F4E contract signed to deliver ITER assembly tools

ITER, the largest fusion reactor ever built, will be made of about one million components. The assembly and maintenance of the device is a herculean effort requiring technical skills and specialised machinery. Remote handling systems will take on some of the most complex tasks, reaching inside areas where operators or conventional tools cannot.

Europe is responsible for four of the main remote handling systems. These tools are designed to transport and manoeuvre heavy components around the tokamak smoothly and with millimetric precision. They will do so thanks to a set of advanced technologies, such as man-in-the-loop robotics, virtual reality or bespoke software. Developing them offers an attractive chance for European industry to innovate and create solutions with potential far beyond fusion.

Fusion for Energy (F4E) has signed a new framework contract with five suppliers to design and manufacture remote handling (RH) systems. The selected companies are Aritex, the Ansaldo Nucleare – Dal Ben consortium, De Pretto Industrie, the AVS – Esteyco consortium, and the Asturfeito – Tekniker consortium. Under this contract, with an overall value of 60 million EUR, they will be competing for the different task orders launched by F4E. Their work will help Europe deliver on three Procurement Arrangements: the divertor RH system, the cask and plug RH system, and the ex-vessel neutral beam RH system.

The primary focus of the contract is on assembly tools, which will come into play early on to prepare the machine for its first operations. Their design is comparatively simpler because they will not work in a nuclear environment. By contrast, the next generation of RH systems will require full nuclear qualification to carry out remote maintenance on components exposed to radiation. As part of the new framework, suppliers will also contribute to developing these tools, drawing on the know-how and design activities of previous F4E contracts.

“There is a lot of work ahead to meet the schedule of ITER, so it’s very positive to have an updated contractual tool, with space for multiple collaborations. This will be our central reference for assembly-related activities in years to come” comments Carine Van Hille, F4E Project Manager for Divertor Remote Handling.

Adding on this, Emilio Ruiz, F4E Programme Manager, explains that “engaging with various contractors will stimulate competition and secure the capacity to deliver a wide range of technologies.” “We know our five suppliers are highly qualified and this contract will help them increase their expertise. The complexity of ITER’s remote handling is a unique opportunity to venture into new technological territory,” he notes.