The American Superconductor company will open a factory at Timisoara, where it will relocate part of the manufacturing of components for wind turbines from its current operations in China, Mediafax reports. Under the plan, “the transfer of the production capacity of control systems for customers outside China will move from the company factory in Suzhou, China, to a new production facility in Timisoara, Romania,” reads a document sent by American Superconductor to the American stock exchange. The Romanian factory should become operational during the fiscal year 2014, which begins in April. While the facilities in China will continue to produce for the Chinese market, their personnel will be reduced following the opening of the new manufacturing centre in Romania. American Superconductor plans to close a factory in Wisconsin and relocate the production to Massachusetts, where it already has options and also the company HQ. Following these measures, American Superconductor expects to cut its costs by USD 3 M each year, starting with the fourth quarter of the next fiscal year. The restructuring plan will affect up to 120 employees in China. The number of jobs that will be cut will reach approximately 5-10 pc of the total staff registered in December.
AMSC is headquartered In Devens west of Boston, Massachusetts with operations in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. It specializes in the design and manufacture of power systems and superconducting wire and owns AMSC Windtech in Klagenfurt, Austria.