GE Vernova Invests $5M to Improve Spanish Service Center

GE Vernova’s Gas Power business announced a planned investment of over $5 million in new technology and improved service capabilities at the Fierro Service Center in Andoain, Spain, which will support the requirement for services maintenance at an aging gas power plant. The financial commitment is focused on expanding the Fierro Service Center to repair GE Vernova’s F-Class generators installed globally.

“We welcome GE Vernova’s decision to introduce new generator repair capabilities to the Fierro Repair Center to enable power producers to benefit from better quality, speed, and performance from their assets for years to come,” said Arantxa Tapia Otaegi, Minister of Economic Development, Sustainability, and Environment, Basque. “Tapping into the talent base and infrastructure in the region, this expansion is testimony to the center’s strengths as a location for advanced manufacturing and repair activities. The center will continue to play a role in helping to ensure the reliability of GE Vernova’s power generation assets.”

The Fierro Service Center is expected to improve the shop flow and add approximately 30 jobs, new equipment, and lean processes to service electrical equipment such as motors, generators, and transformers. The site will also expand generator stator winding manufacturing capabilities to achieve the target of delivering double the current annual capacity of stator bars.

Fierro Service Center in Andoain, Spain; Image Credits: GE Vernova

GE Vernova has been operating the Andoain-based service center since the 1970s. Originally, the center performed industrial and hydroelectric generator repairs, eventually expanding its scope to power generation repairs that service generators. The investment is expected to add a second line for generator stator bar manufacturing and includes new equipment to cover the process from raw copper to finished product.

New equipment includes stator bar forming equipment with powered tools and ergonomic aspects, an insulation taping 3D robot, and a hot press to digitize and control the heat treatment process. GE Vernova developed the stator line layout and material handling process using lean methodologies.

"Due to the rapid growth of generators during the late 90's and the projected power demands of the future, we predict demand for generator maintenance is going to increase for the next decade and GE Vernova is committed to support our customers and meet this need," said Morgan Terrill, Gas Power Global Supply Chain Development Leader, GE Vernova. "We decided to make this investment to improve our supply chain capabilities and provide our customers with the ability to repair their generator rather than entirely replace it, benefitting from a viable, more affordable and sustainable approach.”