Expand presence in South America

Flender has officially launched its new facility in Brazil, thereby strengthening its presence and service offerings in South America—particularly in the wind energy sector, but also across its diverse industrial business. This move follows the successful acquisition of the wind turbine and industrial gearbox service business from Wärtsilä Brasil Ltda. It represents the natural evolution of a collaboration that began as a partnership in 2018.

Local commitment and customer proximity

With the strategic decision to acquire the business and establish a presence in Brazil, Flender has underscored its commitment to serving customers directly on-site. The acquisition transferred the gearbox service business—including the service workshop in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, 35 km south of Recife, Brazil—to Flender.

With the EU-Mercosur trade agreement coming into effect on May 1, Flender is strengthening its position in one of South America’s most dynamic industrial markets at precisely the right time. Brazil’s strong position in renewable energy—ranging from wind to hydropower—creates ideal conditions for deepening customer partnerships and expanding the company’s local service capabilities.

"Establishing our own facility in Brazil is a logical step in the further development of our service business in South America. It lays the foundation for long-term growth, further investment, and even closer cooperation with our customers throughout the region," says Andreas Evertz, CEO of Flender.

The state-of-the-art facility opened in 2022. Spanning over 5,000 square meters, it features, among other things, testing capabilities for wind turbine gearboxes across current power classes. It is the first facility in Latin America with such capabilities and forms a strong base for Flender’s service operations. The focus is on the region's large installed base of wind turbines. This ensures excellent service for local customers through investments in locally available spare parts and equipment, thereby increasing availability and shortening delivery times. Flender is also exploring future growth options—such as expanding test bench and crane capacities—to service the drivetrains of next-generation wind turbines in South America, where the installed base has grown significantly over the past six years.

Acquisition of Wärtsilä’s team and business potential

With this acquisition, Flender welcomes Wärtsilä Brazil’s gearbox service team, comprising staff from sales, the workshop, and management. Integrating these skilled specialists will further enhance operational capabilities and the region's already excellent customer service.

The acquisition strengthens Flender’s global service network. Beyond the wind business, the new location opens up growth opportunities in industrial gearboxes, industrial services, couplings, and generators, further bolstering the company’s market presence.

"By opening the site in Brazil, we are ready to serve our customers from day one. Thanks to our long-standing collaboration with Wärtsilä as a service partner, we already possess an established network, local expertise, and a deep understanding of the Brazilian market. We are now building further upon this strong foundation," adds Antti Turunen, VP Wind Service.

The official signing took place on August 18, 2025. With final, unconditional approval from the Brazilian competition authority (CADE), the transaction is now fully complete.