Ormat Industries Ltd., the maker and operator of geothermal power plants launched a new wing at its Yavne plant, which is expected to double its production capacity.

The new wing, which was inuagurated on Tuesday, covers an area of 7,200 square meters involving an investment of $10 million which Ormat said will enable the company to double its production capacity. Ormat has hired 140 new employees for the expanded factory, which will increase its workforce by 30%.

Ormat's factory in Yavne manufactures parts for geothermal and renewable energy power plants.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by numerous guests including Minister of National Infrastructures Uzi Landau, high-tech entrepreneur Yossi Vardi, who is a close friend of Ormat Group controlling shareholders Yehudit and Yehuda Bronicki and industrialist Dov Lautmann, another close friend. Also in attendance was Yavne Mayor Zvi Gov-Ari.

Ormat said that the the launch of Ormat's new factory demonstrates the company's strength at a time when the world is still in recession, unemployment is high and the weak dollar is harming Israeli exports.