Help to Diversify: Romax
‘DECC impressed us with their evolved support with our changing business needs. As early entrants to the market, DECC provided us with key market information and the opportunity to exhibit at shows for low cost and risk.
As we have grown to one of the leading independent technical
consultants in the industry, DECC was on hand to introduce us to key
contacts, provide specialist advice and offer us arenas in which we
could display our capabilities to potential customers. We have found
that interaction under the banner of the UK government has given us
greater standing, where markets have been traditionally reluctant to
work with foreign companies. In these cases, we have been able to enter
markets more quickly…’
Romax
One way in which DECC’s UK Renewable Service is continuing to increase the UK’s wind energy sector is by supporting companies in related industries to diversify.
Companies from traditional markets such as oil and gas, manufacturing and automotive are reaping benefits from Government stimulation of the wind energy sector. DECC works with companies and their employees to adapt existing products and skill base for the new UK wind energy market.
Receiving support from DECC, Romax Technology has successfully diversified from the automotive sector to become a world leading, and warding winning, supplier to the wind energy industry.
With 20 years experience supplying innovative technical solutions to the automotive, rail, aerospace and heavy industries, Romax Technology was well placed to transfer their unique expertise in gearbox and drivetrain design and analysis to the wind energy industry.
‘Our success came in China which was key to our international growth in wind energy,’ says Dr Xaiobing Hu, Business Development Director at Romax Technology. ‘Within China we experienced a strong need for our products and services within the rapidly growing domestic wind energy market. Working with gearbox and bearing suppliers to develop some of the industries most innovative products, provided a spring board for us to sell services to other markets.’
The biggest success in China for Romax Technology to date has been their collaboration with Dalian Huarui Co. Ltd. The joint project began in December 2007, and the detailed design was finalized by Romax in June 2008, with Dalian Huarui producing the first prototype in December 2008. Romax provided full technical support including concept design for the gearbox, detailed design and optimisation, technology training, prototyping and test support as well as certification support. The gearbox has now been awarded certification by Germanischer Lloyd, a leading certification body in wind energy.
This gearbox was the first Chinese manufactured 3MW gearbox, and represented a land mark event in the Chinese Wind Energy industry. 34 units of the Sinovel 3MW wind turbines containing the Romax–Dalian Huarui Co. Ltd gearbox, has now been installed in China’s first offshore wind farm, Shanghai East Sea Wind farm.
What does this mean for the
UK?
Success in the global market for Romax means continued growth and
employment for its UK base. It has grown from under 20 people to nearly
90 people in the UK alone and has plans to expand its UK workforce even
further.
Romax is also contributing to UK plc through its high level of exports. The company recently gained recognition for its dramatic rise in exports, an increase of more than threefold over 6 years, and recently received the Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade; the second time Romax Technology has received this title in its 20 year history.
What benefits have Romax gained from DECC’s UK
Renewables Service?
‘DECC’s UK Renewables Service impressed us with their evolved support
with our changing business needs’ commented Dr Hu. ‘As early entrants
to the market, DECC provided us with key market information and the
opportunity to exhibit at shows for low cost and risk. As we have grown
to one of the leading independent technical consultants in the
industry, DECC was on hand to introduce us to key contacts, provide
specialist advice and offer us arenas in which we could display our
capabilities to potential customers.
‘We have found that interaction under the banner of the UK government has given us greater standing, where markets have been traditionally reluctant to work with foreign companies. In these cases, we have been able to enter markets more quickly than we would have otherwise done alone’.
Romax Technology’s advice for other UK
companies
The technical consultancy’s success has been due in part to an ability
to respond quickly to market needs. Dr Hu, advises other companies ‘in
a rapidly moving industry like wind energy it is essential to monitor
market dynamics and adapt you products and services accordingly. To
ensure you have the market knowledge that this responsiveness requires,
utilize all possible sources and leverage the support that
organizations like DECC and UKTI can provide.’
What does the future mean for Romax
Technology?
Through continuous investment and exceptional talents Romax strives to
push back the frontier of wind energy engineering. With growing demand
for products and services and huge growth potential, Romax intends to
strengthen their existing client base in target markets and access new
opportunities within some of the worlds emerging wind energy markets.
In this endeavour, Romax will continue to seek support and expertise
from DECC’s UK Renewables programme and help address some of the key
technical and supply issues facing wind energy today.
To find out how the Service can help businesses develop in the UK renewable energy sector, and the growth of business based in the UK, companies can call 01664 565083 or email enquiries@ukrenewables.com
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