RBC Bearings Inc. (USA; NYSE: RBC; 5251R9N7) announced the new 80,000 square foot wind turbine bearing manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas is production-ready.

The facility recently received a letter of conformance from Germanischer Lloyd, covering bearings destined for Acconia Windpower wind turbines.

Conformance certification covers RBC slewing ring bearings for the 1.5 megawatt Acconia units.

Acconia North America assembles 1.5 megawatt wind turbines at its $30 million facility in West Branch, Iowa, and can produce up to 450 per year. In the near future, Acconia plans to add capacity for 3 megawatt units.

Globally, Acconia's production represents significant bearing demand. The company has over 2,100 1.5 megawatt wind turbines in operation around the world.

Dr. Michael Hartnett, RBC's President and CEO, said: "Our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is now ready. Our advanced engineering team, equipped with the most up-to-date analytical design tools, now provides custom-engineered solutions to some of the largest producers of wind turbine generators in the world."

The Houston plant was announced in 2008, after RBC acquired Coastal Bearing Service.

article: RBC building wind turbine bearing plant in Houston.