Mechanical handling equipment

Tender description

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is a non departmental government body. UKAEA is involved in the design and provision of the Active Cells remote handling facility within the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden. The purpose of the facility is to process and store spent activated target station components. Work on handling processes and in-cell equipment/facilities are progressing towards the detailed design phase. For individual processes and items of equipment, options need to be identified, assessed against the requirements, and developed towards a suitable design ready for manufacture. This market enquiry relates to the Primary Remote Handling System (PRHS). A PRHS has been has been identified as being critical in carrying out remote operations within the Active Cells. The PRHS is a remote handling system intended to deliver servo-manipulation into the Active Cells. Operations will include: 1. Carrying out routine maintenance of in- cell equipment with RH-compatible interfaces; changing filters, demounting and remounting limited life components. 2. Assisting in the processing and size-reduction of spent nuclear components as they are handled and prepared for storage; involving the handling of standard tooling, bespoke tooling and components. 3. The PRHS must have flexibility to carry out future unplanned in-cell tasks. The solution will require design, manufacture and installation into the Active Cells facility. This PIN has been published to enable market research to commence to asses the reaction of the market to the requirement and to review available technologies. UKAEA will conduct a dialogue with the marketplace and this may result in a call for competition based on the scope of the requirement developed through the dialogue.