GeauxSioux Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 This story has been making it's way around the globe. U.S. wind turbine blade company scrambling to hire workers as Danish company expands AU: U.S. wind turbine blade company scrambling to hire workers as Danish company expands By the end of this year, the Denmark-based wind turbine blade maker is expected to become the largest manufacturer in Grand Forks in terms of employees, a status that also would rival the largest employer in the agricultural sector, J.R. Simplot. If the employment is long term, it would be great for GF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdahl Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 Awesome business to be in. It definitely seems poised for continued growth, 500 employees in G.F. will be great for the community. In addition to adding on to a solid manufacturing base, they will include some higher level jobs, too. I would guess that support for alternative energy will be steady in coming years; Repubs think America's addiction to oil is a security threat (as discussed in the last State of the Union), and the newly in power Dems view it as a conservation issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Awesome business to be in. It definitely seems poised for continued growth, 500 employees in G.F. will be great for the community. In addition to adding on to a solid manufacturing base, they will include some higher level jobs, too. I would guess that support for alternative energy will be steady in coming years; Repubs think America's addiction to oil is a security threat (as discussed in the last State of the Union), and the newly in power Dems view it as a conservation issue. If the goal is met, LM will employ almost 1 % of GF County. Every Sunday running an add plus t.v. and radio. Also trying to recruit the F/M area. Read in the paper 2005 job service stats for mfg wage was $29.210. LM is probably right in the ball park. LM seems to be taking heat from other employers about "stealing" their employee's. Believe me the crying is starting. See Cirrus and Amazon.com. The solution, pay what the market is at and you won't have said problem. To bad 20/20 didn't pass might of helped DMI of Fargo and LM Glasfiber (ND) Just my .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdahl Posted November 20, 2006 Share Posted November 20, 2006 A little more on jobs in N.D., and this company in particular: N.D. tries to lure workers back home Dan Gordon from LM Glasfiber in Grand Forks was hunting for engineers and managers who would be paid $40,000 to $100,000, or maybe even more, to fill needs at the rapidly expanding maker of turbine blades used in wind-powered electric generators. Glasfiber opened in 1999 with 40 employees, and early next year should have more than 700, Gordon said. The Denmark-based company is looking for engineers and a plant manager, among other positions, in Grand Forks.And how G.F.'s job growth is finally back matching its regional peers post-flood: Job Growth: Equal among its peers With much more in-depth analysis on Mr. Tran's blog: More jobs = higher wages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted November 21, 2006 Author Share Posted November 21, 2006 The news just keeps getting better with LM Glasfiber LM likely will employ 720 in '07 LM Glasfiber reported Monday that it plans to expand employment at its Grand Forks plant to 720 early next year. That's about 200 more than previous reports from the Denmark-based wind turbine blade-maker, which has been on a hiring spree all year long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiouxMD Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 As I was flying into Germany on my way to Iraq...I could see hundreds of these wind turbines scattered across the countryside. It seemed that every little community had their own turbine with some larger wind farms as well. ND Wind Project Data Base I am surprised that Grand Forks doesn't have at least one...you would think they could save a bunch on shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted November 29, 2006 Author Share Posted November 29, 2006 Hoeven tours plant of wind blade maker, talks about work force "If we want to grow any more, we need a larger facility - possibly a larger campus," LM Glasfiber general manager Blake Seas said. Looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted November 30, 2006 Share Posted November 30, 2006 Me thinks the wages could increase in Grand Forks. The labor force for support for LM could be huge! Think about it. materials, service work etc. "One of the constraints we have here is this building can't handle larger molds," he said. "The future is larger molds." Hmmm what's all that land out on 32nd avenue doing right now... Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Not to mention 700 people they all have to eat correct? Boy if I had a vested interest in one or two fast food places..... And I like the mention of UND. Now if we could just lure DMI from Fargo... Wind Power .... Just my .