A Sheffield company has made a formal request to the Government to provide part funding for its ambitious plan of building world’s biggest steel-forging press to take a lead in the fast growing nuclear industry.
Sheffield Forgemasters has plans to fabricate a massive 15,000 tonnes pressure open-die press which can produce components as big as largest modern reactors.
There are currently 4 giant presses including 10,000 tones capacity press at Forgemaster, but these are too few to fulfil big demand for nuclear power stations. There only one biggest press in Japan which can produce giant parts required next-generation, super-size reactors.
Director Peter Birtle at Sheffield Forgemasters explained that company required a press much bigger capacity than one in Japan which could produce each and every forging required for super reactors in the world today.
The UK nuclear industry which has plans to build 8 new nuclear power stations in the country would not be required to import from overseas forgers if Sheffield Forgemasters succeeds in building the giant press.
Birtle stated that existing global capacity for the forgings could meet requirements of building only 8 reactors; where as global plan is to build 13 reactors annually. The proposed press would be able to produce all types of forgings for 2 reactors annually, amounting to sales of £120m.
The company has already raised bulk of £140m through bank loans and advance money from future customers and hoped that the Department for Business would provide the balance.