Wind power |
First application of We4Ce/ CNC Onsite blade root remanufacturing technology
Dutch wind turbine blade technology developer, We4Ce, and Danish precision machining specialist, CNC Onsite, have completed their first joint project aimed at transferring blade remanufacturing expertise to a wind park in South Asia
Before repairs (left) and after bushing implementation (photo: CNC Onsite/We4Ce)
In May 2025, the companies trained the South Asian wind park’s technicians to independently repair loose blade root bushings on 26 turbines — marking the first in-field use of their new remanufacturing method. The approach offers a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to full blade replacement by eliminating the need for offsite transport, and reducing blade waste. CNC Onsite’s custom-built precision milling machine removed the damaged bushings on-site, enabling the park’s technicians to apply We4Ce’s patented “Re-FIT” bushing and fastening method. Ahead of the 50 MW project, the technicians were trained at We4Ce’s laboratory in the Netherlands on the repair technology, and at CNC Onsite in Denmark on operating the precision machine. Delivered under a licensing model, this technology transfer enables wind parks to carry out major blade repairs using their own service teams. Following their training, the South Asian service team set up a field workshop at the wind park and, under the supervision of CNC Onsite and We4Ce, carried out large-scale repairs over several weeks.
Drilling out of loose bushings (photo: CNC Onsite/We4Ce)
“Securing and completing this first contract for our bushing and insertion method is the result of fine engineering for practical application,” says Arnold Timmer, managing director of We4Ce. “We first conceived the idea
in early 2022 after an initial job with a client in India, and then spent three years developing and testing the solution.”
By adopting the remanufacturing technology, the customer will restore more than 1000 bushings. The process combines precision milling, a specialised fixing method, and the installation of replacement bushings to produce a like-new component engineered for reliable performance over a lifespan of up to 20 years. This approach represents a significant improvement over conventional repair methods.
Remanufacturing technology: a future option for O&M With operation and maintenance crucial to long-term turbine performance, remanufacturing — restoring parts to equal to or higher quality than original condition — is likely to shape how the wind sector approaches maintenance in the years ahead.
Replacing bushings as an aftersales activity is a complex process, requiring precise removal and re-insertion for a strong mechanical bond. Three industrial work tents, each measuring 100 square meters and housing a rotor blade, were set up as clean environments. In the first tent, the blade was drilled; in the second, the bushing replacement was carried out; and in the third, final flattening was completed.
Re-FIT CNC machine on site (photo: CNC Onsite/We4Ce) 38 | September 2025|
www.modernpowersystems.com
Infusion of epoxy resin underway (photo: CNC Onsite/We4Ce)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55
