Weir joins forces with Mitsubishi for nuclear work

Published on Thursday 27 May 2010 20:37

SCOTS engineering heavyweight Weir Group yesterday joined forces with Japanese giant Mitsubishi to supply pumps for the next generation of nuclear power stations.

• Weir Group will install and service pumps made by Mitsubishi for new nuclear power stations. Picture: Complimentary

Weir's new partner will design and make pumps for the atomic parts of the stations and equipment for the conventional areas of the plants, such as the turbines.

The Scottish firm's power and industrial division, based in East Kilbride, will then install and service the pumps.

The deal initially covers the UK but the partners have said it could be extended. No value was disclosed.

Ten sites across England and Wales have been ear-marked as potentially suitable for the building of new nuclear facilities by the end of 2025. Other sites may be considered for development beyond 2025. The SNP administration has ruled out the building of atomic plants north of the Border.

Keith Cochrane, Weir's chief executive, said: "This agreement provides an excellent opportunity to further grow our nuclear offering and build and strengthen customer relationships."

Nuclear work accounted for 83 million of the power and industrial division's 266m revenue last year, with 33m relating to orders from China for new nuclear reactors.

Weir said it had embarked on a recruitment drive for nuclear valve engineers – both in the UK and overseas.

Existing deals include work for EDF's British Energy arm, with a long-running contract recently extended for five years.

Akira Sawa, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' executive vice-president for nuclear energy systems, added: "Weir has extensive references and an established track record in the provision of engineering services to nuclear power stations with a strong network of services centres throughout the UK.

"This co-operation will enable us to expand our pump expertise into the UK with a full-lifetime offering to the nuclear pump market."

The MHI deal is the second in two weeks for Weir, which last week signed a deal between its minerals division and Germany's KHD Humboldt Wedag International to market "high pressure grinding rolls" in the mining sector.