ZF Services, LLC announced the completed installation of the 2.5MW test bench at its Vernon Hills, Ill. Wind Service Center. The project, which began with construction in September 2012, is the result of a $1.6 million grant.
The recently completed test bench will be able to test over 200 gearboxes annually. ZF Services, LLC launched this new project with an open house on May 8th—coinciding with WINDPOWER 2013—while hosting their customers and local vendors at the Vernon Hills facility to showcase the test bench, redesigned facility and extensive portfolio of technical possibilities. The recently completed test bench and redesigned facility now allows the company to offer an even wider range of services, providing a tailor-made one-stop shopping approach for multi-brand gearbox and mechanical drive train repair.
ZF has been present in the region for over the past 35 years, and customers can continue to anticipate great customer service. The centrally located facility has a 20-man wind service team dedicated to servicing customer needs, including field technicians for on-site up-tower repairs. Through a close link to the ZF Wind Power research and development team in Lommel, Belgium, ZF Services, LLC has access to continuous ongoing developments to support customer requirements in repairs and gearbox enhancements. The regional wind service center at ZF Services, LLC will be stocking genuine spare parts and exchange gearboxes covering the full product range of ZF Wind Power.
With more than 7,000 ZF gearboxes installed in North American, ZF designed the wind service facility with the intent to service this large installed base of ZF gearboxes as well as other multi-brand products. The ZF Services, LLC Vernon Hills facility is now one of ZF’s 8 wind service locations worldwide; with 6 having load testing capabilities. For further questions please contact your ZF representative.
“The ZF Services Vernon Hills service organization continues to grow as evidenced by our recent investments in the facility, equipment, and personnel over the past three years. Our North American wind industry customers will have the same great service experience that our other industry customers received in this region over the past 35 years,” said Scott Gardiner, director of wind services for North America.
For more information, visit www.zf.com/na.
