When we look to the future, we see a world transformed by safe, clean, and reliable energy. 

At Sarens, that vision drives us to work with forward-thinking clients who are harnessing nuclear energy to power the world of tomorrow. They count on us to install and replace critical components, construct new power plants, conduct long-term maintenance, and develop faster, safer, and smarter solutions for doing so.

We are creators and explorers, always discovering new ways of doing the work–and doing it better. When it comes to lifting large loads in challenging and confined spaces, Sarens Projects Engineering delivers ingenious solutions through engineering, 3D modelling, risk assessments and analyses, state-of-the-art fabrication and machining, and an innovative, cost-effective approach to each project.

The possibilities of nuclear power

Because of our decades-long experience in the nuclear sector, we know that this zero-emission energy source can be used wisely and safely to promote the aims of humanity while powering our future. 

Nuclear power plants harness the heat released from fission (a reaction which splits uranium atoms) to generate steam. This steam then spins a turbine that generates tremendous amounts of electricity, all with zero emissions. According to the U.S. Office of Nuclear Energy, to attain the gigawatt of power that a single nuclear reactor generates, you would need more than three million solar panels or 431 wind turbines!

Over the past decade, the nuclear industry has invested in plant modifications that have enhanced safety and efficiency. And every day, we see this commitment to safety firsthand: from the planning room to the facility floor, Sarens works with our colleagues in the nuclear field to uphold meticulous safety standards in this highly-regulated industry.

Today, a growing number of countries are considering the potential of nuclear energy to provide safe, clean electricity. They are expanding nuclear capabilities with incentives like tax credits aimed at creating new power plants, extending the lifespan of existing facilities, and investing in smaller and more cost-effective small modular reactors (SMRs). 

Sarens is on the cutting edge of the nuclear revolution and has been providing engineering services on the first SMR technology to receive design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). We are proud to support the development of this technology and to help our clients bring safe, clean, and reliable energy to the world.

The distinction of Sarens engineering and innovation

At our core, we are innovators. Sarens has a reputation for building the world’s mightiest cranes, capable of lifting the heaviest loads ever imagined. But what distinguishes us is not the cranes or equipment we use–it’s the big ideas that drive them.

It all started in 1969, when we developed specialised heavy lift devices to successfully lift and place Generation II nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) components at our home base in Belgium. Today, we serve the world, creating engineered solutions and specialised equipment that can go into uniquely-configured, confined spaces to lift and move components like reactors and feedwater heaters.

We can create successful solutions because we understand exactly what clients need and what each site requires. Much of the equipment we use on major component replacement projects, for example, is custom designed and fabricated to meet unique site conditions.

Some of our most pivotal projects around the globe have included:

• Doel and Tihange Nuclear Power Stations, Belgium. It all began in Belgium, where Sarens has proudly supported both the Doel and Tihange nuclear power stations from their beginnings in the 1960s and 1970s all the way through today. These two plants currently generate half of the country’s electricity.
• Oconee Nuclear Station, USA. Sarens recently set an industry record for our work replacing two feedwater heaters at Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station. We designed an innovative temporary lifting device that could be used exclusively in this confined space, flawlessly completing the project in a record-breaking 12 days!
• Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant, Finland. Sarens successfully used what was the largest crane on planet Earth at the time, the legendary PC9600, to lift a 200T dome at Olkiluoto.
• Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, USA. Sarens supported the construction of the first nuclear plant built in the United States in 30 years: Vogtle 3. To transport oversized loads to the cranes, we designed a cost-effective solution involving 12 linked K24 SPMTs.
• Zhengzhou Nuclear Power Plant, China. Sarens used the mighty CC8800-1 crane for the first time on a Chinese nuclear project, lifting steel liner modules as part of installation work at the nuclear island.
• Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, USA. Sarens performed several major lifts to replace four steam generators. To lift the concrete dome sections, we erected a steel support structure and deployed three different cranes for the rest of the operation.
• Flamanville Nuclear Power Plant, France. Sarens has been involved with this emblematic power plant since the early 2010s, lifting major components including the dome–and we are still there to this day.
• Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station, UK. Sarens designed and built the massive, 5.000T-capacity SGC-250 ring crane specifically for work on the Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station. It is the largest crane on the planet, working on one of the most important nuclear projects in Europe. But not only is it massive–it is an engineering masterpiece, thanks to retractable hydraulic wheels that allow it to relocate, fully-rigged, from lift to lift. This innovative design was a first for the global crane industry, earning Sarens and the SGC-250 the Heavylift Innovation Award!

Ultimately, it’s the people at Sarens who make these sparks of innovation fly: we bring together licensed professional engineers, project managers, and field operators with decades of nuclear industry wisdom and experience, and empower them to generate fresh solutions.

From designing massive ring cranes for new plant builds to executing flawless long-term maintenance work, clients trust us to get the most pivotal jobs done right. They know that Sarens delivers more innovation, less hassle, and cost-effective results…all with the highest standards of safety, quality, and on-time performance.

In fact, our talented team of nuclear experts is the reason we have established long-lasting client relationships and earned the industry’s trust. Clients will often ask to work with specific people at Sarens because of the positive experiences and lasting connections they have created!

Interested in working with us? We have offices, people, and equipment around the world. Contact us to see what’s possible today!

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