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Dave Barker, CEO of Aquila Nuclear Engineering Ltd, part of the Calder Group, the £165m pan-European engineering group, has recently been appointed Chairman of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Estate SME Steering Group – Southern Region.

The group provides a forum for strategic engagement between the NDA, the Site Licence Companies (SLCs), Tier 2 suppliers and SMEs representing the supply chain, and feeds into the National SME Steering Group to promote shared learning, best practice and coordination.

Appointed for a period of 3 years, Dave Barker will chair the group to focus on topics relating to improving the attractiveness and the health of the market, supporting the portfolio of NDA sites with a particular focus on the SME community.

As an advocate for SMEs, the group will provide a direct communication route between representatives of the SME supply chain and the NDA, connecting up all levels of the supply chain, acting as a sounding board and identifying areas for improvement.

With over 35 years’ industry experience, Dave’s expertise cover a strategic, technical and commercial portfolio, providing hands-on solutions to mission critical engineering.

Dave Barker, CEO of Aquila Nuclear Engineering Ltd, said:

“I’m honoured to have been voted Chairman of the steering group and I believe the mix of companies represented will work well with the Site Licence Companies in helping to improve performance and increasing the percentage of business flowing into the supply chain at the SME level. There are great opportunities for SMEs in the South, not just within the NDA estate, but also at AWE and EDF, so we have a lot to go for.”

AQUILA AND BD NUCLEAR HAVE AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER IN PROVIDING DECOMMISSIONING SOLUTIONS TO THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY.

This agreement to collaborate has resulted from an assessment of the two companies’ capabilities, market knowledge, decommissioning techniques and complementary skills.

Aquila, is a specialist in the design and supply of containment systems, shielded facilities, remote handling and transport/storage packages.

BD Nuclear, are specialists in providing diamond wire cutting and size reduction techniques, in steel and concrete.

Aquila and BD Nuclear together, can provide bespoke decommissioning solutions to the nuclear industry, combining specialist cutting and size reduction techniques within contained and shielded environments, including remote handling. Both companies follow the same driving principals in designing fit for purpose solutions, competitively and most importantly, safely.

Aquila Nuclear and BD Nuclear, believe that in working together we can offer turnkey solutions to the decommissioning industry within Europe. This joined up approach offers our clients unparalleled access to cutting, size reduction, remote handling and sorting techniques, tried and tested.

OUR CLIENT BASE IS WHOLLY NUCLEAR AND JOINTLY INCLUDES:

• Areva
• AWE
• AMEC
• Babcock Marine Development
• Cavendish Nuclear
• CEA
• Costain Nuclear
• Dalton Institute
• DSRL
• Edf
• GEHC
• Imperial College London
• Interserve
• Jacobs
• Keltbray
• National Nuclear Laboratories
• Redhall
• Magnox
• Nuvia
• RPS Group
• Sellafield Limited
• Tractabel
• University of Manchester
• University of Hull
• University of Oxford
• UKAEA

The Aquila and BD nuclear teams have undertaken projects at all Magnox sites, Sellafield and DSRL. Both companies have framework agreements already in place at DSRL for size reduction, mechanical engineering and manufacturing services.

APPLICATION SOLUTIONS

We would welcome opportunities from the nuclear industry to engineer total cutting and size reduction solutions from:

• Concept
• Feasibility studies
• Detail design
• Full manufacture, assembly and works testing
• On site plant installation and commissioning
• On site team classified workers-Pressurised suit trained and DV cleared.

Dave Barker, CEO of Aquila Nuclear Engineering Ltd, last week presented at the UKTI Nuclear Energy Showcase in London. The event was promoted and supported by DECC and the Nuclear Industries Association. Baroness Verma, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, emphasised the importance of the UK nuclear supply chain for not only the nuclear renaissance in the UK but across the globe. Dave’s paper focused on technical and service innovation, not just at the contract phase of a project, but early on during project definition and during the Invitation to Tender. Dave explained the 5 positioning techniques used at Aquila Nuclear Engineering to differentiate themselves from the competition. For more information, contact Dave Barker, CEO, Aquila Nuclear Engineering Ltd dbarker@cyclifeaquila.com