POWEEND

POWEEND was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Prouvy, in northern France. Led by CEO Guillaume Verdonck, the company’s vision is clear: build an alternative in the wind power industry in France, without any public subsidy. Rather than deploying conventional wind turbines that commonly exceed 150 metres, POWEEND focuses on its Eole5 — a mid-sized turbine designed to generate power efficiently within industrial parks and economic activity zones, to promote a locally rooted, low-carbon energy supply, for direct consumer self- consumption. Eole5 is large enough to be efficient, small enough to be accepted.

“Our production capacity will significantly increase year on year, and we aim to manufacture and install 30 turbines annually by 2030,” says Mr Verdonck. This vision is supported by the expertise cultivated over 15 years through experience in designing and manufacturing wind turbines, along with Mazak’s latest machine tools that underpin the company’s production system. Mr Verdonck comments “We invested in large-scale machine tools to enable 24-hour machining of multi-ton components and to manufacture wind turbines on automated production lines similar to those used in the automotive industry,” expressing high expectations for Mazak machines.

At POWEEND’s headquarters plant, Mazak machines such as the 5-axis machining center VARIAXIS i-800 NEO, the double-column machining center FJV-60/80, and the 5-face machining center VERSATECH V-140N are in operation. These machines are responsible for the integrated machining of key components including hubs, main shafts, nacelles, generator chassis, rotor plates, and poles.

Due to the nature of wind turbines, extremely high accuracy and durability are required. Mr Verdonck explains, “In addition to the machines’ high reliability and machining performance, the prompt after-sales service and attentive technical support were decisive factors in our investment.”

He further adds, “We are also highly satisfied with our ability to integrate processes while achieving both the machining quality required by the wind industry and high productivity.” Although quantitative comparisons are still limited as the new plant is in the start-up phase, positive results are already being observed. We were able to confirm the high level of repeatability in meeting the dimensional requirements of the mass-produced components, right after we introduced the VARIAXIS, notes a project manager. The minimal gap between target and actual production cycle time has also been highly evaluated.

Looking ahead, Mr Verdonck identifies the introduction of advanced equipment and automation solutions as a key strategic priority. “By advancing automation in processes such as rotor manufacturing and blade polishing, we aim to optimize production, shorten production cycle time, improve quality and repeatability, and reduce unneeded tasks,” he explains.

In addition to product development, POWEEND is also addressing one of the major barriers to the expansion of wind power projects: the complexity and lengthy duration of permitting procedures. The company is developing a one-stop service that covers everything from site assessment and administrative procedures to installation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning. For the clients, industries, factories, that means “nothing to think about, nothing to invest.”

By stepping beyond the traditional role of a supplier, POWEEND seeks to solve industry challenges comprehensively, stating that it will “approach the issues facing the wind power market from both product and service perspectives.”

For a company committed to promoting a locally rooted low-carbon energy supply, reducing the environmental impact of its own manufacturing operations is an unavoidable challenge. In this context, the adoption of the VARIAXIS NEO series — achieving a 46% reduction in power consumption compared to previous models — contributes directly to the company’s vision.

A range of wind turbine components machined by MAZAK machines