The first delivery of precision-engineered, steel ductwork has left the KAEFER Fabrication Facility in Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, heading for Hinkley Point C, the first in a new generation of nuclear power stations in Britain.
The specialist steel ductwork, manufactured to the highest quality standards for use in a nuclear environment, will be installed in the dome in reactor 1 at the Hinkley Point C site.
During the project KAEFER UK & Ireland will provide ductwork for the nuclear island for both units 1 and 2 at the Hinkley site. This week’s delivery is the first in a series of tens of thousands of ductwork pieces destined for the new nuclear power station from the Jarrow site over the next three years.
The facility in Jarrow became the KAEFER UK & Ireland Head Office in 2021, following the purchase of the Wood Group Industrial Services business by KAEFER in 2020. 60 head office administration staff are based at the site alongside the Fabrication Unit.
Carl Roberts, General Manager at Jarrow site, said:
“The Hinkley Point C contract secured the future of our Fabrication facility at Jarrow. On top of the roles we protected, we’ve recruited an additional 30 highly skilled colleagues to join the business in 2022, and we’re not stopping there. We’re actively recruiting four trainees to start in December and want to recruit another four by the end of 2023. We have big plans for the KAEFER UK & Ireland business, and I’m delighted that the north-east can play such a pivotal role supporting growth in the nuclear power industry.”
Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, is the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK in over 20 years. The site will provide low-carbon electricity for around 6 million homes, create thousands of jobs, and bring lasting benefits to the UK economy. Marking a significant milestone in the revitalisation of our nuclear power industry, Hinkley Point C will make a major contribution to the UK’s transition to net zero carbon emissions.
The electricity generated by its two EPR reactors will offset 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year, or 600 million tonnes over its 60-year lifespan.
As well as supplying high grade steel ducting for the nuclear island at Hinkley Point C, industrial services specialist KAEFER is also responsible for delivering containment liner coatings, surface protection for concrete in the internal building rooms, and providing access solutions.
Trevor Woodward, Business & Strategy Director at KAEFER, said:
“KAEFER is committed to supporting a sustainable net zero economy and our mission is to be the most reliable and efficient provider of technical industrial services. We’ve been working in collaboration with our customer for many years to get to this point and it’s great to see high quality engineered products manufactured from the skills base in the North East. It’s important now we have production output that we deliver continuous improvement. Efficient delivery for Hinkley Point C will help secure the future for nuclear new build projects and long term opportunities for the UK supply chain.”
ENDS
KAEFER in the UK & Ireland serves a large and growing range of industries with asset integrity services. These services include access solutions, insulation, inspection & testing, protective coatings, asbestos management and more – generating an annual turnover of c.£250 Million. The company currently has 8 operating centres across the UK and Ireland, employing approximately 3,000 highly skilled and experienced people. Further information can be found at www.kaeferltd.co.uk.
Press contact
Gem Trainor – Head of Communications & Marketing
KAEFER Limited
Riverside House
Rolling Mill Road
Viking Industrial Park
Jarrow
NE32 3DP
