10.11.2023

GEV wind moves into Oz

UK based wind turbine repair and maintenance company GEV Wind Power has acquired Rigcom, one of Australia’s largest rope access and rotor blade maintenance companies.

Established in 2009, Rigcom is based in Sydney, with branches in Melbourne and Canberra. It offers a wide range of height safety equipment from walkways and edge protection to fall protection equipment and employs a team of skilled abseiling and rope access staff for tasks ranging from wind turbine rotor maintenance to cleaning.

The current management team - including chairman Gary Flowers and chief executive Michael Biddle - will continue to lead the business. GEV works internationally and has repaired and installed retrofit solutions for more than 5,000 turbines so far, both onshore and offshore.

GEV has been a portfolio company of private equity firm Bridges Fund Management since 2019, and is based in Hessle, Hull, UK, with offices in Fort Worth, USA and Szczecin, Poland, along with Wind Power Labs, in Copenhagen, Denmark. The combined business will have contracts across four continents, employing more than 500 technicians.
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David Fletcher, CEO, GEV Group and Michael Biddle, CEO, Rigcom
GEV chief executive David Fletcher said: “Over the last few years GEV has established itself as a global market leader in wind turbine blade repair and maintenance. We are excited to be partnering with Gary, Michael and the Rigcom team, as we look to lead the consolidation in our sector and provide clients with a consistent and reliable globally delivered solution. We are also looking forward to learning more about Rigcom’s wider expertise in the height safety market and supporting the growth in this business by leveraging GEV’s global footprint.”

Rigcom’s Michael Biddle added: “The Rigcom and Hi-Rise Access teams are delighted with the opportunity to join forces with GEV and deliver synergy benefits for clients in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region. Our enhanced ability to deliver global blade repair knowledge, coupled with dedicated local services and support, will ensure our customers get the very best outcomes for their projects. The ability to leverage our height safety expertise further into the wind sector will also provide clients with world class statutory inspection capabilities and solutions to common height safety problems.”
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(A Rigcom technician)