The most efficient & flexible wind craneless system of the industry. KoalaLifter climbs the same way a Koala does, it embraces the tower of the wind turbine just like this little animal embraces and climbs the trees. KoalaLifter is able to perform major correctives such as components exchanges (blade and components of the nacelle) and the turbine erection. These variants for maintenance and erection can also be transferred to the offshore market using a wave compensation platform.
Interview with Triana Garcia de la Pena, Head of Marketing & Communication at KoalaLifter.
Easy Engineering: How was 2022 for your business, a short summary?
Triana Garcia de la Pena: 2022 was a great year for KoalaLifter, a year full of advances and strategic changes. First, it was the year where the company moved from a R&D and making of prototype state to a commercial state. This meant a before and an after in the company because showing a commercial product opens the possibility to close agreements in a short period of time, especially considering the long time KoalaLifter has been working on the first prototypes.
Another relevant fact during 2022 was the strategic change done in KoalaLifter business model. We have changed from a renting business model where KoalaLifter offered a 4-year renting service directly to their clients. During that period of time the client had to pay for both a yearly renting amount service together with an amount per event of the equipment. The new business model contemplates the creation of Joint Ventures in the different countries or regions where our clients are located. They become part of the Joint Venture together with KoalaLifter giving service to that specific region, the systems are sold and sent to the joint venture, where the joint venture gives the service.
For instance, in October 2022 we have closed our first joint venture agreement with a Brazilian heavy transportation & heavy cranes company to give KoalaLifter service to the South American market. The agreement extends the delivery of different systems for the maintenance and the erection of wind turbines from 2023 until 2026.
E.E: What new products/services will be launched this year?
T.G.d.l.P.: We will work this year on developing all the different systems that are in a conceptual stage. Currently the KL-N30 is in a commercial stage, but the rest of the products need to go through the requested testing stage before commercializing them. Another topic we are starting working on is the adaptation of the different designs to the offshore windfarms.
E.E: How did the market change in the last year?
T.G.d.l.P.: The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has made Europe mobilized in a faster way to energy transition policies. The goal is to make most of the countries in the world be less dependent on fossil fuels like gas, oil, coal. A big percentage of these fuels are found in conflictive countries where their policies and leaders are unstable, and directly affects to the worldwide supply. This is something that highly concerns to western regions, so the solution they are implementing is to promote clean energy policies and projects. In our specific case, this is a big opportunity since we see a big movement on the promotion of onshore and offshore wind farms. So, from now on we see that there will be a high demand on the technology we produce.
E.E: What were the best-selling products of 2022?
T.G.d.l.P.: The only product we have on a commercial stage is the KL-N30, which is for the maintenance of wind farms to exchange major components up to 30 tons of weight. The rest of products are on a developing stage but they will be on the market as follows:
- KL-Gorilla: 1st Quarter 2024
- KL-N80: 4th Quarter 2024
E.E: What sector of business do you think is expected to grow this year?
T.G.d.l.P.: Considering that our products are for wind turbine maintenance and erection, we believe that we will have a high demand first on the maintenance product because currently the only product available is the KL-N30. So, this year 2023 we will give a big boost to the maintenance business, but in the future 2024 we will give that big boost to the wind turbine erection business.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
T.G.d.l.P.: For this 2023 we estimate to introduce 2 units of KL-N30 in Brazil for the maintenance of wind farms in Brazil and surrounding countries. Also, we foresee the creation of new joint ventures along the year in North America, Central Asia-Caucasus, South Africa, Caribbean and India.
E.E: A short message for collaborators for the beginning of the year.
T.G.d.l.P.: KoalaLifter is the future in the wind industry, and now is the perfect time to join this magnificent project. The opportunity to become part of this family is still open in many regions of the world. Be in the right place at the right time.
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