- Welding technology company K-TIG (KTG) has signed a deal with Nuclear AMRC to develop a turnkey robotic welding cell to produce nuclear storage containers
- The main focus of the collaboration is to service Sellafield’s £1.5 billion (A$2.8 billion) procurement plan to have enough storage for intermediate level waste (ILW)
- K-TIG says the company is giving those facing nuclear waste storage issues the ability to source high quality, repeatable and competitively priced storage capabilities
- The project will be delivered in three phases between now and no later than December 2023
- Company shares are up 2.82 per cent to trade at 36.5 cents
Welding technology company K-TIG (KTG) has signed a deal with the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC).
The formal agreement involves the pair developing a turnkey robotic welding cell which can be used to produce nuclear storage containers, each holding three cubic metres of intermediate level waste (ILW).
The robotic welding cell will be designed to be suitable for Sellafield which is a large-scale nuclear site in the UK responsible for managing radioactive waste.
It’s expected that Sellafield will need up to 17,000 three-cubic metre stainless steel boxes as part of its £1.5 billion (A$2.8 billion) procurement plan that’s scheduled to commence in FY23/24.
While K-TIG and Nuclear AMRC’s main focus for the collaboration is the Sellafield ILW containers, the project paves the way for the company to provide a solution for a global issue.
Storing nuclear waste requires containers which must maintain their integrity for at least 150 years. K-TIG’s technology plans to provide that through consistently high-quality welds and integrating cutting-edge, real time quality inspection capabilities, such as ultrasonic and acoustic sensors.
“This agreement takes our nuclear strategy from planning to execution. It will provide us with the foundation to enter into a fabrication joint venture or acquire an appropriate business,” KTG Managing Director Adrian Smith said.
“We are now moving towards realising long term revenue from the nuclear sector by offering a world-leading nuclear storage solution and creating value for our shareholders.”
The project will be delivered in three phases between now and no later than December 2023.
“We are giving those facing complex nuclear waste storage issues the ability to source the highest quality, repeatable and competitively priced storage capabilities, whilst concurrently reaping the economic benefits of regional production nodes and jobs,” K-TIG General Manager UK and EU Ben Hall said.
K-TIG will maintain all intellectual property and commercialisation rights to the robotic welding cell developed which can be adapted and rolled out internationally.
Company shares were up 2.82 per cent to trade at 36.5 cents at 2:27 pm AEDT.