Engineering Centre of Excellence
We are challenging people to think what is the art of the POSSIBLE.
Welcome to the Engineering Centre of Excellence
In our facility in West Cumbria we are at the forefront of solving nuclear industry challenges. The future really is here today. We are challenging people to think about what is the art of the possible with a core focus on engineering problem solving.
We want to make West Cumbria the centre for these nuclear solutions.
Here we have some incredible people, achieving world-first innovations, all with a can-do attitude backed by a willingness to collaborate and a determination to succeed.
Here our people thrive on solving complex nuclear industry challenges, and they show true resilience and dedication every day to achieve outcomes which are then successfully deployed on the Sellafield site.
The teams work directly with the supply chain to test and trial potential solutions, in a safe, o -site environment.
We are able to introduce innovations aimed at developing bespoke products which achieve Sellafield’s mission safer, faster and more cost e ciently.
centre.of.excellence@sellafieldsites.com
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Craig Branney, Head of Engineering Development, Sellafield Ltd Engineering Centre of Excellence, Leconfield Industrial Estate, Cleator Moor. Cumbria.
Engineering Development Solutions
Turning problems into solutions
Imagine if you didn’t have to constantly find workarounds for your operational problems. That’s where we come in. We can get to the root cause of your problems so that they aren’t just fixed, they’re solved, quickly. Talk to us about how we can help make that your reality on one of our six-week Sprints.
On Sprint completion, we can support the development of that solution; working with the supply chain so that it is ready to be deployed on site.
We make a di erence
Social Impact, Upskilling and work experience
Participating in a social impact and work experience programme not only cultivates a sense of civic responsibility but also provides invaluable real-world skills, fostering personal growth and a deeper understanding of community challenges.
An upskilling facility provides individuals with the opportunity to advance current skills and capabilities and provides a space to develop and learn new skills, enabling personal and professional development. This investment in learning enhances career prospects, adaptability to evolving industries, and improves the overall productivity/capability of our current workforce.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Nothing is beyond reach
The UAV equipment programme is a visual data solutions provider which is able to bring the unreachable into focus; safer, faster and more cost e ectively than other traditional inspection methods. Do you have areas that are notoriously hard to reach? Maybe you have areas that can’t be reached at all? Sellafield’s UAV team has hundreds of hours of experience flying complex missions both on and o nuclear sites. We are able to carry out UAV surveys and inspections to help you assess the condition of your assets, externally and internally. We are the go-to team to work with you to deliver your required solution, bringing the unreachable into focus, nothing is beyond our reach. Contact the UAV team to find out how we can help you: UAV.ops.support@sellafieldsites.com.
Safely extending the mission’s reach
Remotely Operated Vehicles
The ROV programme provides SME support to site and helps improve ROV operations by sharing resource support and learning from experience. The team implements new ways of working that align to the industry’s best practice by developing an innovative approach to problem solving. Using ROVs will allow remote inspections on usually inaccessible equipment and areas with fewer risks and at a reduced cost.
Steven Williamson
steven.j.williamson@sellafieldsites.com
3D printing - Jack Williamson
jack.n.williamson@sellafieldsites.com
claire.l.oconnor@sellafieldsites.com
Robotics
We have deployed robotic manipulator platforms to some of the most hazardous environments, which supports the
Testing and perfecting new technologies
Using a data-driven approach, the team identifies specific use cases, then trials and tests emerging technologies to understand where the application may benefit the company. Extensive trialling takes place to ensure benefits can be realised before deploying solutions on site. Virtual Reality is the first of these technologies and the VR-supported electrical training programme will be rolled out site-wide. The team is working with the supply chain to identify further applications.
Emerging Technologies
Operational Technology Group
Level Transmitters, Fire Systems, Plant Control Systems –just some examples of Operational Technology (OT) used every day. These microprocessor-based systems allow us to control and monitor entire factories both safely and remotely.
From Process Instruments, Control Systems and OT Cyber Security, we have a team of experts keeping the site under control. With technologies from the 1960s right through to modern-day Artificial Intelligence; we’ve got you covered.
Keeping you in control
Spares and Obsolescence
Supporting your needs
A complete end-to-end solution for the management of spares, obsolescence and the procurement of goods and services on site. We are able to o er a wide range of services from the initial need request through to delivery.
The team fully understands the complexities, and often time-consuming steps of facility spares management and procurement on a nuclear licensed site. We support front line delivery teams to improve operational resilience and e ciency, minimise downtime, and control costs.
Central reliability engineers
Getting work done
The central team is committed to providing high-impact contributions that elevate current engineering practices and being the vehicle for getting reliability engineering work done. We have access to the supply chain to find the best route to support your on site need.
The team is also committed to developing future talent with two training schemes. Graduates and degree apprentices will be o ered the opportunity to work with the team for three to six months, gaining an overview of reliability engineering across the site. They will then be deployed to di erent plants to continue their Sellafield career.
Reliability Engineering Training (RET) will see those who may have missed out on a position at Sellafield due to lack of experience taken on to gain training for 12-18 months before being deployed into mission critical engineering roles on the Sellafield site.
Condition based monitoring
Supporting site maintenance
We provide Subject Matter Expert (SME) training on the site standard Condition Monitoring (CM) technologies, tools and techniques; to enable our sta to monitor the wear out, early mortality processes and failure modes of critical and important plant assets.
We have demonstrated that predictive and proactive maintenance reduces system unannounced failures, secondary damage modes and increased overall equipment e ectiveness.
Our analysis suite can provide standardised tools and techniques to analyse and report various samples of lubrication, fuel and engine coolants. This can support new deliveries and existing stock.
The system is designed to allow the oil technician to quickly turn around analysis and reporting, if required as a priority; an example could be to directly support a live on-site maintenance activity involving a gearbox or hydraulic system. The results are to lab quality and standards, ASTM compliant.