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Markham has launched an improved version of the Austrian designed Floda 600 machine, which the UK engineering company manufactures at its Chesterfield works. The company claims to have made dramatic reductions in manufacturing costs, improved performance and reduced maintenance requirements. Rotor diameter has been increased to 45 m, but rotor speed has been reduced to ensure that noise emissions have not increased with the larger size. The machine now also has an electrical based pitch regulation system instead of a hydraulic drive system. According to Markham this has lowered manufacturing costs by around 20% and because the electrical pitch drive system has no parts which can wear and needs no lubrication, less maintenance is needed. To improve the quality of power from the turbine, the company switched to asynchronous generators and a PWM inverter to smooth power output. Markham's Steve Baugh says the machine is now very competitive.