Magnets

Europe celebrates the toroidal team

Contributors to Europe's toroidal field coil procurement program gathered on 27 May 2022 to celebrate a 14-year industrial effort that is successfully drawing to a close. 
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Attendees of the SIMIC Open Day on 27 May stand before toroidal field coil #14 (TF14)—the eighth completed out of ten. This procurement program has been a 14-year adventure for the European Domestic Agency, involving 40 companies and more than 700 people. © SIMIC
During the ceremony at SIMIC, Boris Bellesia, Magnets Deputy Programme Manager for the European Domestic Agency Fusion for Energy, chose to highlight the collaboration that underlined every effort. "Together we have accomplished some major achievements throughout the manufacturing process: the delivery of the first coil to the ITER project, the optimization of time in production, and the extremely high level of homogeneity amongst all toroidal field coils."

Fusion for Energy is providing 10 toroidal field coils to ITER from winding packs manufactured by the ASG consortium (Italy) and structural cases procured by Japan. SIMIC, also located in Italy, is the European company that has carried out the final cold testing, insertion and welding activities.

From the inital definition of the procurement strategy, through manufacturing design, prototyping, project management, fabrication and testing, Fusion for Energy estimates that more than 700 people from 40 companies have been involved in the effort. 

"Leadership, trust, collaboration, and decision making are key in managing such complex projects," stressed Alessandro Bonito-Oliva, Magnets Programme Manager for Fusion for Energy. "As experts, our professionalism to deliver is our main driving force. But when I think of us as people, it's the passion and enthusiasm of colleagues from Fusion for Energy, ITER, and our suppliers that made this long journey meaningful and successful."

TF14 is now on its way to ITER, and will arrive in July. Of the final two coils, one is expected later this year and the other in 2023. Nine other toroidal field coils are under the procurement responsibility of Japan.

See a full event report on the Fusion for Energy website.