Automatic Machine Welding of the Primary Circuit of the Sizewell 'B' Nuclear Power Station

GEC Alsthom Engineering Systems, Who were required to weld the Main Loop Pipe work as the part of the mechanical erection contract on the sizewell 'B' PWR, where approached by its client to make a significant reduction in the program schedule for this particular task. This paper will describe how, following a detail assessment of process, a change in approach form manual to machine enabled a successful acceleration of the programme schedule to be achieved.