Muncie lands German-based wind turbine manufacturer

The IBJ

Germany-based VAT Getriebetechnik, a manufacturer of wind turbines and renewable energy-powered lighting systems, announced today that it will locate its U.S. headquarters in Muncie.

The company plans to create more than 120 new jobs by 2011 and invest $3.3 million in its facility at the city's Park One Business Park. It will begin hiring engineers, service technicians, logistics managers and administrative staff later this year. VAT has 130 employees in Germany.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered the company up to $1 million in performance-based tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants.

Delaware County will purchase $1.5 million in solar- and wind-powered lights and a vertical-vane windmill from VAT at the request of Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance-Vision 2011.

VAT is the second company specializing in wind and renewable-energy components production to locate operations in the county. Last fall, Brevini announced plans to locate its North American wind-turbine gear-box manufacturing facilities there, creating 450 jobs.