio represented around one quarter of the company’s total revenue.
www.usa.siemens.com/en/news_events.htm
