Atkins analysts react fast to allow Magnox commissioning to continue

20/12/2019
Magnox at Chapelcross were part way through in-active commissioning of a Cross-Site Transporter
(XST) that is required to move Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) containers across site from processing
to storage. It was found that the supplier of the XST had not adequately substantiated the design.
Subsequently all commissioning activities on site were put on hold, pending further investigation.

Our engineers in Bristol were approached by Magnox’s Structural integrity Intelligent Customer (IC),
Paul Millward to provide our expertise to resolve the problem.  We reacted quickly, and using existing
call off arrangements got the work under contract in a matter of days. Within a week we were able to
build a suitable model and run sufficient load cases to understand the performance of the transporter
under load.  After just 2 weeks, through applying appropriate expertise, flexing our resource to suit the
client’s needs and close working with the IC we were able to demonstrate adequately that the XST
was fit to continue in-active commissioning.

The client has been delighted with our collaborative behaviours and how we have performed on this
task.  Without this piece of work the operational delays to Magnox would have been considerable and
costly. This work really got them out of trouble quickly and efficiently, and further cements our great
reputation in Magnox.

Thanks to James Murchison, Daniel Eatough, John Sawyer, Stuart Bounds, Fiona Jones and Chris
Powell