ATS Industrial Automation to Supply Bruce Power with Semi-Automated Fuel Channel Installation Technology for Nuclear Refurbishment

September 27, 2023

Cambridge, Ontario

Nuclear

Cambridge, Ontario (September 27, 2023) – ATS Industrial Automation has announced a contract to supply the semi-automated tooling for fuel channel installation for Bruce Power’s Major Component Replacement (MCR) Project. This new, innovative technology will semi-automate the manual and repetitive installation of 480 fuel channels in the Unit 4 reactor, helping to reduce schedule time, improve safety and quality, reduce human error, and improve the overall performance of the nuclear refurbishment project.

Today’s news builds upon the ATS Industrial Automation award-winning, automated Calandria Tube inspection and installation technology for the CANDU nuclear refurbishment project in Unit 3 MCR. Similar automation technology will be used for the fuel channel installation tools to optimize and semi-automate tasks that require a high degree of precision. The semi-automated system will be designed to provide flexibility for manual operations to capitalize on batching during installation.

“We are excited to extend our work with Bruce Power as part of our mission to leverage high tech automation to enable green tech transformations,” said Udo Panenka, President of ATS Industrial Automation.

“Bruce Power’s MCR Project and Life-Extension Program is showcasing to the world that large-scale nuclear refurbishment can safely and successfully extend the life of existing assets, providing an essential supply of clean electricity to fight climate change and power a clean economy,” said Eric Chassard, Executive Vice President of Projects and Engineering at Bruce Power. “The automation technology developed by ATS is one example of how we are combining innovative new technology with proven best-practices and industry expertise that will enable improved performance and efficiency while maintaining the highest standard in safety in our refurbishment program.”

The Unit 4 MCR Project is planned to begin in 2025. Bruce Power’s MCR Project will see Units 3-8 refurbished, allowing the eight-unit site to continue to contribute to Ontario’s and Canada’s clean-energy goals and produce cancer-fighting medical isotopes through 2064.

For more information on ATS Industrial Automation’s nuclear offering, visit https://atsindustrialautomation.com/where-we-play/nuclear-facilities/

About Bruce Power

Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable nuclear power to families and businesses across the province and life-saving medical isotopes around the world. Bruce Power has worked hard to build strong roots in Ontario and is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we live. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is a Canadian-owned partnership of TC Energy, OMERS, the Power Workers’ Union and The Society of United Professionals. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on FacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagram and YouTube.

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