Replicating Seamless Steam Generator Tube Production Lines for the Asian Market

Industry: Nuclear Energy

Region: France and China

Service: Design and Manufacture – Seamless Steam Generator Tube Production Lines

Overview

A world leader in the production of tubes for nuclear power plant steam generators, sought to build a production plant in China to cater to its Asian clients. CNIM Asia was tasked with adapting and localizing the French design for tube production lines, ultimately building four production lines at its new plant in compliance with nuclear industry quality requirements and within the customer’s deadlines.

Challenge

Valinox initially subcontracted the construction of the production lines to a local supplier through a French specialist in welded structures. However, the local supplier lacked the necessary skills and canceled its contract, leaving The French company at risk of penalties due to delivery delays. CNIM Asia stepped in to salvage the project, facing several key challenges:

• Design Adaptation: Adapting the end user design to local conditions while maintaining strict performance and quality standards.

• Material Localization: Sourcing reliable raw materials locally to ensure the same level of quality as in the original French production.

• Meeting Deadlines: Recovering lost time and adhering to the project schedule despite initial setbacks.

Solution

Design Adaptation and Localization

CNIM Asia’s team readapted the Valinox design to suit local conditions and requirements. The production lines were constructed using localized materials while ensuring strict equivalence in terms of performance and quality certification.

High-Quality Manufacturing

To prevent contamination during the manufacturing process, CNIM Asia used HDPE structures for all contact with the stainless steel tubes, ensuring the highest quality standards were maintained.

Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Protection

Throughout the project, CNIM Asia took stringent measures to protect the confidentiality of the end user’s production processes, safeguarding their intellectual property rights.

Turnkey Solution

Within six months, CNIM Asia successfully completed the re-adaptation of the design, localization of production, manufacturing, preliminary assembly, testing, and final acceptance of the four production lines by the client. This swift turnaround was achieved through the expertise and dedication of CNIM Asia’s teams.

Safety and Reliability

The conveyors developed for the end user, consisting of welded frames supporting a conveyor belt, met the demanding quality and safety standards required by the nuclear industry. This included ensuring operator safety and the reliability of the production process.

Outcome

The successful completion of this project marked the first successful conversion of CNIM Asia’s expertise in escalators to the design and manufacture of an industrial production conveyor system with strict quality requirements. The end user expressed its satisfaction by awarding additional contracts to CNIM Asia, including the design and manufacture of lifting equipment and an electromechanical rail-mounted truck system for tube transfer.

CNIM Asia’s successful adaptation of a French product for the local market has solidified its reputation as a reliable and innovative partner in the nuclear industry.

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