News and Events - 2011 Archive
December 2011
DBD and Westinghouse Sign Important Memorandum of Understandingg
Westinghouse Electric Company have announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DBD relating to the future development of the Westinghouse AP1000® reactor design in the UK.
The agreement covers a range of topics where it is hoped that the two organisations can collaborate to help bring the AP1000 nuclear power plant into commercial operation in the UK. This includes support through the final stages of the Generic Design Assessment process, site-specific licensing, planning support and associated safety-case development.
DBD's Managing Director Andrew Carlick said: ''DBD are delighted to have signed this MOU and it marks an important step in developing a long-term, successful relationship with such a significant and respected market leader in the nuclear industry. It is an exciting time for nuclear and we look forward to giving Westinghouse our full support both on the GDA process and their site work.''
Speaking at the MOU signing ceremony, Westinghouse Vice President for the UK, Middle East & Egypt, Mike Tynan, added: "I am pleased to be establishing this important link between our two organisations. As we progress towards Interim GDA approvals and hopefully then towards selection of our design by a UK utility, we are working to identify and build connections to those companies who are best placed to support the next phase of our UK journey.
DBD are well-established in their field and we know them well. There are many potential areas where they could help us in our work to make the Westinghouse AP1000 a reality in the UK, and I am confident that together we can make great progress."
September 2011
DBD’s support of the Nuclear Institute continues
Photo by Dominic Holden – www.dominicholden.co.uk
DBD has long supported the aims and objectives of the Nuclear Institute (NI); recently DBD was out in force to attend the NI North West Branch Annual Dinner, held at Lancashire County Cricket Club.
The dinner was an enjoyable event with 750 people attending from more than 50 companies in the nuclear industry and its supply chain. Speakers included NI President Norman Harrison and TV personality John Sergeant, pictured here with DBD’s Wallis O’Brien (3rd from left), Lauren Collins (4th from left) and Monica Mwanje (4th from right), who are also members of the NI Young Generation Network (YGN).
Lauren, DBD’s Head of Business and Organisational Development, said “This annual event is a fantastic opportunity to network and build relationships across the nuclear community. DBD is proud to be heavily involved in the NI and YGN and we’re looking forward to next year’s event already!”
To read more about the Dinner and view additional photos, click here.
June 2011
DBD welcomes new Chairman: Rod Macdonald BSC CEng FICE FIStructE FCIOB MInstRE
Rod Macdonald, former Buro Happold Chairman and a founding partner of the global multidisciplinary engineering consultancy has taken up the position of Chairman at DBD. He is a civil & structural engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, member of the Institution of Royal Engineers, Past Chairman of the Association of Consulting Engineers (2 years), Past Chairman of RedR UK (6 years), and Trustee of the Happold Trust.
In 2009 Rod relocated to the Middle East to keep contact with significant and very senior Buro Happold clients in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
In April 2010 Rod was named Engineering Ambassador of the Year at ACE’s Annual Engineering Excellence Awards. The ACE Engineering Ambassador Award is given to someone who has made a significant contribution to raising the profile of consultancy and engineering and goes beyond the ordinary.
Projects in which he has played a major role include: In the UK: Millennium Point, Digbeth; The Lowry, Salford; Birmingham Hippodrome; The Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds; Theatre Royal, Glasgow; Pitlochry Festival Theatre; Manchester Olympic Stadium, Cutlers Wharf, Sheffield; Springfield Way and Swan Walk, Horsham and the Worcester College Student Residential Building. Worldwide, Rod has worked on Fountain Square development, Naish Khana Urban Development, Baghdad, Iraq and SBS Headquarters, Seoul, Korea. More recent projects include BBC Media Village project, Verbus Modular Housing, Royal Ascot, Battersea Power Station and Snoasis.
Managing Director Andrew Carlick says “DBD are exceptionally proud to be welcoming Rod in as chairman. This appointment marks the beginning of an exciting year ahead for DBD as we begin our journey to expand our business whilst retaining our core values.”
DBD awarded ITER contract
DBD are delighted to have been awarded a contract to support the ITER nuclear fusion project in Cadarache, France with a single integrated process model for the project's tritium plants. Currently each of the individual tritium plants has a separate model. DBD will be responsible for identifying the optimum platform for the integrated model and its subsequent development. For more information on this exciting project please see the article published on the CCFE website which you can see here.
May 2011
Well done to Three Peaks Fundraising Team
Congratulations to the team who tackled the three highest mountain peaks in the UK! The team, consisting of engineers working on the Sellafield Evaporator D project, climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in just 24 hours (and in mostly torrential rain!). The challenge was in aid of the COINS Foundation, a charity which aims to build sustainable communities in poverty-stricken areas worldwide.
