The Future for Nuclear Component Manufacturing

After having focused on the Projects & Engineering, Nuclear Services, and Nuclear Fuel business groups in previous issues, this fourth edition of Advanced Nuclear Power concentrates on the role of and challenges facing Framatome ANP's Mechanical Equipment business group.

This business group is made up of two French entities; the Chalon Saint Marcel plant that fabricates only nuclear heavy components, and Jeumont SA, a wholly-owned Framatome ANP subsidiary, that specializes in reactor coolant pumps and motors and control rod drive mechanisms. With over 272 steam generators, 113 reactor vessels, 68 pressurizers, 220 reactor coolant pump motors and 4,400 control rod drive mechanisms to their credit, these two entities clearly position Framatome ANP as a leading global nuclear component manufacturer.

After a long period of new reactor manufacturing, the market has entered a phase of plant service life extension and component replacement. Our mechanical engineering market - previously dominated by EDF investments - has opened up and become more competitive. The US, in particular, has a high potential for replacement components over the next ten years due to aging plants and plant life extensions. The nuclear renaissance, expected in the future, will create renewed demand for heavy components.

Customers today, due to market deregulation and a more competitive environment, demand new types of contracts with their suppliers; contracts that are financially attractive, simpler and more comprehensive. Clients increasingly are interested in all-inclusive service packages covering supply of replacement components, the replacement operation itself and the associated engineering and licensing studies. Framatome ANP, with outstanding manufacturing capabilities, engineering and licensing, installation and, equally important, the follow-on service and maintenance, can meet these requirements.