A Cumbrian firm’s latest product was the star attraction at Europe’s biggest nuclear supply chain event.
Hundreds of people got the chance to see BIDS Barrnon Integrated Decommission System up close and personal, at Telford this week.
Created by Barrnon, based in Appleby, the feedback was impressive.
One executive said: “It’s the most impressive thing here and takes innovation to a new level.”
“You can see it’s bespoke built and beautifully built,” added another.
BIDS was designed and built in house at Appleby for deployment in Sellafield as part of an active demonstration for the IIND programme.
It’s a 3.5 tonne robotic platform for remote decommission of legacy assets using tools including grippers and laser cutting
It is controlled through a VR operated digital twin, enabling enhanced knowledge of the environment and improved user control
The immersive virtual environment is created via lidar scanning including radiation mapping for extra sensory control.
Barrnon CTO George Sewell said: “BIDS is a step forward in improving the safety of decommissioning many kinds of radiation environments. We are confident this product will have application beyond its initial deployment in Sellafield.”
The event was due to take place on February 3 at The International Centre, Telford, but was postponed due to the COVID-19. Launched in 2011, the supply chain event has attracted a total of around 10,000 visitors from more than 20 countries, representing thousands of companies both large and small.
It has been deemed an overwhelming success in engaging with the suppliers that are essential to achieving the NDA’s decommissioning mission.
The event has grown from attracting a few hundred visitors to almost 1,700 and is now the largest event of its kind anywhere in Europe.
It provides an opportunity to network with more than 300 exhibiting companies and is aimed at attracting new business to the nuclear decommissioning sector – with a particular focus on SMEs.