DBD’s Roy Palmer is a part of the Evap D team and supported the climbers by driving them to each location. He said “The event was extremely intense for all involved but after all, it is for worthy causes around the world”.
The whole event has so far raised £243,000 for the COINS Foundation.
DBD commence next phases of HA Evaporator Process Simulation contract
DBD has now started work on the preparation of three further tasks for a dynamic process simulation model of Sellafield’s Evaporator D. This work will complete DBD’s dynamic process simulation model for the new HA Evaporator for Sellafield site. The model will be used to prove the process control sequences, demonstrate the interfaces with the safety trips, assist in reducing the duration and cost of commissioning and provide operator training opportunities.
April 2011
Japan Update - Len Jones gives his version of events to NLTV
DBD's Commissioning Director Len Jones was recently interviewed by NLTV with relation to his experiences in Japan when the earthquake and tsunami hit the country last month. Len was in Tokyo at the time, whilst on a British industry trip organised by the Nuclear Industry Association and Constructing Excellence.
To watch Len's interview, click here.
DBD’s Ongoing Commitment to promoting STEM and opportunities in the Nuclear Industry
DBD staff have been attending various events in the region at schools and careers fairs and speaking to students about some of the routes into industry and the type of jobs a science or engineering graduate may end up with in the nuclear industry. In recent months DBD has been present at the Merseyside “Engineering Your Future” day, and the 8th Annual Schools Science Conference which took place in London earlier this month as part of National Science & Engineering week.
DBD has a number of employees who are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Ambassadors. As STEM ambassadors our employees volunteer as role models for young people and promote the STEM subjects, and DBD are proud to support this and play a part in our commitment to nurture young talent.
For more information on the promotion of STEM subjects, click here
March 2011
Japan Update, 16th March:
DBD has now started a month of fundraising for those affected by the recent events in Japan and our staff have already raised over £70! The money will go to Shelter Box, a charity which sends boxes of emergency equipment and vital supplies to those in need.
For further updates on our progress, keep checking this web page.
Japan Update, 14th March 2011:
Len Jones, DBD’s Commissioning Director, recently returned from a business trip in Japan, appeared on S4C news to give his reaction and view on the ongoing situation in Japan.
Japan Update, 13th March 2011:
“DBD wish to welcome safely home from Japan our Commissioning Director Len Jones, along with DBD company advisor Madoc Batcup. Len and Madoc were attending a Constructing Excellence and NiA industry visit to the country. They both returned safely to the UK today. Our thoughts and prayers go to the people of Japan in this time of crisis and we offer our support where we are able. We can only imagine the pain and challenges Japan now faces.” said Andrew Carlick, MD of DBD.
DBD has made a donation to Shelter Box and colleagues will be carrying out many in-house fundraisers for the next month.
“Fantastic turn out” at DBD-sponsored YGN Event
DBD was proud to sponsor the recent Nuclear Institute Young Generation Network’s Networking Event & Exhibition. The event took place on 8th February 2011 at The Centre, Birchwood Park, Warrington. DBD were one of 17 exhibitors at the event, which was attended by over 100 delegates from local businesses and universities. Vaughan Ashton, Operations Manager for DBD was pleased to attend and stated: “It was a fantastic turn out at the networking event and a great opportunity to meet with some of my peers in the industry. It also allowed us to promote the opportunities at DBD and within the nuclear industry with the wider community.”
The event was filmed by NLTV and DBD’s Technical Director Don Allan was interviewed by the film crew. DBD employee and YGN committee member Monica Mwanje was also interviewed by NLTV. Footage from the event can be viewed here.
The Nuclear Institute is the learned society of the UK nuclear industry, and the Young Generation Network (YGN) is a sub-group of young professionals from across the UK nuclear industry. To find out more about the YGN, go to: www.ygn.nuclearinst.com
Another Sellafield Project for DBD
DBD was awarded a contract in October 2010, by Sellafield Ltd, to undertake a Viability Study for the Management of Zeolite Skips at the Sellafield site. The project is now well underway.
DBD is tasked with undertaking an option generation process to identify viable ways in which the skips could be managed. The purpose of the viability study is to determine whether or not a full optioneering study is warranted.
January 2011
DBD sponsors John Bradley’s Tanzanian Challenge
DBD were proud to sponsor John Bradley, who cycled 420km in just nine days across Tanzania for the charity Transaid.
John, a personal friend of many of the DBD staff, joined a team of cyclists and endured extreme conditions during the nine-day ride. His fundraising tally currently stands at £6,000, doubling his initial target and contributing to the group total of £80,000.
Transaid is an international development charity that aims to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods across Africa and the developing world through creating better transport systems.
