The High Ground Is Winning with Wind
Published Aug 07, 2009
As 2009 draws to a close, the excitement is growing around Amarillo’s newest industry.
German-based Zarges Aluminum Systems is nearing construction of a 80,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Amarillo that will serve the emerging Texas wind energy sector.
“Even in a down economy, Zarges’ arrival has been a big boost for the local economy,” says Tim Dannels, managing director of U.S. operations for Zarges. Dannels says Zarges chose Amarillo for its business-friendly tax structure and its central location in the Wind Belt. “Zarges is big not just because it creates jobs, but because it fosters excitement throughout the community. The area’s strong workforce was a big part of the decision to settle here.”
Of the 100 jobs the company projects will be created by 2012, the large majority will come from The High Ground labor pool. And Amarillo College has partnered with Zarges for the purposes of training future employees. The primary manufacturing in the facility will center on the production of the operating systems inside the towers that support wind turbines. From the implementation of wind energy courses to an increased focus on robotics training and welding, the college has proven to be an invaluable asset for the project.
“College officials are hungry to help local businesses grow,” Dannels says. “And that is a big part of our reason for coming here. Not that anywhere else was bad, but Amarillo College was just exceptional.”
The hope for area business leaders, says Dannels, is that bringing cost-effective wind energy manufacturing to The High Ground will eventually help create a wind industry cluster in the region.
“Zarges is a big win for the Amarillo area,” Dannels says. “And now, economic leaders in the region are assertively going after other major wind energy players. And that can only mean good things
long term for the region’s economy.”
Story by Brandon Lowe
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