The new production plant in Jonesboro has been announced a few months back, but the company has now officially held a groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site. Nordex plans to employ some 700 people at the new plant by 2014, according to the announcement.

The first phase of construction began in July this year. The company is sticking to its plans, expecting the US market to grow to become the biggest in the world. In order to meet the demand for wind power equipment in North America, the company has chosen Arkansas as the location for the new production facility. The company has already seen a pick up in the US market, having received and completed a 62.5 MW order recently for the Highland wind farm in Pennsylvania.

Company management issued an update on the hiring schedule at the ceremony, saying they expect to produce up to 300 wind turbines annually by 2014. This will require a highly-skilled, well trained work force of about 700 people. Nordex is planning an aggressive recruitment program. The hiring process will span over a period of four years. By the end of 2010, 100 people should be employed, as the plant begins to ramp up nacelle assembly, in operations, office support, supply management, production engineering, quality assurance and more. The nacelle workforce will reach about 240 over time, as the plant approaches full production capacity. A similar hiring pattern will occur for the rotor blade facility, to be built in the second phase of construction.

Further employment will be available through service contracting, with local companies. Furthermore, the company plans to localize its supply chain.

On a different note, the heating and cooling at the plant will be powered by geothermal energy entirely, an investment the company believes will pay for itself in about 12 years.