Ensa starts the welding work for the assembly of the vacuum vessel mockup of the ITER

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Ensa has started with the official welding work on the 1:1 scale model representing the union between two sectors of the vacuum chamber of the nuclear fusion reactor that the ITER consortium will build at the Cadarache facilities – France.

This work represents the beginning of the validation process of the numerous equipment, systems and procedures that have been developed over the last 5 years.

The activities are part of the first of the three phases of the project, which is expected to be completed by the middle of the next decade.

The ITER project is undoubtedly the most ambitious global research project, linked to demonstrating the technical feasibility of commercial nuclear fusion on Earth.

F4E highlights Ensa as a pillar in the scheme of companies for the manufacture of Vacuum Vessel

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Ensa has participated in a video made by Fusion for Energy , the European Union organization set up to manage Europe’s contribution to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor , which shows the capabilities and contribution of the different European companies currently in different fields in of the design and manufacture of the largest international project for the development of fusion energy.

As the video explains, Ensa’s activity is mainly focused on two work packages: the manufacture of segments for the vacuum vessel sectors and the development of technology for the assembly, as well as the final welding of the reactor sectors in on site.

The sector segments that Ensa is manufacturing for the first order are called PS1 and PS4. The Cantabrian company is responsible for developing the technology, manufacturing, welding and supply of the components for sectors 3, 2 and 9 of the vacuum vessel.

For work related to PS1, there is an external company for electron beam welding of some of the sub-assemblies in Inner Shells such as T-Ribs, Intermodular Keys and Flexible Housings to Inner Shells; key and very precise welds. However, in the PS4 the Cantabrian Company is responsible for the entire cycle of preparation of work related to engineering, technology development, manufacture of parts and delivery.

For the second order, which Ensa has been awarded by the French agency IO , it has produced three 1:1 scale models on which all the processes developed by its engineering during the last 4 years are being validated, including robotic welding and non-destructive tests that will be performed when welding the sectors and ports to build the complete vacuum chamber.

The ITER project is a great opportunity for the nuclear industry. In fact, it is a «first of a kind» project, which means it has its own challenges. That is why Ensa has had to develop its own processes and robotic solutions to be able to face these challenges, among which there are very strict dimensional requirements, very demanding quality standards, the segregation of hardware and materials and special sequences that it has to think about, develop and implement to make sure that they adjust to the high levels that they have to have when they are carried out on the hardware and components.

But in order to be able to face all these challenges, Ensa has its Advanced Technology Center where all the necessary technology is developed, ranging from the hardware, software and methodology to have the precise technique for its successful implementation first in its Maliaño facilities and then in Cadarache when its final assembly is carried out.

Ensa will supply several components for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in the United Kingdom

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Equipos Nucleares S.A., S.M.E has recently been awarded a contract to manufacture two pressurizers for Framatome, the first supplier for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant . The Cantabrian Company is also responsible for the design, manufacture and supply of different tanks that will be embedded in the civil works: fourteen different components for the two units of the British plant. Each unit contains: a pressurised tank, a tank for the reactor cooling system and a volume control tank, as well as four accumulators and two rings; for the support and settlement of the reactor.

This marks the end of a commercial phase in which Ensa has overcome numerous challenges, developing value propositions that have allowed it to differentiate itself from stiff competition until finally being awarded these projects, which represents a milestone for Ensa in the panorama of the manufacture of components for nuclear power plants in the world market: Supplying these components in the United Kingdom is a strong endorsement of Ensa’s trajectory as a multi-system manufacturer, with different products and its internationalization, as well as an extensive experience that allows it to offer customized  services adapted to each client and situation.

Hinkley Point C , currently under construction, has a projected useful life of sixty years and is currently a leading project and international reference in the nuclear field and among the most relevant in the West.

The Advanced Technology Center of Ensa designs a new system of alignment of parts in the head of X-ray (RX)

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Maliaño, 17th of September, The Automatic unit from the Advanced Technology Center of Equipos Nucleares S.A., S.M.E , in collaboration with the QC Area , has implemented a system of alignment of parts in the X-ray head.

 This new design, based on the use of linear laser diodes, allows defining the exposure center and the axes located at 45 °. In addition, a point laser diode defines the optimum separation distance of the piece inspected

 With this new system, it is obtained an improvement in the radiographic images performance, which positively affects in the quality of products.

Ensa and the Brazilian Navy held a meeting at the facilities of the Cantabrian company

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Maliaño, 20th of August, 2018-Equipos Nucleares S.A., S.M.E. received the visit of an important delegation from the Technological Centre of the Brazilian Navy headed by its director, the Vice-Admiral , Sydney dos Santos Neves.

During the meeting at the company’s facilities in Maliaño, the progress of the work at the La Marinha Nuclear Power Generation Laboratory Plant for radioactive waste processing was analysed.  In addition, during the visit to the Advanced Technology Centre and the Ensa workshop, the Marinha was able to learn more about the technological capabilities and projects in which the company currently Works.

