Chatteris, Cambridgeshire – Stainless Metalcraft, a prominent manufacturer based in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, is preparing to boost its production capacity to meet the requirements of two national contracts aimed at the safe, long-term storage of the UK’s nuclear legacy assets.
Metalcraft has been granted the next phase of a crucial contract, involving the production of stainless steel waste containers designed for the storage of intermediate-level legacy nuclear waste. Additionally, the company has secured a contract with a new client to manufacture concrete waste containers that will assist in the decommissioning process of the UK’s retired nuclear power plants.
Nuclear decommissioning is a demanding yet growing market segment that Metalcraft has strategically pursued in recent years. The company has invested a significant £7.5 million in upgrading its production facility with state-of-the-art CNC machine tools and robotic welding machines to support these critical contracts.
To meet the anticipated demand for skilled personnel in the nuclear decommissioning sector, Metalcraft has also invested £3.4 million in a new training facility. The company is now well-prepared to scale up serial production of nuclear containers that adhere to rigorous specification criteria, showcasing its capacity to deliver highly specialized contracts.
These new contract acquisitions have bolstered Metalcraft’s forward order book to an impressive total of more than £75 million over the next six years. Austen Adams, the divisional managing director of Avingtrans PLC, the parent company of Stainless Metalcraft, expressed pride in being part of the national mission. He praised the manufacturing capabilities in Cambridgeshire and the potential of the highly skilled team, emphasizing their readiness to tackle new challenges in the field of future decommissioning.
Adams said, “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.’’