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CCFE's Special Techniques Group hosted a successful material joining and vacuum technology training course for engineers from ITER at the start of November.

The four-day workshop at Culham dealt with material joining issues, vacuum technology and theory, approaches to system testing and technical QA procedures. It included a number of seminars and some practical tasks designed to give the delegates a fundamental understanding of these areas.

ITER's Head of QA David Sands has used Special Techniques' services for many years and approached the facility's manager Simon Hanks to arrange the course as a way of tapping into their expertise.

“I've had very positive feedback from the attendees, who thought the course was excellent. I'm already thinking about arranging another one for next year,” said David Sands.

Delegate Ce Ye added: “The training will be very helpful for us at ITER and is good experience to prepare future similar QA inspections.”

Special Techniques offers a ‘one-stop shop' for material joining, from advice and consultancy, through to the design and manufacture of a wide range of technical items using air and vacuum furnaces, brazing, welding and diffusion bonding equipment. The facility has been serving the fusion programmes at Culham for over 40 years and is also in demand from organisations around the world.

“It's a measure of the quality standards we've established here that ITER contacted us to hold the workshop,” said CCFE's Simon Hanks. “We look forward to strengthening our links with them in the future.”

More information on Special Techniques Group at: http://www.ccfe.ac.uk/Special_Techniques.aspx

Photo: Simon Hanks (far left) with course delegates Patrick Vertongen, Ce Ye, Tommi Jokinen, Thierry Jourdan, and Chris Wilson of Special Techniques Group.

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