Press Release: April 21, 2023
CloudNC to supply precision-manufactured components to Fusion sector through new agreement with UKAEA
- CloudNC will supply UKAEA with components that support the manufacture of diagnostic windows used in fusion energy
- It’s the first time that CloudNC has manufactured components for the fusion industry
CloudNC is to supply precision-manufactured components to the fusion energy industry, thanks to a new agreement with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).
UKAEA, a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of fusion energy, has selected CloudNC, a manufacturing technology company, to supply components that support the manufacture of diagnostic windows used in fusion. Diagnostic windows allow observers to view and monitor critical occurrences within complex equipment, such as reactions that take place inside a fusion machine.
The agreement means that CloudNC will produce components at its factory in Chelmsford, Essex, for UKAEA that are potentially of critical importance to the development of future fusion power plants in the UK and the world. It’s the first time that CloudNC has manufactured components for the fusion industry.
Theo Saville, chief executive and founder of CloudNC, said: “Manufacturing components for the fusion energy sector presents unique challenges, as most commercially available materials and techniques cannot withstand close proximity to such fundamental reactions. As a result, the parts must be manufactured to exacting standards, requiring advanced metrology equipment, as well as a meticulous focus on quality – both of which we provide. I look forward to our components making a difference to the next generation of fusion machines, both now and through new supply deals in the future.”
Samuel Nouvellon, project manager at UKAEA for the development and production of the diagnostic windows, said: “These components are critical to the development of new research programmes and fusion power plants, and need to be made to the highest specifications. We selected CloudNC because of their ability to meet those requirements, and are pleased to have found a high-quality manufacturer so close to home.”
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About CloudNC:
CloudNC develops and applies advanced software to reinvent precision manufacturing for everyone. Our technology automates many of the manual steps involved in manufacturing components and parts, helping companies and workers to make products more efficiently and consistently than previously possible. It is in use today at our high-spec factory in Chelmsford, UK, where we manufacture components for major corporations in automotive, energy, aerospace, and defence. The company, founded in 2015, consists of a world-class team combining expertise in computer science, software and physical manufacturing, and is backed by leading venture capital firms Atomico and Episode 1 Ventures, alongside Autodesk and Lockheed Martin as strategic partners.
CloudNC Contact: Norval Scott, Head of Communications and PR, M: + 44 7506 879782, E: norval.scott@cloudnc.com
About UKAEA:
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the national research organisation responsible for the development of fusion energy.
Fusion energy has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come. It is based on the same processes that power the sun and stars, and would form part of the world’s future energy mix. Achieving this is a major technical challenge that involves working at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology.
UKAEA’s programmes include the MAST-Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) fusion experiment and the JET (Joint European Torus) fusion research facility, operated for scientists from around Europe in Culham, Oxford. STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is UKAEA’s ambitious programme to accelerate the delivery of fusion energy, with plans to deliver a prototype powerplant producing net electricity in the 2040s in Nottinghamshire.
UKAEA also undertakes cutting edge work with academia, other research organisations and the industrial supply chain in a wide spectrum of areas, including robotics and materials.
More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial
