Sweden’s Sandvik Materials Technology has announced a "record order" to supply nuclear tubes and pipes for the UK’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.
Sandvik said it will supply nuclear tubes and pipes in 29 dimensions in grade 3R65, a molybdenum-alloyed austenitic stainless chromium-nickel steel with a low carbon content. The tubes will be mainly used to connect different systems close to the second EPR reactor at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, UK.
The materials will require a high degree of cleanliness to meet the nuclear RCC-M design code, with firm controls on instructions and procedures and regular on-site third-party inspections during manufacturing. The tubes and pipes will be manufactured at Sandvik’s production unit in Sandviken, Sweden.
This is Sandvik’s second order for Hinkley Point. In 2018, the company was commissioned to provide a package of tubes for the unit 1 at Hinkley Point C. That order was delivered during 2019 and 2020.
Despite tough competition, Sandvik’s Anders Frelin, regional sales manager, Nuclear Power EMEA, said the company had won the contract “thanks to a strong commitment from everyone involved, from the first customer sales contact, through the internal supply chain to final delivery with impressive teamwork”.
Production manager Patrick Larsson said Sandvik has a successful record of supporting the nuclear industry for more than 60 years and a 155-year steelmaking heritage. Sandvik has delivered 60,000,000 metres of nuclear fuel tubes to more than 100 reactors worldwide.
Photo: Sandvik Materials Technology is to supply nuclear tubes and pipes for the UK’s Hinkley Point C (Credit: Sandvik)
