Metecno Oy Will Deliver a Robotic Machining Station to Posiva Oy’s Encapsulation Plant

12.10.2020

Metecno Oy, a special purpose machine manufacturer, and Posiva Oy, a nuclear waste management expert, have signed an agreement for the total delivery of a robotic machining station. According to the agreement, Metecno Oy will design, manufacture and install a machining station at Posiva’s spent nuclear fuel encapsulation plant. The value of the contract is financially significant and its estimated employment impact is several person-years.

The machining station, served by a robot, consists of a customised CNC controlled machining center, whose task is to ensure the dimensions and surface quality of the fuel capsules to be disposed of in ONKALO®.

The MeteCNC® special purpose machine grinds out any unevenness left in the capsule during welding, after which the station performs an inspection on the dimensions and surface quality of the capsule. The robot handles other auxiliary tasks in the process, such as handling NDT measuring devices and vacuuming milled chips. In practice, the machining station performs an important step in the capsule disposal process, as only capsules with a completely defect-free surface can be lowered into ONKALO®.

Previously, Metecno Oy has been the only one in Finland to supply a CNC-controlled milling machine for handling radioactive material in VTT’s hot cell. As in that project, the challenge here too is to produce a unique, radiation-resistant solution within a pre-determined schedule.

“The challenge of contributing to the safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel is great, but our entire staff is looking forward to the project. Posiva is a pioneer in its field in the final disposal solution, and negotiations on the agreement went in a positive spirit from the beginning. At the same time, the agreement underscores Metecno Oy’s position as Finland’s leading manufacturer of customized CNC machines,“ comments Matti Metsähonkala, CEO of Metecno Oy.

“Metecno is for Posiva an interesting new supplier, who convinced Posiva in the negotiations with its machining expertise. The contract negotiations proceeded in good spirit. We also expect the same from the project,” says Jussi Näveri, Purchasing Manager at Posiva Oy.

The robotic machining station will be completed at the end of 2022 and will be installed immediately.

Further information

Matti Metsähonkala, CEO
+358 20 741 6210
matti.metsahonkala@metecno.fi