Producing large blades on a large scale
In the past year MHI Vestas Offshore Wind (MVOW) has successfully set up a blade factory on the Isle of Wight where the world’s largest blades are built in serial production. Including with the support of Pontis, unique skills and processes were developed that are necessary to produce these blades on a large scale. The first 80 meter blades for use in a UK offshore wind power plant have arrived at pre-assembly site in Belfast at the end of July.
In the MVOW pursuit for Continuous Improvement the next project for Pontis presented itself. In the design and engineering of the blade various production efficiency optimizations were implemented, further increasing efficiency on the production line of these 80 meter giants. Pontis was commissioned to manage the project for the production of the test blade.
Henk Minnema, Senior Project Manager at Pontis and responsible for the project, says: “Also in this project lead time requirements were ambitious. Thanks to the proven cooperation and hard work of everyone involved, we completed the test blade within the prescribed timeframe. The blade will now be tested on the Isle of Wight.”
We are ready to meet you at WindEnergy Hamburg 2016!
Today the world''s leading expo for wind energy kicks off and as we are ready to give you a warm welcome at our stand. It promises to be a busy week: more than 1,200 exhibitors will present their products and services in nine exhibition halls, which provide a total of more than 65,000 square metres of exhibition space.
Be sure to meet us here at WindEnergy 2016: we are very much looking forward to see you!
Human Power Team reaches 124.73 km/h in Speed Challenge
Last week the Human Power Team (HPT) has reached the fourth place at the World Human Powered Speed Challenge in America’s Nevada desert. Former track cyclist and Olympic ice skater Jan Bos recorded a top speed of 124.73 km/h on the lightning-fast Velox 6: a high-tech, aerodynamic recumbent bike designed and built by TU Delft and VU Amsterdam students. The world record was also broken at last week’s event, with Canadian Todd Reichert achieving a speed of 144.15 km/h.
For the second year in a row Pontis assisted the students attending TU Delft and VU Amsterdam in the development of the super-fast bike. They spent a year working with Jan Bos fine-tuning the technical design of this completely human-powered recumbent bike and scientifically honing the movements. Jan Bos worked on his endurance level and extensively practised his sprint technique with the Amsterdam students. For their part, the TU Delft students optimised the aerodynamics and stability of the bike using wind tunnels, computer models and testing facilities.
Hugo Lambriex, Team Manager of the Human Power Team, added, “Jan Bos was in good shape and the engineering worked perfectly, but the wind was unfortunately not in our favour. We had naturally hoped to secure a world record, but it is great that we were able to come away as the third fastest student team with our recumbent bike.”
The team plans to return next year for another world record attempt. A Dutch student team succeeded in breaking the world record in 2013, when Sebastiaan Bowier clocked a top speed of 133.78 km/h.
Photo: Bas de Meijer
Meet us @ Dutch Wind Days 2016
Next week (15/16 June) the annual Wind Days will be held in Rotterdam's World Trade Center. This years theme is " Wind: Leading the Energy Transition". The event consists of an exhibition and a conference with leading speakers. There will be workshops and lectures on innovations and research results, challenges in development/spatial development, construction and operation, experiences in financing and operation and opportunities for growth in employment and education. Both onshore and offshore wind will be covered.
Pontis Directors Dirk Jan Kootstra and Sjef van Breugel will be present at the Wind Days and they are looking forward to meet you in Rotterdam. Let's meet up and schedule a date and time!
Work hard, run fast part 4
Our engineers are not only cracks in improving cycle times within the factory walls. Every edition of the world renowned Rotterdam Marathon they improve their performance and finish the full race of 42.195 meters faster!
Pontis’ running team consisting of Pim de Laat and Edgar Suselbeek appeared at the start of the Rotterdam marathon on April 10, 10 o’clock sharp. It was a great day for a marathon, as it wasn’t too windy and it was nice and sunny. Hence probably the good results of our runners. Pim finished in 3.39. 47 and Edgar crossed the finish line 31/2 minutes later: 3.43.08.
The surprise winner of the 36th edition of the NN Rotterdam Marathon was Marius Kipserem. In the sunny Coolsingel street, the Kenyan athlete stepped out of the favourites’ shadow with a personal best of 2:06:11 hours.
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