Areava/Siemens company Framatome ANP has purchased the nuclear fuel handling division of Washington Group International. Its Equipment & Services division, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, specialises in fuel handling machines and transfer systems for PWR and BWR nuclear plants and supplies OEM for 60 per cent of the US nuclear plants currently in operation, as well as 21 plants outside the country. Some of the acquired equipment will be moved to Framatome’s new training facility under construction in Lynchburg.

The purchase fits in with Fram–atome’s current business plan. The company has been going through a period of expansion, most recently in its engineering capabilities, and this acquiition will enable it to expand in the refuelling sector. E & S employees will remain in Denver, with Framatome’s outage and NDE services group.