Norsepower relents, sets up manufacturing facility in China
Flettner rotors from Norsepower (Source: Norsepower)
One of the first rotor sail companies, Norsepower, has opened up a factory in Dafeng, China, where its Flettner rotors can be constructed at a scale of 50 units initially, growing to 100 units by 2027. The facility is strategically located close to the world’s largest shipyards, as well as the ship repair hub like Zhoushan, which has a 20% share of the ship repair market.
“This facility solidifies our position as leaders in the rotor sail market,” said Norsepower CEO Heikki Pöntynen. “By blending Finnish innovation with Chinese engineering, we are creating high-quality, future-proof solutions for cleaner and more efficient shipping.”
The move could also be interpreted as an attempt to prefigure IP theft. Founded in late 2012, Norsepower has a strong case for concerns over IP theft, given the number of Flettner rotor manufacturers that have been established since then.
Norsepower says the market is worth EUR 60 billion today, and will grow drastically in the coming years.
The matter is of particular concern in China. “The pictures in their first brochure were just taken directly from our brochures, so that’s nice,” joked one Norsepower spokesperson, speaking in September in reference to the Chinese company Dealfeng. “On the other hand, it strongly indicates that this trend is really taking off.”
