Orano TN Eagle nuclear cask selected by Axpo

Orano NPS, a subsidiary of the Orano Group specialized in the design and manufacturing of nuclear packages and the transportation of nuclear materials, was selected as the major supplier by the electrical utility Axpo to provide TN Eagle casks over the entire operating period of the Leibstadt nuclear power plant in Switzerland.

The TN Eagle is Orano NPS’ latest-generation model of cask for used fuel transportation and dry storage, addressing nuclear power plants throughout the world (Europe, United States, Asia).

The cask is assembled in much shorter timeframes due to an innovative weld-free design and breakthrough manufacturing processes (entirely automated ring insertion equipment). It has undergone rigorous testing to demonstrate its robustness and has been approved for transportation by the French Nuclear Safety Authority in compliance with the latest IAEA regulations. The first-of-a-kind model was manufactured entirely automatically in 2022, demonstrating the technical feasibility of the processes.

In early February 2023, Orano NPS launched the construction of a new 4.0 plant, the TN Eagle Factory, at the port of Cherbourg in order to best cater to the growing number of orders for the TN Eagle cask in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Its commissioning is planned for 2024.

“I thank Axpo for trusting us and for placing their order with us for this cask, designed by the Orano NPS teams. This innovative design reduces tenfold the number of cask parts and reduces manufacturing times threefold. This is a real technological breakthrough compared to other models on the market and it allows to very precisely meet the needs of customers while maintaining a very high level of safety,” Frédéric de Agostini, the Director of Orano’s Packages Business Unit, is happy to note.