Call us on +44 (0)121 514 0602

UKAS accredited
Nadcap accredited
100+ years’ experience
98% customer satisfaction

Flask Lid Bolts For Transporting Irradiated Nuclear Fuel

Some of our clients need more demanding laboratory testing than others. In 2014, there was no room for error, as we collaborated as part of a wider project for the transportation of dangerous and potentially life-threatening materials.

This high-profile, collaborative project involved serval key parties in addition to our laboratory; our customer, a UK-based manufacturer and distributor of fasteners and machine components; government associates responsible for the safety of nuclear sites and operation; external inspection bodies to oversee the project.

 

 

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The Project

In 2014, our client asked us to perform rigorous testing on manufactured bolts, which had been designed to hold on the lids of flasks used to transport irradiated nuclear fuel via train.

The supply of the flask lid bolts was an exceedingly safety-critical project, where failure could potentially result in death, serious injury and catastrophic damage to the environment for some considerable time.

This meant that accurate testing and results were extremely critical.

The production and testing of the flask lid bolts was part of a high-profile project to ensure compliance with the strictest of specifications to ensure that the parts maintain their integrity during service, even under difficult circumstances.

Our Collaboration

Rotech became involved with the project during the early planning stages, and we were vetted for suitability and ability to deliver the level of service and testing required to ensure compliance of this safety-critical product.

To deliver the very best testing services, we extended our accreditation and used new methods to ensure all the appropriate regulations were met. We became the only UKAS test laboratory in the UK accredited to perform these types of tests.

Our Testing Services

The demanding requirements of the testing regime required us to extend our UKAS schedule of accreditation to include Vickers Hardness Testing with an applied load of 100Kg, a high load not usually used in general testing practices.

Five batches of 75 flask lid bolts were submitted to our test laboratory for:

  • Macro-examination
  • Grain flow
  • Micro-examination
  • Hardness uniformity examination
  • Tensile testing against the Irradiated Fuel Transport Specification

The test samples were selected by the customer, using the results obtained from 100% hardness tests conducted on each sample from the supplied heat treatment batches.

All stages of manufacture and testing were closely monitored by third-party witness representatives for conformity of the product to specification.

The project ran for 18 months, and we liaised closely with the customer, witness inspectors, and the end user to ensure that the product conformed to the rigorous demands required for such an application ensuring both public and environmental safety.

Customer Feedback

Upon completion of the project, the representative of the external inspection body and end-user shared their thoughts on our testing services:

 

“For me to make ten or 12 visits to Rotech on this project, and to have no cause for complaint, is a record not many outfits have achieved over my 20-odd years in this position. I look forward to my next visit to Rotech whenever that may be.  Keep up the good work and high standards.”

External Inspection Body Representative

 

“Rotech Laboratories has provided consistent quality, and exceptional technical support and advice throughout the project. We are very appreciative of their services.”

Project End-User  

 

If you have an upcoming project that requires in-depth testing, or would like more information about our routine testing services, get in touch with our team on 0121 514 0602 or complete an online enquiry form below.

 

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You can speak to us now on +44 (0)121 514 0602

Our Contact Details
UKAS accredited
Nadcap accredited
100+ years’ experience
98% customer satisfaction

Accreditations

UKAS

No. 0366 Our accreditation is limited to those activities described on our UKAS schedule of accreditation found here

ISOQAR Registered - UKAS Management Systems

We are Nadcap accredited to Aerospace Quality System (AC7004) and Chemical Processing (AC7108).