In several wind projects Umoe and NGup are working together. We interviewed Kjell Fredriksen, Vice President - Business Development, Umoe Mandal AS, to find out more about Umoe.

Can you tell us something about UMOE?
The Umoe group (www.umoe.no) contains a great number of companies like shipping, industry and other investments. There are 6500 employees and there is a turnover of 1 billion euro (2007).
Umoe Mandal AS is the composite specialist in the group. In 1989 we started with mine counter measure vessels for The Royal Norwegian Navy. At present we are manufacturing the worlds fastest special navy craft (60 knots), combined with a stealth design. Additionally, and as a spin-off we have developed a variety of composite products.
Umoe Mandal employs 400 special workers and our turnover is 70 million euro.

What is your relation to wind energy?
Umoe Mandal AS is a company specializing in advanced composite solutions. For example: Composite ships, products for the oil and gas industry and fabrication of rotor blades.
The last was a series production of rotor blades for German and Taiwanese projects. NGup and Umoe have cooperated since 2002.

What are your expectations in the wind business?
Umoe is searching continuously for new global opportunities in this industry. We have the necessary capital to invest. Our special skills within engineering, materials, design and structural optimization should be a valuable contribution to our new partners within this area. Currently we are utilizing techniques like vacuum infusion, resin transfer moulding, filament winding, pre-preg, We also have an extensive and continuous research & development and prototyping activity.

What do you think of the cooperation with NGup?
The know-how, experience and professionalism of NGup combined with our skills and financial strength should be a good combination. This has already been proven in several successful projects. Besides that, the people of NGup are very polite and easy to work with. In projects where we have used NGups expertise our customers report their greatest satisfaction. We hope to further develop our very good relationship with NGup.