Supplier efforts recognized in Korea

In recognition of and in gratitude for outstanding contributions to the ITER Project, the National Fusion Research Institute (NFRI) in Korea presented three of its suppliers with plaques of appreciation on 4 November 2014.

 

Recognized for the quality of their manufacturing contributions to ITER were: Kiswire Advanced Technology (KAT); Nexans Korea; and the Italian Consortium for Applied Superconductivity (ICAS).
KAT, who was awarded the manufacturing contract for 93 tonnes of niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) superconducting strand for ITER toroidal field conductors in 2009, completed the procurement last year. "To have completed the manufacturing in four years is impressive," stressed the head of the Korean Domestic Agency Kijung Jung, "especially considering that the worldwide rate of Nb3Sn strand production before ITER did not exceed 15 tonnes per year."

 

The cabling contract for the toroidal field conductors was awarded to Nexans Korea, also in 2009. From the superconducting strand produced by KAT, Nexans manufactured 27 superconducting cables and 2 qualification dummies—the entire Korean share of toroidal field cable procurement. Production was successfully completed and all the authorization to proceed points (ATPP) were cleared by the ITER Organization in May 2014.

 

"I would like to thank the NFRI for their constant support during the manufacturing of cables for the ITER toroidal field conductors," stated Nexans Director Han II-Young. "We will do our best to become one of the worldwide references for superconductor production."

 

And for the final step in toroidal field conductor manufacturing—jacketing—the contract was awarded by the Korean Domestic Agency to ICAS in 2011. In a very successful and productive collaboration, the entire Korean share (20.18 percent) of toroidal field conductors was successfully manufactured and the hold points cleared on 12 September 2014.

 

"I am very happy to be here today with ITER Korea members and to thank the NFRI for a great collaboration," said Antonio Della Corte, ICAS president.

 

The Korean Domestic Agency is thus the first of six producing Domestic Agencies to complete toroidal field conductor procurement.

 

"We will continue in collaborative spirit with the ITER Organization and the industries interested in participating in the ITER Project for the success of our procurements in the future," concluded Kijung Jung, at the end of the recognition ceremony.