On 29 November, F4E signed a contract (EUR 12 million) for the supply of nine pre-compression rings for the ITER magnet system with EADS CASA Espacio in Spain. By holding tightly to the toroidal field coils at the top and bottom, these 5-metre-diameter fibreglass composite rings (in pink, at right) will reduce the fatigue on the magnet structures caused by electro-magnetic forces—consequently prolonging their operational life from ten to over twenty years.

The nine pre-compression rings will be the largest composite structures ever built for operation in a cryogenic environment.

The following week, on 5 December, F4E concluded the contract (EUR 160 million) for the supply of 70 radial plates with a consortium made up of SIMIC S.p.A. (Italy) and CNIM (France).

The radial plates are large, D-shaped stainless steel structures with grooves machined on both sides. Europe is responsible for delivering 10 of ITER's 18 toroidal field coils; as part of this in-kind procurement, 70 radial plates will be necessary to hold the conductor of the toroidal field coils. Prior to the contract signature, both companies had successfully completed radial plate prototypes.

Read the F4E press releases on the pre-compression ring contract and the radial plate contract.