ACOA boosts Trenton wind turbine maker

DSME Trenton is getting $300,000 in federal support to help it find customers for its wind turbine components.

The company is a partnership between the Nova Scotia government and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Inc., the second largest shipbuilder in the world.

The money for marketing is coming from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), which has already given Daewoo $10 million. Though Daewoo has sales worth $10 billion a year, DSME Trenton is its first venture into wind power.

Initially, the company was supposed to concentrate solely on markets in North America. But orders have been slow, so it's now looking for buyers around the world for its blades and support towers.

David Harrigan, a spokesman for ACOA, said DSME Trenton is a start-up company.

"We don't know at this moment how they will do in terms of international sales. So we have basically said at the time you start to turn a profit, we will start to talk with you about repaying your loan," he said.

The Nova Scotia government has invested $60 million in the $90-million deal. It owns 49 per cent of DSME Trenton.

So far, 28 people have been hired to work at the plant in Trenton. Employee Brad Murray said the company is in the process of hiring a marketing director as it prepares to begin production next year.

"Our target is second quarter, probably sometime in May. This is all pending delivery of equipment. The plans are right now for towers," said Murray, who worked at the plant when it produced railcar parts.

Murray said it will take more time to make the blades.

The venture is expected to create 500 jobs after three years, once production starts. Harrigan said ACOA is still banking on a payoff.

"We're pretty confident the company will be successful. Daewoo has a really good reputation around the world," said Harrigan.