Skykon suspending payments

[Buzz Lightyear]

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee/article/9866/breaking-news-gamesa-wind-turbine-investment-to-provide-hundreds-of-jobs.html

[4th gen Suthen']

I dont suppose this helps the Machrihanish cause either
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12333589

FFS, they are ganging up on us.

[4th gen Suthen']

Hmmm, maybe not. After reading the article a bit closer ...it might be an ideal place to assemble Machrihanish built turbines.

[Ship called Dignity]

Has there been any news lately? Has went worryingly quiet over the last few weeks.

[in command]

as far as I'm aware some of the guys have been sent home with pay, others are completing what's left.

I should think the administrators would have a buyer by now, if not it looks like the inevitable will happen, not that anyone wants this.

[bill]

Is there any hope on the horizon for the continuation of production on site?

[Ship called Dignity]

Is there any hope on the horizon for the continuation of production on site?

Haven't heard anything recently Bill. Heard on Friday morning there was to be good news but nothing came of it and I believe Jim Mather visited the factory and said they were doing all they can. Fingers crossed. Lot of friends and family employed out there.

[SKYKON EMPLOYEE]

Skykon has received funding for two more weeks, numerous workers still at home on paid leave, offer has been put on the table by an undisclosed company, announcement to be made towards the end of next week.

[scotty]

Joint venture to secure future of Machrihanish wind turbine towers producer
A joint venture between SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) and Marsh Wind Technology Ltd, the UK subsidiary of Marsh Global Holdings Ltd, has been established to secure the future of Skykon wind turbine tower manufacturing and assembly plant at Machrihanish, Campbeltown, which is currently trading in administration.

The joint venture, named Wind Towers Ltd, has submitted a bid as a result of which it expects to complete the acquisition of the plant and the details should be concluded over the next few weeks. The JV has been granted ‘preferred bidder status’ and will now set in train a process of due diligence prior to finalising all of the arrangements. Should the bid be accepted, further details will be provided on completion. In addition to producing wind turbine towers for onshore wind farms, the construction of new facilities to allow the production of turbine towers for offshore wind farms at the site is almost complete, enabling it to participate in the next phase of offshore wind developments.

The acquisition of the plant at Machrihanish would follow:

•the February 2011 formation by SSE of an alliance of companies, including Siemens, to collaborate on its offshore wind programme, with the aim of securing substantial reductions in the cost of delivered power;
• the July 2010 strategic agreement between SSE and Mitsubishi to co-operate on low carbon energy developments; and
• the April 2010 acquisition by SSE of a 15% stake in Burntisland Fabrications Ltd, the offshore energy structure fabricator.
SSE is the UK’s largest generator of electricity from renewable sources. Marsh Wind Technology is a UK subsidiary of Marsh Global Holdings Ltd. which has substantial experience in manufacturing operations.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: “I’m pleased to see first-hand the work being undertaken by staff and to hear about Wind Towers’ proposals to secure the future of the plant and extend its business to servicing the growing offshore wind market. The creation of the joint venture and securing of preferred bidder status are very welcome developments for Campbeltown and underline the industry’s confidence in the skills of the workforce and the important role this plant can play within the renewables industry supply chain.

“Clearly more detailed discussions are required before the sale can be completed. However, I want to pay credit to SSE, Marsh and the Administrators, who have worked closely with the Scottish Government and our partners to reach this positive breakthrough. Scotland has an established wealth of skills and talent in energy engineering, as well as the natural resources, to become the green energy powerhouse of Europe. I welcome today’s announcement and confidently wish Wind Towers Ltd all the best for the future as we work together to forge the new green economy.”

Ian Marchant, Chief Executive of SSE, said:

“The development of a sustainable supply chain is a key priority for renewable energy developers such as SSE, and I am pleased that we are working with Marsh Wind Technology to secure the future of the Machrihanish plant.With the right business plan and management, it should be a sustainable business in every sense. As the market for offshore wind turbines develops from 2013 onwards it should be possible to expand the operation to fully utilise the excellent facilities which are now available at the site. While some restructuring may be necessary at the plant to position it for growth we would envisage the substantial majority of the workforce being retained, while the JV partners would also be looking at potential redeployment opportunities.”

William Marsh said: "We are delighted to be able to expand our European supply chain footprint in partnership with SSE who has once again shown a real commitment to developing opportunities for Scotland in renewable energy. Both partners believe that this plant has an important role in building the supply chain base for the growing wind energy sector and that it will have a healthy future in the medium term as the demand for turbine components expands. It is our aim to build the Campbeltown operation into a stable and reliable partner to our customers with a singular focus on creating value in the supply chain."

Marsh Wind Technology is the UK subsidiary of Marsh Global Holdings Ltd whose principle shareholder is William Marsh. The company specializes in building integrated supply chains between North America, Europe and Asia. Marsh has substantial experience in restructuring manufacturing operations around the world and more recently led the restructuring of the company’s operations in Denmark prior to acquiring them, thus positioning Marsh Wind Technology as a solid and competitive base for building a sustainable business in the wind energy industry. Marsh will now use the experience gained in Denmark to position the Machrihanish plant more competitively.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

Welcome news.

[bill]

Sincerely hope that this will be the start of many years of continued employment for the workforce on site.

[Tartan Seer]

A great relief for the workers and for the wider Campbeltown economy - well done Alex Salmond & the government

[EMDEE]

Good news for a change! Let's hope a joint venture will offer more security to the workforce and the area for the future.

[Ross]

Great news for all of those at the base and the Campbeltown area in general.

[bill]

Looks like it might not be all good news according to the statement below.........................


The Scottish Government today announced that Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Marsh Wind Technology have established a joint venture to secure the future of the Skykon factory at Machrihanish, near Campbeltown.

The joint venture has been approved as the 'preferred bidder' and the new company Wind Towers Ltd, is submitting proposals to acquire Skykon, from the Administrators, within the next few weeks.

Commenting on the announcement Alan Reid, MP for Argyll and Bute, said;

“I am encouraged by the news that Scottish & Southern Energy and Marsh Wind Technology are seriously interested in taking over the former Skykon factory at Machrihanish. I hope that their bid will succeed and the new factory will soon be producing towers. I am, however, concerned by SSE’s statement that not all the existing workers will be kept on. Less than two years ago Mr Salmond promised us 450 new jobs in Kintyre. These jobs never came and now it looks as if Kintyre is going to lose more jobs. The Scottish Government must tell us what they are going to do to keep their 2009 promise of 450 new jobs.”

Alison Hay, Liberal Democrat PPC for Holyrood added:

“I am pleased to hear the news that a Joint Venture between Scottish & Southern Energy and Marsh Wind Technology has been approved as the preferred bidder to take over the Skykon factory in Campbeltown. The axe which has been hanging over Campbeltown since last October may now be lifted. Campbeltown needs as much assistance as it can get with jobs and this is good news for the workforce. However, I’m a bit dismayed to read that there may be some redeployment and re-structuring and I hope that all the workforce can be kept on. This is not a triumph for the SNP yet, as clearly there is a lot more talking to be done before the workforce can be confident of a secure future.”

Notes:

First Minister Alec Salmond had this to say on 13 May 2009 “This is a truly transformational development for the Mull of Kintyre, bringing with it an overall economic impact of no less than 450 new jobs, effectively moving this beautiful area of Scotland - previously an unemployment blackspot - towards full employment.”

http://www.glasgowlibdems.org.uk/201103 ... -news.html