Kingspan  said it would continue to make 6KW and 3KW turbines at the Proven factory in Stewarton, but would decide at a later date for the possible launch of a 15KW version reports The Scotsman

Engineers last month warned that a potentially catastrophic shaft defect could cause the turbines’ built-in braking systems to fail, causing the blades to fly off in a worst case scenario.

About 500 people in Scotland, mainly farmers, are believed to operate the firm’s small wind turbines. But Blair Nimmo and Tony Friar, joint receivers at accountancy firm KPMG, said anyone with any claims relating to warranties needed to contact them and not Kingspan.

Kingspan, which makes a range of energy-related products that include insulation and solar panels,operates from 28 sites in the UK.  Last year it opened a €7.7m factory in Portadown, Northern Ireland.

The new production facility doubles Kingspan Renewables’ production capacity and is now recognised as the most modern facility of its kind in Europe.

The highly  roboticised factory (right) for Thermomax vacuum tube production replaced two previous solar factories in Bangor and Blackwood.

Shane Caher, (left) operations director of Kingspan Renewables noted: “Since acquiring the Thermomax business in 2007 we had to overcome several challenges. The main was to bring our manufacturing technology to 21st century standards of quality, performance and reliability, while continuing to improve the products.

But with the opening of our new and unique computerised facility, with sophisticated automated production, we now have the confidence to extend our warranty of our evacuated tubes to 20 years. We are fully convinced that the Thermomax products will last much longer than this.”

Caher adds: “As the European Union is increasingly focussed on ‘performance over life’ standards, Kingspan Renewables is leading the way in ensuring that our Thermomax tubes and our solar hot water cylinders have a minimum warranty of 20 years. This is real ‘performance over life’.”