Tyco Flow Control opens facility to serve nuclear power industry

Tyco Flow Control, a unit of Tyco International, on July 20 opened its Advanced Nuclear Testing & Development Facility, one of the largest testing facilities of this type in the world, in Mansfield, Mass. The $25 million facility provides cutting-edge testing and manufacturing capabilities and is designed to help meet the world's growing nuclear power generation needs.

The worldwide demand for nuclear power has prompted a rapid increase in the construction of large-scale nuclear reactors. This construction boom has created an urgent need for advanced facilities that can effectively produce and test the critical safety-related valves and controls used by these reactors to meet the world's growing power needs. Tyco Flow Control's investment in this facility ensures customers can have access to the full range of critical flow control safety-related products they need. The Advanced Nuclear Testing & Development Facility stretches larger than two football fields, occupying 118,000 square feet.

"For more than 50 years, Tyco Flow Control has remained committed to supporting the nuclear power industry. Even through the long downturn the industry has experienced, we have continued to invest in innovation and quality programs, meeting the industry's stringent standards worldwide," said Patrick Decker, president of Tyco Flow Control. "The facility's advanced capabilities and technology exemplifies this commitment and allows us to continue to support the industry's leading nuclear reactor manufacturers worldwide with our leading products and services."

The facility offers a range of products, which are manufactured on-site, such as main steam safety valves, pressurizer safety valves and relief valves; and services, including engineering, design, inspection, machining and testing. Its advanced technology includes a range of steam test facilities that can test the full line of pressure relief products on steam, air and liquid.

In addition, the facility's testing capabilities enable Tyco Flow Control engineers to perform testing for other manufacturers who lack equivalent ASME Nuclear Component Certifications.

"Tyco Flow Control's professionals have the engineering capability and knowledge to solve our customers' complicated challenges, regardless of reactor type or code," added Dr. Achim Trasser, vice president and general manager of global power, Tyco Flow Control. "Having the ability to assist both our customers and other manufacturers with the advanced testing technology at the facility allows us to expand our capabilities in the power industry even further."

"The Advanced Nuclear Testing & Development Facility allows us to leverage our deep experience in nuclear power to better serve our global customers and support worldwide nuclear needs," said David Dunbar, president of Tyco Flow Control's Valves & Controls. "This is a significant investment that reinforces the importance of Mansfield to our global strategy."

Tyco Flow Control has extensive relationships with many of the industry's largest nuclear reactor manufacturers worldwide including AREVA and Westinghouse. Tyco Flow Control's Sempell AG group, a leading provider of nuclear valve products worldwide, received the "Top AREVA Supplier" designation in 2009 and 2010.