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Steve Vick International Wins Prestigious NDA Estate Supply Chain Award

November 20, 2014

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Estate Supply Chain Awards were introduced in 2012 as a mechanism for recognising and rewarding the invaluable contribution of the supply chain within the nuclear decommissioning community.

There were 63 nominations this year, and Steve Vick International (SVI) was delighted to be shortlisted for the highly competitive category ‘Best application of an innovative solution(s) with tangible savings/benefits – SME’ and the notable ‘Ministers Award’.

SVI has been carrying out projects in the nuclear decommissioning sector for the past 20 years. Their products and services offer bespoke solutions to permanently seal, decommission and divert all types of pipework, ducts and voids in a wide variety of contaminated areas including underground and underwater.

It was the RSRL Harwell BEPO storage block project that was recognised at the NDA Awards; SVI’s most technically challenging operation yet. It was this project that ultimately won first place in the ‘Best application of an innovative solution(s) with tangible savings/benefits – SME’ category.

SVI was commissioned to design a bespoke system to fix in place higher than expected levels of loose contamination. The project involved designing, supplying and installing 250 Foambags and Foam stoppers into the storage block to enable future decommissioning. SVI collaborated with Aurora Health Physics Services (www.aurorahp.co.uk) who could offer comprehensive knowledge of the site and its radiological conditions. A team of SVI staff led by Nuclear Project Manager Richard Ditte trained Aurora personnel to carry out the FoambagTM installations within the containment tent. SVI technicians were then able to supply the foam injection through a manifold using the SVI Mix and Inject machine and communication was maintained using a 2-way radio. The project was delivered proficiently, on time and within budget.