KNF presents next generation laser welding system for spacer grids

- It is projected to rise by more than 50% in productivity reducing labor costs for overtime work

- The system supports stable domestic supply offering opportunity to go global with its technology ownership

KNF (President Lee Jae-hee), the one and only nuclear fuel company in Korea, announced on April 14 that the company completed the development of next generation laser welding system for spacer grids with dramatically improved features and has recently started its production.

The welding system is Nd:YAG laser with optical fiber used to weld spacer grids, components of nuclear fuel. It took 15 months for the company to finish the development since September 2012. The production began in earnest recently after 3 months of testing.

The system optimized spacer grids laser welder by applying user-centered design at workplace, and it reduced the cycle time from 76 minutes to 50 minutes improving the productivity. Especially it has unique features in design, which make it compatible with previous models for easy maintenance. It is known that this new welding system provides more than 50% increase in productivity compared to the use of conventional welders.

Therefore, KNF views the development can help the company generate organizational cost savings through the significant reduction in labor costs for working overtime and manufacturing costs in welding process by reducing the weld cycle.

KNF is ready to satisfy growing production capacity of nuclear fuel based on the accumulated technology

and know-how accelerated by the development of this new advanced laser welder. Its sole technology

ownership also assures the opportunity for exporting the laser welding system to the international markets

in the future.