News: Rotherham nuclear forum the biggest yet

A manufacturing forum in Rotherham last month attracted 120 delegates from manufacturing companies across the country eager to learn more about the opportunities in the UK's nuclear new-build programme, and to network with industry leaders.

It was a record attendance for the Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF), the technology network for manufacturing businesses organised by The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing.

The regular AMF events cover a range of topics of relevance to manufacturing businesses, offering insight into current and emerging technologies and supply chain issues.

David Powell, head of customer relations for reactor provider Westinghouse UK, gave the keynote presentation. Powell said: "The UK has the opportunity to really benefit from being at the start of this," he said. "We want to find the best ways of working with the UK supply chain, which is already strongly engaged with meeting our global needs."

Global nuclear capacity is expected to reach 1280GWe by 2050 from 372GWe today and Westinghouse aims to have the first of its AP1000 reactors operational in the UK by 2020. Powell added: "We buy where we build, and will do the same in the UK. By the fifth AP1000 unit, we expect that over 70 per cent of what we need will be coming from the UK."

The forum also heard presentations from nuclear industry suppliers Sheffield Forgemasters, DavyMarkham and Independent Forgings and Alloys.

Denzil Lawrence from the AMRC with Boeing said: "The AMF events generally attract a good number of delegates but this time we've exceeded our expectations.

"There are some potentially large opportunities for UK manufacturers to benefit from the planned new build programme, and it’s clear that the forward thinking companies are already looking to learn more about how they could gain from those opportunities."

Plans have been submitted for The Nuclear AMRC to be built in Rotherham. The centre will provide a focal point for the bulk of the UK civil nuclear manufacturing industry supply chain, ensuring that manufacturers in the UK have the capability and capacity required to compete for nuclear new build in the UK and globally, from skills training to research and development.

Nuclear AMRC website