News
UND, LM Wind Power Announce New Partnership in REAC Building
Posted by research • April 14, 2011
LM Wind Power has announced the opening of its new Global Research and Development office and a partnership involving UND faculty and students at the REAC (Research Enterprise and Commercialization) Building in Grand Forks.
This office will be home to Global LM Wind Power personnel from Product Development/Core Engineering, Quality and Nondestructive Testing Development, and Advanced Manufacturing Technology. Each department will provide key input to Grand Forks new Global Research Team.
“We have several development projects under way across these teams, and the move to this facility will allow us to accelerate these programs,” said Kevan Rusk, LM Wind Power Director of Core Engineering.
This new division plans to hire up to 10 employees in 2011 and extends LM Wind Power’s global R&D footprint to seven locations, including three facilities in Denmark, an office in the Netherlands, an R&D center in Bangalore, India, an office opening this summer in Beijing, and now Grand Forks.
LM Wind Power has formed a strong partnership with UND, working on a number of projects, ranging in scope from simple testing of laminate samples to the support of Mechanical Engineering Senior Design projects to the recent sponsorship of several graduate students in the Chemical and Mechanical Engineering Departments.
LM Wind Power’s proximity and access to the University resources will continue to allow for great collaboration and access to local resources.
Phyllis Johnson, UND vice president for research and economic development and president of the Board of Directors of the UND Research Foundation (UNDRF), said that there also will be opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to take part in the real-world research, thanks to the new partnership with LM Wind Power.
“UND’s research in the field of engineering is a perfect fit with LM Wind Power,” Johnson said. “Locating LM Wind Power researchers here in Grand Forks will take our collaboration to a new level, further building our capabilities in material science.
As a result of the partnership, Johnson said that her office has awarded $75,000 to UND Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Matthew Cavalli and Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering Brian Tande to develop improved resin formula and adhesives for wind blade manufacturing.
The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has been working with LM Wind Power for more than five years to establish connections and collaborations with Grand Forks and UND and, ultimately, to launch this new LM Wind Power Global Research and Development office our community.
“LM Wind Power plays a key role in our regional economy and we are very pleased to announce their new division in Grand Forks. This development is an example of how strong partnerships and strategic investments made by UND and the City of Grand Forks can leverage economic growth in our region,” said Klaus Thiessen, President/CEO of the Grand Forks Region EDC.The state of North Dakota is also excited about LM Wind Powers new division in Grand Forks.
“LM Wind Power’s decision to establish a research and development division in Grand Forks is good news for North Dakota,” Governor Jack Dalrymple said. “The company’s partnership with UND and its location in the Research, Enterprise and Commercialization (REAC) facility is a prime example of our universities providing the high-tech support that will continue to enhance our educational opportunities, attract new business and create jobs.”
For more information, contact Klaus Thiessen, president/CEO, Grand Forks Region EDC, at 701-746-2720 or klaust@grandforks.org.