Pexa and BASF start up the Relest wind turbine blade Training School

The Maintenance and Repair of wind turbine blades in service is a key element in achieving maximum performance over the 20+ years life of the equipment.

The aerodynamic properties of a new blade need to be retained for it to work as intended and BASF have introduced their Relest® coating system to do just that.

Rather than rely on the materials alone, this is a completely defined process from initial assessment through to preparation and application with inspection that delivers the best possible outcome in respect of long term performance. All surface preparation equipment and disposables are specified and the BASF materials are packaged to make them practical when working at height.

The final element was provided when the first Contractor attended the Training school in Oldenburg, Germany and completed every single stage of the process. Ropetask Ltd from Wednesbury in the West Midlands sent a number of technicians including their MD Haydn Gamble on the course so that they could gain a full appreciation of the entire process.

Haydn has a long and distinguished track record in rope access and is level 3 IRATA qualified , he said “ We have been looking for a course that combines detailed instruction with a system that is independently approved rather than just a general repair course. The BASF Relest system is just that and has Germanischer Lloyd (GL) certification and a UK based Distributor in Pexa Ltd who have been leading the way forward. We have now completed our training and found it to be highly professional”.

Jim Rowbotham MD at Pexa is pleased with their progress in this important energy market “Wind power is set to become a significant contributor to the energy needs of the UK and a key element is reducing costs so that it competes with more traditional alternatives. It will do so by achieving a 40% reduction in total life costs and keeping the blades in good condition even when battered by rain and hail at 100 meters per second is a major factor in this. “

The UK wind energy market is set to expand quickly creating significant new employment as major new investment in manufacturing plants and maintenance operations expand to meet the increased demand.

Pexa has a solid history in the Aerospace industry and specialises in helping to provide a full service package to their customers.

Pexa launches the BASF RELEST® Wind Turbine Repair Coatings System in the UK

Pexa, the specialist supplier of surface finishing materials to the energy and other high tech markets is excited to announce the launch of the BASF RELEST^® Wind system for the coating of wind turbine blades. The UK market for wind turbine installations will expand rapidly over the next 10 years and Pexa and BASF are helping to create the supply chain which will support the UK’s production and maintenance of wind turbine blades.

BASF has invested heavily in developing this technology, which combines extreme durability with ease of application. BASF has its own whirling arm erosion test facility where paints and coatings are developed to resist the high levels of erosion encountered on fast moving turbine blade tips. The coatings system includes aerodynamic filler, gel coat and finish coat to faithfully reproduce the factory finish in the field.
BASF’s RELEST^® Wind coatings are widely approved by major wind turbine manufacturers around the World and have the important GL Certification required by the industry.

Pexa will concentrate on developing local approvals with the UK based wind turbine industry, training & certifying operators and contractors to apply the system at any of the key operational stages. Pexa has created a new website at www.windturbinecoatings.com which is an excellent resource for those interested in this subject. Pexa’s distribution network will ensure that the product system can be delivered in time to anywhere in the UK & Ireland. Pexa is a specialist in surface coatings and will provide full technical product support.

“One of the most exciting features of the RELEST^® Wind system is the RepKit”, said Jim Rowbotham, M.D. of Pexa. “This is an aluminium box specially selected to contain all the products necessary to effect a repair to the blade coating in situ. The RepKit is a fully UN approved portable container which allows a contractor to carry all products and consumables needed to any location on land or at sea”.

Uwe Pinzer of BASF said, “The UK wind market will be very dynamic over the next few years as the UK develops its renewable energy capacity. The RELEST^® Wind system represents a key investment for BASF and reflects our position as a leader in emerging new technologies. We are confident that Pexa can deliver our technology and provide an excellent service to our customers in the UK and Ireland. ”