Nuclear Metal Fabrication

The UK government’s Civil Nuclear Roadmap sets out their ambitions to quadruple UK nuclear capacity by 2050 – enough to provide a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs.

This capacity will come from new technology such as:

• small nuclear reactors (SMRs) of the type currently being developed by Rolls-Royce
• larger-scale power plants such as Hinkley C and Sizewell C

This ambition marks the biggest investment in domestic nuclear energy in 70 years.

Nuclear metal fabrication will play a key role in the development of both reactors and power plants.

Universal Wolf is a leading sheet metal fabricator. We have over 60 years’ experience in crafting complex metalwork for a range of customers, including those in highly regulated industries such as Defence and Nuclear.

We are able to support both the development of new facilities, and the decommissioning of historic plants, e.g. Sellafield, through our expertise in nuclear metal fabrication.

How is metal fabrication used in the nuclear sector?

Sheet metal has lots of attributes which make it ideal for use in the nuclear sector:

• it is a strong material
• it holds its shape well once fabricated
• it is relatively lightweight, making it ideal for applications which will be moved around a site e.g. for decommissioning
• lead sheeting can be bonded to the metalwork, creating protection against nuclear radiation

Thanks to its durability and corrosion resistance, sheet metal fabrication plays an important role in the development of nuclear power plants and reactors.

Nuclear metal fabrication and lead integration

Universal Wolf has on-site lead integration capability, honed for many years through our work manufacturing products for a leading brand in airport security.

This is executed at our Cowley Road facility, where we brought the process in-house to maintain full timing and quality control.

Read more about our lead shielding capabilities.

Nuclear metal fabrication for decommissioning

Alongside the planned programme of new developments in the sector, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is also managing the decommissioning of the UK’s earliest nuclear power plants, including Sellafield.

This decades-long undertaking will require sheet metal fabrication in various forms, to safely and securely manage the clean-up.

Universal Wolf can support in the early-stage development and prototyping of decommissioning equipment. We provide design for manufacturing guidance to ensure designs are optimised for repeatable manufacture, before scaling manufacture of metalwork and assemblies as customer demand dictates.

Our skilled team of fabricators and welders has many combined decades of experience, fabricating complex metalwork for companies across a range of industries. Qualified to ISO9001, ISO 3834 and DIN2023 Q2/BK1, we produce high-quality sheet metal fabricated products to our customers’ exact standards.

Where is metal fabrication used in a nuclear environment?

There are many applications in the nuclear sector which use sheet metal fabrication, for both new plants and decommissioning purposes. These include:

• HVAC units
• housings
• boxes and lids
• storage containers
• metal frameworks
• skids
• electrical cabinets
• x-ray shielding panels

Feel free to get in touch with us to discuss your specific product and project requirements.

Why trust Universal Wolf with your nuclear metal fabrication?

The nuclear industry is highly regulated, with low tolerances for error and exacting specifications.

Universal Wolf is a sheet metal fabricator with experience across a number of industries, from Defence and security to commercial industry sectors. We have supported many companies to scale at pace; taking products from development and launch to modular, repeatable assemblies and full lifecycle support.

We hold ourselves to high standards, with:

• a robust system for tracking goods as they move through our manufacturing process
• full material traceability
• a well-trained and highly-skilled team
• a focus on continuous improvement
• a strong, collaborative focus when working with customers

We are JOSCAR accredited, hold Cyber Essentials certification and a range of standards including ISO9001, making us a trusted partner for nuclear metal fabrication projects.

Take a look at some of our previous projects to see the kind of companies we have supported in the past.

Recent case studies

Red Engineering & Sellafield

Dennis Eagle refuse vehicles 

NHS Beds

Want to discuss your Nuclear metal fabrication needs? Let’s talk…

We would love to discuss how we can support your sheet metal fabrication for the Nuclear sector.

Complete our contact form and a member of the team will get in touch!