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiouxMD Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Dorgan to chair Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee - [url="http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=19290 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted December 12, 2006 Share Posted December 12, 2006 A little more good news. LM Glasfiber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted February 21, 2007 Author Share Posted February 21, 2007 Looks like LM Glasfiber is adding another 100 employees. LM continues hiring efforts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted February 24, 2007 Share Posted February 24, 2007 Sounded like the job fair went pretty well. The next parking ramp may have to be built out in the Ind Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 DORGAN ADVOCATES 10-YEAR EXTENSION OF TAX INCENTIVE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN MEETING WITH PRESIDENT Link This could be more good news for LM Glasfiber in Grand Forks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star2city Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 LM Glasfiber Announces Blade Plant at Little Rock With this announcement, looks like GF's LM Glasfiber manufacturing employment has probably hit a peak. It would be great if LM Glasfiber started a technical center in GF. LM Glasfiber on Wednesday officially announced plans to open a new plant at Little Rock that will make fiberglass wind turbine blades. ... The company said the plant would begin operations in first quarter 2008 and would employ more than 1,000 within five years. The company did not release financial details of the project, but news reports Wednesday put the price tag of the investment at about $150 million. "The site itself offers excellent logistical options, whether by road, rail, air or marine," he said. "And when we considered the kind of amenities that are conducive for LM Glasfiber to attract and retain the people and talent we need, Little Rock was a natural choice for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fetch Posted July 18, 2007 Share Posted July 18, 2007 those are some BIG Blades they moving out of there recently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 those are some BIG Blades they moving out of there recently 42.5 meters Also the reason Demers is getting a little facelift by I-29. Star, They had to leave some employees for Cirrus... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 LM Glasfiber Announces Blade Plant at Little Rock With this announcement, looks like GF's LM Glasfiber manufacturing employment has probably hit a peak. It would be great if LM Glasfiber started a technical center in GF. I believe that the main reason they went South was to access marine transportation. Some of the blades are about 42 meters (almost 130 feet) long with 123 layers of fiberglass, and the new blades are just over 65 meters (215 feet), so they need to ship them by barge. I thought they'd end up building a facility North of New Orleans on the Mississippi, but they must have gotten a deal in Little Rock. I've never been to Little Rock, but the Arkansas River must be large enough for barge traffic over to the Mississippi River. The shorter blades can be transported by rail and truck The Grand Forks plant has done an outstanding job of reducing their cycle times and becoming very productive. With the large number of fiberglass layers that are layed into each blade, it creates all kinds of quality issues if they don't complete a blade in one 10 hour shift. Just a couple months ago they were at a 23 hour cycle time and I believe they've reduced it to about 8 hours now. If the Red River flowed over to the Mississippi, I suspect GF would have had a chance of doing the big blades also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 LM Glasfiber to open plant in Little RockThe company is focused on getting the Grand Forks facility up to speed and making sure the Little Rock plant is up and running before it decides on a headquarters, Gordon said. Grand Forks isn't waiting for LM to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star2city Posted July 19, 2007 Share Posted July 19, 2007 LM Glasfiber to open plant in Little Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted July 19, 2007 Author Share Posted July 19, 2007 Unfortunate that the HQ will be placed in Little Rock, but somewhat understandable with air travel. Getting into GF just isn't that easy. Perhaps GF could get a research center. It is the perfect place to do research for wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted July 20, 2007 Share Posted July 20, 2007 The Grand Forks plant has done an outstanding job of reducing their cycle times and becoming very productive. With the large number of fiberglass layers that are layed into each blade, it creates all kinds of quality issues if they don't complete a blade in one 10 hour shift. Just a couple months ago they were at a 23 hour cycle time and I believe they've reduced it to about 8 hours now. If the Red River flowed over to the Mississippi, I suspect GF would have had a chance of doing the big blades also. agreed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverman Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 From the FYI file. LM Grand Forks completed their 1000th set! (takes 3 blades for a set) Congrats to them!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeauxSioux Posted August 19, 2007 Author Share Posted August 19, 2007 From the FYI file. LM Grand Forks completed their 1000th set! (takes 3 blades for a set) Congrats to them!!!!! Ditto that "Congrats". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torpedo Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 I heard that they added air conditioning this summer, which may have tempted many from other plants and factories that don't. Sounds like a pretty nice place to make a few bucks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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