Hansen eyes China after Suzlon cuts stake

Brussels: Wind turbine gearbox maker Hansen Transmissions sees opportunities in the Chinese market after Suzlon Energy sold its controlling stake, its chief executive said in an interview published on Monday.

CEO Ivan Brems told De Standaard newspaper Hansen had an advantage in the Chinese market as a result of loosening its ties with India’s Suzlon.

Suzlon sold a 35% stake in November, leaving it with 26% of the company.

Manufacturers of solar technology, a sister industry to wind power, have struggled to compete with cheaper imports from countries like China.

However Brems said that competition from China was not such a grave concern for Hansen because of the level of technical knowledge required.

“It requires a very large mechanical knowledge and it is not so obvious to set up production. The biggest Chinese manufacturer was able to make 92 copies with a yearly capacity of 2 megawatts. Hansen can build 2,000 per year.”

Brems added that he expected sales for the year to reach the level of last year.