ACCIONA Production Facility

Acciona, the world’s largest wind power developer, built its first US wind turbine production plant in West Branch, Iowa. The plant was expected to produce approximately 250 wind turbines in its first year, with that number expected to rise in subsequent years. The state of Iowa ranks third in wind power output in the US, behind Texas and California. Butler Heavy Structures provided the structural steel design and fabrication for this facility that covers over 100,000 square feet with four separate crane aisles.

The high bay supports a 190-ton top-running crane with two 45-ton single leg gantry cranes below, while the other three bays each support a 45-ton top-running crane. The framing system is a combination of typical PEMB elements consisting of built-up columns and rafters, cold-formed secondaries, heavy conventional elements, and wide flange crane girders and crane columns.

The building is clad with a standing seam metal roof system and metal wall system. To provide natural lighting for the workers, the building contains 156 insulated translucent roof panels and a band of translucent wall panels down each sidewall. A suspended catwalk runs the length of the high bay, allowing the customer to tour the plant without interrupting production.