A pioneering Cumbrian engineering firm has created a game-changing robot to help deal with nuclear waste.
Forth, headquartered at Flimby, near Maryport, has recently delivered its Tipperbot to Hunterston, a Magnox site in Scotland.
Forth’s Tipperbot provides the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority with a decontamination solution to clear redundant ponds at the decommissioned nuclear power station site.
It was designed and made at Forth’s Cleator Moor base.
Mark Telford, Forth’s managing director, said: “Before the first video call had finished with the customer we had agreed what the solution would be. Now that solution could potentially be rolled out right across the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estate.”
The Tipperbot is an adapted power barrow which can be operated by remote control from a safe distance of 20 metres and sieve out solids from wet ‘sludge’ when undertaking nuclear decommissioning work.
Typically, this type of work is carried out by engineers using long arm tools and can often be dangerous due to the close proximity of the people to the waste. It is also deemed very time consuming work.
Graham Cartwright, projects director at Forth, said: “These decommissioning jobs are often very laborious and long, and that is something which the industry wants to change.
“The team at Forth was asked to solve it and we have come up with the Tipperbot which will prove a real game changer in nuclear decommissioning.
“By operating the vehicle from a 20-metre umbilical, you are improving the level of safety to the engineers.
“The Tipperbot can cover large areas in a short space of time, which should also save a lot of time and expense on these types of jobs.”
The Tipperbot has been manufactured for dry sumps, although further work could be carried out to adapt the machines to enable them to work underwater.
A team from Hunterston visited Forth for the testing process and was impressed by the effectiveness of the machine.
The first Tipperbot has now been delivered to Magnox and will be used at the Scottish base to speed up the decommissioning process.
Graham said: “This piece of equipment could change the whole decommissioning method, and we look forward to working with other sites and organisations to ensure more of this crucial work is carried out.”
Due to projects such as the Tipperbot and other initiatives which Forth is working on around the world it is looking to expand its team with a range of roles available including mechanical engineers.
Forth was recently shortlisted for The Engineer Collaborate to Innovate Awards for its work on the A2I2 underwater autonomous survey robot. The awards take place in 2022.
