The Prime Minister announced on Monday 25th March a ‘national endeavour’ to secure the future of the UK’s thriving defence and civil nuclear industry. The UK’s nuclear industry is going through an unprecedented period of growth, driven by the Government’s ambitious nuclear energy targets, and is expected to need 123,000 people by 2030. Domestic nuclear capability is vital to our national defence and energy security, underpinning our nuclear deterrent and securing cheaper, more reliable energy for UK consumers.
The investment in nuclear skills – which includes £350 million from the Government and more than £400m from industry – will create some 5,000 new apprenticeships in the next four years. It will also drive private investment and create job opportunities for everyone from specialist scientists and engineers, to welders and electricians, to project managers and Royal Navy submariners.
This follows the major reforms and £60 million worth of investment outlined by the Prime Minister following the Spring Budget to enable 20,000 more apprenticeships and slash unnecessary regulatory burdens. It is expected to require 50% more highly skilled workers in the next ten years – and we need to train a new generation of British talent.
AML’s Nuclear Capabilities
AML is achieving ground-breaking results in the research and development of pioneering nuclear efficient technology, continually improving its machining capabilities to meet these challenges. We are currently utilising these capabilities in two exciting spaces for the industry; Supporting Existing Fission Applications and the development of Nuclear Fusion Technology.
Nuclear Fusion will have a beneficial impact on our planet by liberating vast amounts of energy without generating high levels of carbon emissions and will be an undoubted boost in the battle against climate change. AML is currently researching the machinability of tungsten divertor tiles for a fusion reactor, produced via powder bed fusion additive manufacture, through a project partially funded by The Henry Royce Institute within the University of Manchester.
AML also continues to be an important partner for existing and emerging Nuclear Fission for applications such as submarines and small modular reactors. Adaptive machining and other advanced manufacturing technologies at AML will be pivotal in the delivery of these programmes; ever-changing designs will require the rapid manufacture of geometrically complex components. AML’s ability to achieve grinding tolerances through milling and turning processes make us the perfect supplier for the nuclear market.
AML is proud to have achieved Fit For Nuclear (F4N) status. F4N is recognition by the Nuclear AMRC that a business is considered capable of supplying the nuclear supply chain. F4N lets companies measure their operations against the standards required to supply the nuclear industry – in new build, operations and decommissioning.
For commercial nuclear enquiries, please email enquiries@amlsheffield.co.uk and for more information on nuclear research and development, please email a.cotton@amlsheffield.co.uk or call us on +44 1709 373 673.
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