Bob Hoffman ,
Sr. Vice President, Framatome Fuel
Framatome Technologies Group

Framatome Cogema Fuels (FCF) is committed to providing fuel and fuel related products so that our customers have the best performing nuclear power plants in the industry. In today's rapidly changing energy environment, utilities require innovative solutions to ensure high reliability and to effectively reduce total fuel cycle costs, from uranium supply to final disposition. That's why FCF uses a total fuel cycle approach to address nuclear utility needs today-and into the 21st century.

This issue of Envision contains articles that demonstrate how FCF performs beyond today's needs. We are extremely pleased to have been selected by Dominion Generation to supply our advanced MK-BW 17x17 fuel to North Anna. This fuel design features M-5™ cladding and guide tubes, mid-span mixing grids and TRAPPER™ lower nozzle for highly effective debris protection. We were also just selected by Pacific Gas & Electric to supply our HARMONI™ wear resistant reactor control component assemblies (RCCA) for Diablo Canyon. Also, we are working with our parent company, Framatome, to supply an advanced incore monitoring system, MARINE, to EDF reactors.

We know that utilities are looking for, and finding, alternate suppliers for OEM services and that fuel and fuel components are vital to successful plant operations. Therefore, FCF will continue to go one step further to find ways to improve performance at your plants. We are committed to the highest quality in our manufacturing and design operations as evidenced by our ISO 9001 certification and recent favorable license performance review by the NRC.

By taking our service one step further, we hope to gain your confidence in FCF's fuel assemblies, control components, incore detectors, engineering services associated with the nuclear fuel cycle, and field services for inspection and repair of fuel and related components.