SMA America's Expansion

SMA America has signed a 10-year lease to occupy a second building in Stapleton’s Enterprise Park.

We talked with Tiffany Scalone, the company’s public relations specialist, about the expansion …

Forest City: Why did SMA choose to locate in Stapleton?

Scalone: “Having a U.S.-based production site reduces transportation and interim storage costs as well as currency exchange risks. SMA chose Stapleton because of the area's educated workforce; the site's proximity to I-70, the rail and airport; lower operating costs; and the local focus on renewable-energy research.

“Stapleton also provided the opportunity to expand our operations.”

“With an annual capacity of one gigawatt, this manufacturing facility — SMA’s first outside of Germany — is the Western Hemisphere’s largest solar inverter assembly site.”

Forest City: How is your company growing (not just in Denver)?

Scalone: “Last year was SMA’s most successful to-date, with worldwide revenues doubling to 1.9 billion Euros. In 2010, SMA established subsidiaries in the U.K., India and Canada, where our sales and service is headquartered in Ontario.

“This new subsidiary specializes in solar inverters optimized for the northern market and regional incentives. SMA recently started production at a manufacturing facility there, which will have an expected annual capacity of 500 megawatts. This new site further strengthens our manufacturing capabilities in North America.”

Forest City: What are your plans for long-term development in Denver?

Scalone: “We intend to bring approximately 700 jobs to the location over time. Of course, this is dependent upon the continued growth of the U.S. solar market. Denver produces inverters for our U.S.-based business and figures very prominently in our long term strategy.”

Forest City: What specific factors have sparked your recent plans for growth at the Stapleton location?

Scalone: “To meet the demand of the growing North American solar market, SMA recently leased a 148,902-square-foot flex building at Stapleton, nearly doubling our total occupied space.

“This expansion will allow us to better supply the U.S. with the world’s most popular solar inverter, the Sunny Boy, and also manufacture utility-scale solar solutions developed specifically for this market.”