Avingtrans plc (LON:AVG), which designs, manufactures and supplies critical components, modules, systems and associated services to the energy, medical and industrial sectors, has announced that Stainless Metalcraft (Metalcraft), part of the Group’s Energy and Medical division, has secured two national contracts that aim to make safe nuclear waste for long-term storage of the UK’s legacy of nuclear assets. Together, the contracts (one of which is a new contract and the other an extension to an existing contract) are valued at £14.5m and the additions boost Metalcraft’s forward order book to more than £75m over the next six years.
Metalcraft has been awarded the release of the next production phase of a contract to produce stainless steel waste containers that will be used to store intermediate level legacy waste. Additionally, Metalcraft has secured a contract from a new client to prepare concrete waste containers to support decommissioning of the now-retired fleet of UK nuclear power plants.
Nuclear decommissioning is a demanding but developing market that Metalcraft has specifically targeted in recent years. It has invested £7.5 million in new plant and equipment at its production facility to support the contracts, including modern CNC machine tools and robotic welding machines. Anticipating future demand, Metalcraft has also invested £3.4m in a new training facility to manage the supply of skilled personnel to meet anticipated demands of nuclear decommissioning. It is now ready to increase serial production of nuclear containers that meet rigorous specification criteria and proves the company’s ability to deliver highly specialised contracts.
Austen Adams, divisional managing director of Avingtrans PLC, commented:
“We are proud to be a part of this national mission of utmost importance. Winning these additional contracts is a testament to our production capability in Cambridgeshire and the incredible potential of our team members, who are highly skilled and ready to tackle these new challenges in the future decommissioning market.
“This challenge highlights the finest aspects of UK manufacturing while the benefit of a large forward order book enables us to invest in the people essential to the success of the challenge. We are looking forward to fulfilling these contracts and more to follow.”
