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REEL has successfully delivered two high integrity overhead cranes at the Sellafield nuclear site in the UK, reinforcing its expertise in lifting systems for sensitive environments. These cranes will play a key role in the safe recovery and handling of radioactive waste stored in concrete silos dating from the 1960s.
Crane #1 – East End Crane (EEC) in the MSSS building
Installed in the Magnox Swarf Storage Facility (MSSS), the 55t / 15t East End Crane (EEC) is used for:
- assembling the waste retrieval equipment,
- and handling shielded containers for waste disposal.
This project was marked by significant technical challenges:
limited civil work reaction loads, confined volumes, complex kinematic systems, and difficult access, all within a short development timeline.
The crane was inserted through the roof using a 500t mobile crane in October 2017. Its commissioning was scheduled for Q1 2018.
Crane #2 – SMF crane for equipment maintenance
The second crane, a 63t unit, was delivered for the Silo Maintenance Facility (SMF). It ensures the maintenance of shielded containers and tooling used in both the MSSS and PFCS (Pile Fuel Cladding Silo) buildings.
Due to its 33-metre span, the crane required articulated beam joints to be installed within the constraints of the building structure.
It was installed in August 2017 and commissioned in December 2017.
Contributing to Sellafield site safety
These two high integrity cranes are considered by Sellafield Ltd as critical milestones in the site’s long-term safety strategy. They illustrate REEL’s ability to design and deliver complex lifting solutions for the nuclear industry, combining safety, reliability, and precision.
