Wind turbine gearboxes are a key component in wind turbines, which places high quality requirements on them. In the fast growing market for wind power systems, quality assurance has a crucial role. Therefore, supply chain management isa key focus area in all industries that operate and manufacture advanced and complex technology products to wind turbines Quality management systems ensure that manufacturing processes result in a replicable quality level.
At Moventas quality assurance is an integrated part of daily operations and leadership – Moventas is well-known for its high quality of both design and manufacturing. Our gear units are manufactured with state-of-the-art machine tools and equipment, while maintaining the highest environmental protection standards. All key manufacturing processes are performed in-house. Moventas follows highest standards in quality, occupational health and safety, and environmental management, and we already hold ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certificates.
Moventas quality management is designed to provide customers with products that are according to the best quality standards. Moventas wind turbine gearbox quality is ensured by meticulous and advanced technical inspections before assembly. These include the Barkhausen noise inspection method, and magnetic particle inspection (MPI) – to mention just a few of the measuring methods with which we maintain our upmost quality standards.
Quality assurance is an integrated part of daily operations.
Barkhousen noise analysis is a technique based around a concept involving ferromagnetic materials and a magnetizing field. When a steel sample is magnetized by an external alternating magnetic field, the change of the magnetic flux follows a hysteresis loop. The microstructure of a component and its surface residual stresses can be evaluated by measuring the intensity of the Barkhausen Noise. Increased hardness and compression decreases the intensity of Barkausen Noise signal, which is a desirable feature.Barkhausen method allows the early detection of damage and numerical record of the results.
MPI is used for the detection of surface and near-surface flaws in ferromagnetic materials and it is primarily used for crack detection. The technique works by inducing a magnetic field in the component tested. If there is a crack or other defect present, the particles will be attracted to the flaw and build up around the leakage to for an indication. The indication is then evaluated to determine the characteristics and cause of the defect. At Moventas we use ISO 6336-5 standardized ME steel that goes through the 100% MPI inspection.
Our gear units are manufactured with state-of-the-art machine tools and equipment. Gearboxes in a test bench.
Another key area is ensuring the traceability of all products, components and materials. Moventas has a full traceability to all processes, from procurement of raw materials to production and consumption. All the necessary information is recorded and the information is tracked in all processes, to ensure that the histories of the gearboxes can be traced.
Moventas constantly works towards recertifications and new industry standards, such as new occupational and health standard ISO 45001 and the APQP4Wind standard. APQP4Wind is a new wind industry standard designed to simplify and strengthen the entire quality planning and product release process across the wind industry. Besides that, we are cooperating with leading universities and research centers both in Finland and abroad. Exceeding the quality expectations and requirements is one of the most important parts of our daily operations. Moventas is dedicated to stay at the forefront – also during the years to come.