GE Renewable Energy has planned to recruit 300 employees at its LM Wind Power wind turbine blade manufacturing site in Cherbourg, France, in 2021.
Any new recruit will go through a rigorous preparation program to master wind turbine blade production processes at the factory’s “Center of Excellence.” With a greater manufacturing workforce, LM Wind Power will be able to satisfy the increasing market demand for offshore wind equipment.
The factory currently employs over 450 people, with women accounting for 34% of the workforce. When it opened nearly three years ago in April 2018, it became France’s first wind turbine blade production center.
The facility developed the first offshore wind turbine blade longer than 100 meters, a 107-meter-long blade for GE’s Haliade-X offshore wind turbine. At the moment, a second 107-meter blade production mold is being constructed at the factory.
“The arrival of the second mold within the factory marks an increased activity for LM Wind Power in Cherbourg, and we are happy to welcome a large wave of new employees, allowing us to participate in social development and create more jobs in the surrounding community, but also to bring new skills to the region.“
Florence Martinez Flores, the site’s human resources director.
The Cherbourg team is mostly interested in expanding its manufacturing staff, with jobs available to people of all profiles and backgrounds. Any new employee will be qualified to produce wind turbine blades through LM Wind Power’s “Core of Excellence” training program – a six-week theoretical and practical training course that will develop the skills and technological experience needed to manufacture high-quality wind turbine blades. Production managers, quality controllers, and repair technicians would also be expected at the facility.
Following the training, employees receive official certificates recognized in the French industry, as a Qualification Certificate for Metallurgy Operations.
