LM blades are tailored to the individual needs of our customers. New blades are developed in close cooperation between our specialist engineers and our customers’ development departments. Our common objective is to find the optimum solution taking all factors into account, and to minimise the cost of wind power. This means that we do not limit ourselves to the design of the actual blade, but we also assess the influence of the blades on the other components of the wind turbine.
As a specialist supplier of wind turbine blades, we have built up solid expertise in developing effective, durable and competitively priced blades. On average, we develop 5–8 new blade types per year. Most other non-specialist blade manufacturers only develop a new blade every two or three years.
With a critical mass of development projects and a wealth of experience to draw on, LM Glasfiber has been able to create customised methods and tools for developing wind turbine blades.
LM Blades is unique software that enables us to run calculations quickly and accurately. Developing the optimum blade involves a number of design loops, in which the aerodynamic design, structure, price and influence on the other wind turbine components are combined to form a higher-level unit. For example, if the original aerodynamic design (shape of the blade) produces a structure that makes the blade too heavy, the aerodynamics have to be adjusted and the structure has to be optimised again. LM Blades enables us to run a large number of these iterations automatically, taking us closer to the optimum solution for each wind turbine. [screen dump LM Blades]
Finding the optimum blade solution for a particular wind turbine and a particular site involves more than aerodynamics and structure. Our working relationship with customers also involves vibration analyses, load calculations and bolt calculations. Our experience, unique tools and expertise mean that we can work with our customers to create a comprehensive solution.
Keeping track of the solution until final delivery
LM Glasfiber is the only blade manufacturer in the world accredited for certification testing. We can support our customers with that part of the wind turbine certification process that involves the blades. Our certification engineers are highly experienced in the field, actively accompanying and influencing the development process through their involvement in the expert panels of certification authorities.
More about our in-house full-scale tests.
All new development projects at LM Glasfiber are based on our project plan with five well-defined stages. That way, we can assure our customers that we will meet the agreed deadlines. The system also guarantees the quality of the finished blade as early as the development stage. After each stage, the blade solution is evaluated and approved for further development. The project plan is an integral part of our comprehensive quality system.
LM Glasfiber has produced a total of more than 120,000 wind turbine blades since 1978. This amounts to more than one in three of all the blades in operation today, worldwide.
More about global blade production
New LM blade designs undergo
testing in our wind tunnel to secure
maximum yield and thereby lower
cost of wind energy.
Read more about our wind tunnel