The Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility will house the assembly of the poloidal field coils, part of the ITER's magnetic confinement system. Ranging in diameter from 8 to 24 metres, five of the six poloidal field coils are too large to be transported in their finished state. For these coils, suppliers will deliver niobium-titanium conductor to the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility for on-site winding and assembly operations.

The Winding Facility will accommodate docking stations for the unloading and temporary placement of the superconducting coils, production zones corresponding to the successive steps of the winding and assembly process, and offices. Two overhead travelling cranes will work from opposite ends of the building to manipulate and transport the heavy loads. The building's metal cladding—five layers of metal sheeting and insulation—will isolate the poloidal field coil work space, where cleanliness is a priority, from the dust of the platform.

The French consortium Spie Batignolles, Omega Concept and Setec was chosen by the European Domestic Agency (F4E) to design and build the facility. Construction of this concrete and steel structure began in August, 2010 and was completed in December 2011. 

Handover of the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility from the builders to the European Domestic Agency took place in February 2012. Following F4E's selection of the coil manufacturer, the building will be equipped for winding operations to begin.

Click here for a virtual tour of the building.