New Tualatin plant will make wind turbines

The Powin corporation’s manufacturing facility is expected to employ 95 people

By Nick Peterson

The Times, Oct 22, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Jonathan House / The Times

NEW BIZ — Powin Pacific Properties broke ground last month on its new manufacturing facility on the north side of Tualatin-Sherwood Road at 115th Avenue.

TIGARD — While other businesses struggle in this economy, Tigard’s Powin corporation may have found a niche market that is thriving — wind power. The company plans to extend its reach into that market.

Powin is building a new 71,000-square-foot plant in Tualatin to manufacture 20-kilwatt wind turbines.

Powin’s owner, Joseph Lu, says the company is currently making some smaller turbines — 3 kilowatt and 10 kilowatt — in its Quality Bending & Fabrication plant on Herman Road in Tualatin.

“But it looks like the market is getting bigger,” Lu said.

The new plant will most likely employ 95 people, and Lu says the company doesn’t plan to shut down its Herman Road facility which currently employs 23 people.

Groundwork on the new plant’s site, on the north side of Tualatin-Sherwood Road at 115th Avenue, began last month. Powin Pacific Properties Project Manager Thomas Falk says they hope to begin construction of the plant “ASAP.”

“We’re just waiting for the final plans to get out of architectural review, and then we’re going to start construction,” Falk said.

The plant will sit on about 7.5 acres, of the 38 acres Powin bought from the Koch family in 2007.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit