Introducing our industry partners

Luvata supplier of 62 tonnes of copper wire for the TF coils

Luvata, with headquarters in Pori, Finland, goes back to the end of the 16th century. Since then, the company has come a long way and today offers different solutions of copper and other metals for applications ranging from microprocessors to solar applications and low temperature superconductors. It is a truly global company with 35 production facilities in 18 countries making it a recognised partner all around the world.

Luvata was the first company in Europe to sign a "hardware" contract with F4E in April 2009. The contract covers a delivery of 62 tonnes of chromium-coated copper wire to be used for the superconducting Toroidal Field coils of ITER. The main purpose of the copper in the conductors is to improve the thermal stability of the magnets and therefore it has to meet demanding specifications.

Ben Karlemo, Head of the Superconductor Unit in Pori, says that “Luvata has always been a company that wants to deliver on the foreground of development. ITER offers us the possibility to be part of a new long term energy solution leading to a sustainable strategy for the world.”

OST - supplier of 58 tonnes of Nb₃Sn strand for the TF coils

Based in the UK, Oxford Instruments Group designs, supplies, and supports high-technology tools, processes and solutions with a focus on physics, bioscience, environmental and industry applied research. Their subsidiary company, Oxford Superconducting Technology (OST), which is based in New Jersey, USA, has been in the business of developing and manufacturing superconductors for almost forty years and has been chosen to produce approximately 58 tonnes of Nb₃Sn strand for the TF coil conductor lengths as part of the European contribution to ITER. Being a superconductor, the composite strand is unique in the sense that at temperatures below -265°C, it has no electrical resistance and generates no heat. This characteristic is invaluable to ITER scientists as it allows the running of a large electrical current inside the TF coil for a long period of time without generating heat, thus enabling the production of the high magnetic field needed to achieve the required plasma performances in the tokamak.

Jeff Parrell, Vice President of Engineering at OST, says that “ITER represents a major milestone in the evolution of science and technology.  The project will bring together many of the best minds on earth towards an extraordinary variety of accomplishments; one of these is the clear demonstration of reliable large high field superconducting magnet systems.  Thousands of engineers will be working together to create a new solution to the global problem of energy security.  OST is proud to have the opportunity to participate in this historical program.”