Region hosts key civil nuclear manufacturing event

MORE than 100 delegates from around the country visited Yorkshire for an event which highlighted opportunities that the UK’s new civil nuclear build programme could present to the manufacturing sector.

The Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF), hosted in association with the Sheffield Region: Advanced Manufacturing and Materials project, was held at the AMP Technology Centre in Rotherham.

Speakers included representatives of Westinghouse Electric Company, Sheffield Forgemasters, Davy Markham and Independent Forgings and Alloys.

David Powell, head of customer relations for reactor provider Westinghouse UK, gave the keynote presentation.

He said: “The UK has the opportunity to really benefit from being at the start of this. We want to find the best ways of working with the UK supply chain, which is already strongly engaged with meeting our global needs.”

“Global nuclear capacity is expected to reach 1280GWe by 2050 from 372GWe today and Westinghouse aims to have the first of its AP1000 reactors operational in the UK by 2020. We buy where we build, and will do the same in the UK. By the fifth AP1000 unit, we expect that over 70% of what we need will be coming from the UK.”

Graham Honeyman gave an overview of Forgemasters’ involvement in the nuclear industry, highlighting its expertise in forging heavy safety critical parts, which require high quality forgings to fine tolerances.

He outlined how the planned investment in the new press will ensure that they would be one of only two companies in the world capable of making 100% of the heavy forgings for a nuclear reactor set.

Kevin Parkin of Davy Markham emphasised the UK’s need for suitably qualified engineers and the benefits to the industry of supporting more apprentices to be trained to become the next generation of world class engineers.

He also talked about the need for quality standards in the nuclear industry and that companies should ensure they are achieving the highest levels of quality to give them a fighting chance of supplying into the industry.

Anthony Cundall, of Sheffield Region: Advanced Manufacturing and Materials project team, said: “The announcement that Sheffield will be home to two groundbreaking research and engineering plants for the new civil nuclear manufacturing industry has further cemented the region’s position as a key location for future civil nuclear developments.

“The new £25m Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) at the AMP and a Rolls Royce component manufacturing, assembly and testing facility add to an existing array of expertise in the civil nuclear sector from established companies such as Sheffield Forgemasters, Davy Markham, Technicut and Newburgh Engineering. It is therefore fitting that we should hold an event of such importance in the region.”

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