50 jobs to be created as Sheffield engineering firm lands £20m nuclear waste contract

DavyMarkham, the Sheffield-based heavy engineering specialist, has secured a £20m contract in the nuclear sector.

The contract was won with sister company Amber Precast to help with the safe decommissioning of nuclear facilities.

Around 50 new jobs are being created at DavyMarkham as part of a four-year joint venture with Amber Precast to design, test and construct six cubic metre reinforced steel and concrete containers.

The contract is with Magnox Ltd, which is responsible for managing 12 nuclear sites in the UK.

DavyMarkham is contracted to create a dedicated plant and team of workers at its factory in Prince of Wales Road, Darnall, for the construction of the transportable concrete containers.

With DavyMarkham constructing the steel components, Amber Precast is set to manufacture the six cubic metre boxes.

Once the final design and manufacturing methodology has been approved, it is calculated that Magnox will require more than 1,000 of these boxes to store various types of intermediate level waste (ILW) generated during the operational and early decommissioning phases of its UK power stations.

Once filled, the containers will be stored in purpose-built facilities at nuclear sites until the UK’s national repository becomes available.

Bill Clark, DavyMarkham managing director, said: “Being awarded this supply contract for concrete ILW containers is a step forward for DavyMarkham in its drive to become the UK leader in providing high integrity containers to the nuclear industry.

“It’s good to see the Government and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) supporting strategic UK manufacturing companies which benefits the UK’s nuclear decommissioning industry as well as securing UK jobs.

“Importantly it also provides UK manufacturers export opportunities with overseas buyers who are looking for innovative, high integrity products in support of safe decommissioning.”

This latest contract follows DavyMarkham’s appointment of John Cheek, who has 35 years’ experience in nuclear work, as nuclear and defence director.

Amber Precast, based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, has more than 25 years’ experience in the industry, producing standard and bespoke cast stone and precast concrete products.

Working with most of the NDA sites such as at Hinkley, Berkeley, Dounreay, and Harwell is expected to provide a strong platform for both firms - owned and operated by Hughes Armstrong Industries - to further develop nuclear container, decommissioning products and services.