A small engineering firm based in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, has achieved significant international recognition for its work in long-term nuclear waste storage, a sector of critical global importance.

BEP Surface Technologies, an electroplating and surface finishing specialist, has been formally validated by Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (NWMO) for its contribution to the Mark II Used Fuel Container. This container is designed to be the primary safety barrier within the country's planned deep geological repository.

NWMO Validation

The company spent over 10 years developing a specialised copper coating intended to protect nuclear waste containers underground for hundreds of thousands of years.

In its latest annual technical report, the NWMO named BEP as the only external supplier to meet the rigorous standard for components of its Mark II Used Fuel Container. The report confirms that BEP's Lower Assembly and Hemi-Head components underwent inspections and high-tech scans with zero defects found. This success confirms that the company’s copper coating is of sufficient consistency and purity for the ambitious national nuclear safety programme.

Global Significance for UK Manufacturing

The validation holds major global significance as over 40 countries worldwide are seeking solutions for high-level nuclear waste disposal. Only a small group of nations are making tangible progress towards permanent disposal.

Finland, for instance, is a pioneer in the field and is scheduled to open the world’s first final repository, Onkalo, in 2026. This facility will store copper-coated fuel canisters more than 400 metres underground.

Andrew McClusky, Managing Director of BEP Surface Technologies, commented on the achievement:
“To be the only non-research, commercial company named in the entire report is a milestone for BEP and for UK manufacturing. This is the culmination of more than a decade of research, trials, testing and investment into electrodeposited copper coatings. What stands out is the tenacity and expertise of our team to keep pushing the boundaries. This recognition demonstrates unequivocally that a specialist UK SME can contribute to one of the world’s most advanced nuclear programmes.”

Expanding Nuclear Programme Role

The NWMO report also indicates that the organisation is investigating how the copper-coating technology proven on the Mark II components could be adapted for the larger Mark I Long concept. This container is being evaluated to accommodate existing Canadian Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) fuel and new waste forms arising from emerging Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programmes.

Mr McClusky added: “Working on the Mark II components has demanded extreme precision, complex geometries and rigorous qualification testing. The results from Canada demonstrate the reliability of our process and the strength of our engineering. This recognition shows that you do not need to be a multinational or a national laboratory to shape global nuclear programmes. You can do it from a small town in the North West of England through persistence, innovation and doing things properly. We are proud that technology developed here in Greater Manchester is contributing directly to the global effort to deliver safe, permanent nuclear waste containment.”

BEP Surface Technologies continues to expand its capabilities, backed by long-standing international research partnerships and ongoing research and development (R&D) in advanced surface technologies. The company remains active in materials innovation for the nuclear, defence, and energy sectors.