French nuclear design, engineering, manufacture and construction company Framatome announced on Monday that it had completed its acquisition of Rolls-Royce Civil Nuclear Instrumentation and Control (I&C). This move strengthens Framatome’s worldwide development and deployment capabilities regarding I&C systems.
More than 550 staff, who previously worked for Rolls-Royce, are now joining Framatome. Most of them are already based in France, concentrated at Grenoble.
“I&C systems serve as the ‘central nervous system’ of a nuclear power plant enabling operators to control the reactor,” explained Framatome CEO Bernard Fontana. “This purchase and the expert workforce joining Framatome will further enhance our I&C offering for reliable, low carbon nuclear energy production. I welcome the talented employees of Rolls-Royce Civil Nuclear to Framatome.”
The purchase also includes Rolls-Royce Civil Nuclear technologies and products. These include Spinline, Rodine and Hardline. They will reinforce Framatome’s current I&C product portfolio, which includes digital systems Teleperm XS and Tricon, as well as non-computerised analogue systems.
“Rolls-Royce Civil Nuclear I&C is a complement to our existing portfolio,” pointed out Framatome senior executive VP (Sales, Regional Platforms and the I&C business unit) Frédéric Lelièvre. “Their proven expertise and strong reputation strengthen our ability to serve our customers and expand our I&C footprint across the globe.”
What until now had been Rolls-Royce’s I&C business has offices in China and the Czech Republic as well as in France. Its products and technologies are fitted to 150 operating reactors around the world. Framatome is 75.5% owned by French nuclear energy group EDF, 19.5% by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and 5% by French independent engineering group Assystem. Prior to this acquisition, Framatome had more than 14 000 employees.