Delegates from power companies throughout Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe gathered at Wood Group Heavy Industrial Turbines (Thailand) Ltd (“WGHIT Thailand”) on 10th March 2004 to witness the official opening of its newly extended gas turbine service facility in Rayong by the Provincial Governor of Rayong, Mr Vicharn Chaiyanan.

The facility extension increases WGHIT Thailand’s workshop area from 1000m2 to 2500m2 to enable the company to offer a more comprehensive range of services to operators of heavy industrial gas turbines in the power generation and oil & gas markets, including advanced technology component repair and field service.

Tony Beardsley, Managing Director of WGHIT Thailand, said: “We have aligned WGHIT Thailand’s capabilities with the needs of operators in the Asia Pacific and also the Middle East regions. This has involved substantial investment and development of new processes and allows us to cover a significantly wider range of products.”

WGHIT Thailand is currently divided into two distinct sites, one dedicated to the repair of turbine nozzles and blades, and the other to the repair of larger turbine casing components as well as combustion components. A third site is currently being planned that will house the company’s materials, engineering, contract review and inspection functions.

Kerr Picken, Managing Director of WGHIT – Eastern Hemisphere, said: “This expansion firmly establishes WGHIT Thailand as Wood Group’s central hub for component repair and field service activities in the Asia Pacific region.”

Following the official opening ceremony, an Open House for customers was held at WGHIT Thailand on 11th March, giving them an opportunity to tour the extended facility and see first hand the company’s advanced technology repair equipment and processes.