Hey buddy, can you spare a machinist?

Let's talk manufacturing. At a recent conference, a colleague from a Chicago-based machine shop showed me pictures of the huge parts his team manufacturers for the wind industry. A gearbox front housing with torque arms, for instance, looks more than 6-ft in diameter. Main shafts for a turbine are some 6-ft long and 2-ft in diameter with 5-ft diameter flanges on one end. The company manager, Mike Milbratz says, wind energy may be the only industry that needs parts at automotive cost and aerospace quality inexpensive and high precision. His remark on quality also means wind turbine parts must be made or repaired by trained and skilled machinists. So how do you find such people?

Uploaded: January 10, 2012 Length: 00:03:10 Plays: 51