Ensa received the visit of a group of students from INCEFA+ seminar (UC)

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 Maliaño, 14 th of augost, 2018.-The visit started with a presentation of the company, in which the products and services developed by Ensa for worldwide distribution were exhibited. The students continued their tour at the workshop and laboratories of the Advanced Technology Centre , which includes the Welding Development, Automatic and Defectology units, as well as the Metrology and Materials Testing laboratories.

These students come from big companies like Enusa, Curtiss Wright-Metal Improvement Company, State Office for Nuclear Safety, Framatome, EDF, IRSN y EDF R&D.

Incefa-Plus is a long vision proyect that wil try to develop new directives for reducing of environmental damage of nuclear power plant components.

CESOL recognizes Ensa as a Distinguished Member for its collaboration

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The Cantabrian company participated in the 22nd Technical Conference of Welding and Union Technologies held by the Association

Maliaño, July 24, 2018.- The Spanish Association of Welding and Union Technology recognized Equipos Nucleares SA, SME as a Distinguished Member for its «high degree of collaboration» with the Association as well as for its «contribution to the technique and practice of welding, as well as their human values».  Domingo Lima, responsible of Advanced Technology Center , collected the Award on behalf of the company.

The delivery of this distinction was carried out during the 22nd Technical Conference of Welding and Union Technologies organized by CESOL, held at the Technical School of Industrial Engineers of the Polytechnic University of Madrid where the doctors Pedro Verón and Verónica Román, members of Defectology Unit of the ACT participated with two conferences.

The conference served as a forum in which professionals and companies could expose and contrast ideas, as well as presenting the latest developments and scientific-technical trends in the welding field, adhesives and other union technologies.

New welding technologies, new inspection techniques, the mechanical behavior of welded joints or the weldability of new materials were some of the topics discussed.

The Cantabrian company has been a member of CESOL since its foundation and collaborator since 1977.

 

Ensa participated in the third edition of the World Nuclear Exhibition 2018

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The company signed a collaboration agreement with Nuclep

Maliaño, July 17, 2018.- Nuclear Teams S.A., S.M.E participated in the third edition of the World Nuclear Exhibition 2018 held in Paris, the most important meeting of the nuclear industry of the future.

The Cantabrian company, with its subsidiary Enwesa, was able to show its capabilities and products and the new technologies they are developing. In addition, they took advantage of this meeting to strengthen ties, exchange experiences and good practices with suppliers, customers and other companies, as well as to establish new collaborations that can be useful to access new market niches.

During the WNE, Ensa had the opportunity to sign a collaboration agreement with Nuclep, a Brazilian component manufacturer which it has a very close relationship for many years, among many other interviews with clients and strategic partners. This agreement will serve as a base for future collaborations between the two companies, both in the Brazilian market, and in the rest of South America.

The WNE 2018 brought together 750 exhibitors, a large number of SMEs, ETIs and startups and more than 20,000 participants from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, America and Russia over the 3 days the fair was celebrated.

Companies of the Future Program: CINC (Cluster of the Nuclear Industry of Cantabria)

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“Popular TV” broadcasted a program dedicated to the CINC sponsored by SODERCAN

The program talked about the history of the Cluster since its foundation in 2013. María Vega, president of CINC and director of Business Development of Ensa – company which leads this business conglomerate – explains the value of clusters in the international market as vehicle to strengthen ties and foster synergies, in this case within the nuclear industry.

In addition to Maria’s intervention, the program includes the participation of Sergio Gómez, vice president of CINC and responsible for Nuclear and Manufacturing ENWESA and Beatriz San Cristobal, secretary of CINC and director of Projects and Technological Development CTC.

To know more about the Cluster, you can access the following direct link to the video: vimeo.com/278993506

On July 9 starts a new edition of «Nuclear Engineering» course, organized by CINC and Nuclear Forum UC-Empresa

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Among others, companies that participate are Ensa, Enwesa, Enresa, Nuclenor, CTC and Jóvenes Nucleares,

Maliaño, July 5, 2018.- The Cluster of the Nuclear Industry of Cantabria and UC-Company Forum organize a new edition of the summer course «Nuclear Engineering» to be held from 9th  to 13th  July in the main hall of the Law Faculty of the Cantabria University .

In this edition, new topics will be addressed related to the emerging sector of fusion technology and will be discussed the scientific and technological needs that its development demands. Also, technical aspects of activities related to the storage of spent fuel and individualized and centralized temporary warehouses will also be introduced.

The main goal of this course is to spread the know-how of the industry.

The course has the participation of Equipos Nucleares SA, SME , Enwesa Operaciones SA, SME, Enresa, Nuclenor, Technological Center of Components , Jóvenes Nucleares, Computer Consulting Cantabria , INGECID and Environmental Measures SL, and is under the direction of Ángel Mañanes and Sergio Cicero, professors of the UC.

More information on the web: www.cursosdeveranoydeextensionuc.es