The test bench will enable companies to test the pitch system and its components in conditions that are similar to those of a wind farm. These tests will help to validate highly reliable products with an optimised design that reduce the cost of energy and of the system's design and manufacturing processes.

Systems designed for offshore turbines of up to 8 MW will be tested.

The presentation of this equipment was led by the Regional Minister of Economic Development and Competitiveness, Arantxa Tapia. Nine Basque companies who are members of the Windbox Association also took part (Antec, Adwen, Erreka, Gamesa Eólica, Gamesa Innovation and Technology, Glual, Hine, Laulagun and Wec), and the Basque Energy Cluster was the event coordinator. The test bench is situated in the facilities of IK4-Tekniker Technology Centre, in Eibar. This organisation was also responsible for building the bench.

The Windbox initiative was launched in 2014 and promoted by the Basque Government as part of the Basque Country's Advanced Manufacturing Strategy. It aims to develop the capabilities of Basque companies in the wind power sector and help them to improve their position in the international market.

The Basque Government's Advanced Manufacturing Strategy

With the Windbox initiative, the Department of Economic Development and Competitiveness (DDEC in Spanish) is reinforcing the implementation of the Advanced Manufacturing Strategy as one of the main pillars to improve the competitiveness of the Basque industry.

Windbox is fully aligned with the DDEC's Industrialisation Plan and Smart Specialisation Strategy, and will enable the Basque Country to build specific added-value infrastructure, with which companies will be able to develop industrial products, test systems and validate advanced manufacturing techniques, combining two of the specialisation priorities established for the Basque Country - advanced manufacturing and energy.