The £280k investment will allow more automated manufacturing processes to be employed along with “lights out” manufacturing enabling increased production.
The first of the new machines was installed at the company’s factory in Bradwell in the Hope Valley in August. The Haas VF-2SSYT Super-Speed Vertical Machining Centre has rotary 4th axis, automatic vice and robot loading/unloading, a first for NEC, milling components up to 750mm x 500mm x 500mm.
The second machine installed in October is a Haas ST-15LY lathe, with Y axis, driven tooling and auto bar feeder which will turn components up to 270mm diameter x 800mm long.
David Greenan, Sales Director, NEC, said “This automation will also free up our multi-skilled operators to focus on refining running projects and introducing new ones along with exploring other new technologies and techniques.
The new equipment brings other benefits to the business being more energy efficient and enabling a reduction in both operating costs and environmental impact.”
NEC currently has long term contracts in place for production for the existing UK Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors and they are working with a number of partners on potential new build power plants including SMR’s (Small Modular Reactors), AMR’s (Advanced Modular Reactors) and Fusion plants.
The company has over 60 years’ experience working in the Nuclear sector ensures that a nuclear safety culture is ingrained in everything they do across all sectors including Oil and Gas, Defence, Rail and non-nuclear power generation such as renewables.
