NUCLEAR APPLICATION
footprint of equipment, reusing materials in decommissioning and implementing energy- efficient machinery. Many hoist manufacturers are now adopting life cycle assessments (LCAs) to improve the environmental profile of their products. “We need to be thinking about all the things that were not always at the forefront in the past, so how to make the whole construction process a bit more sustainable, how we can be using less energy to do the construction itself, producing less emissions by some actual infrastructure being more electrically different in the construction fields,” Paterson continues.
Lifting for nuclear? The revival for nuclear power has had major implications for the hoisting and lifting industry, which plays a critical but often underappreciated role in nuclear infrastructure, from plant construction and maintenance to decommissioning and modernisation. In both the construction and
decommissioning of nuclear facilities, hoisting solutions are indispensable. Tasks include installing reactor vessels, handling radioactive waste, moving massive concrete segments and servicing turbine systems. Typically, these applications require
custom-built or heavily modified cranes. Overhead cranes with precise load control,
Hoisting in the nuclear industry typically involves custom-built or heavily modified equipment.
shielded hoists for radiological safety and modular gantry systems are among the most commonly deployed tools. Automation and remote operation are becoming increasingly vital, especially for working and staying safe in high-radiation environments. “The industry is going to grow by about five times as many projects as there is now in the next five to 10 years. Do we have enough providers of services like hoists and cranes? I believe the answer is yes if all the parts of the value chain are engaged early to have sight of the demand and plan accordingly,” says Nathan Paterson as he underscores the typically overlooked, but important role of hoist in nuclear projects. Suppliers like Konecranes, NKM Noell, and others are continually innovating to meet the nuclear sector’s evolving demands. Just recently, Konecranes supplied a fully customised 125t hoist crane, which included a 15t auxiliary hoist and top-running crane with dual trolley, to TerraPower’s Natrium Reactor Demonstration Plant in Wyoming, which aims to develop nuclear technologies to provide safe and sustainable energy solutions. On the waste management side of nuclear, STS Bespoke Handling Equipment developed a remote drum tipping solution for nuclear sites to enhance safety and efficiency in handling nuclear waste. The emphasis is now not just on
capability, but on sustainability, durability and minimal environmental impact to align with broader ESG goals. Another example, Henan Mine recently delivered a 550t double-girder overhead crane designed specifically to boost the nuclear power sector, featuring a double- beam, double-track modular design to ease manufacturing, transportation, installation and maintenance, while optimising energy efficiency and environmental performance through a full frequency conversion speed regulation system.
A nuclear future The future of nuclear energy in Europe and the UK appears cautiously optimistic. With climate goals looming and fossil fuels under scrutiny, nuclear power offers a proven, low-emission solution. “The future is absolutely bright,” emphasises Brutin. “I think we’re also very lucky in Europe to have one of the only net-zero value chains which is fully based in Europe.” This initiative, ‘Net Zero Nuclear’, managed by the World Nuclear Association, aims to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050. The hoisting industry will be central to both
the expansion and responsible management of this sector. As new reactors are built, old ones dismantled and innovative designs tested, the lifting and materials handling sector will continue to provide the heavy-duty muscle, quietly powering nuclear’s return to prominence.
20 | August 2025 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79
