Decommissioning nuclear facilities is one of the industry’s most complex and demanding challenges. From reactor segmentation and waste characterization to packaging, transportation, and disposal, every activity requires precision, planning, and strict regulatory compliance. By automating critical processes, reactors can improve project execution, and reduce lifecycle costs through specialized tooling, robotics, and digital solutions.
Top Challenges
Successfully decommissioning nuclear facilities requires balancing safety, schedule, cost, and regulatory requirements while managing complex waste streams. ATS Nuclear Energy Solutions helps improve productivity, reduce risk, and create repeatable processes throughout every stage of the project.
Worker Safety & Dose Reduction
Many decommissioning activities take place in radiological environments where minimizing personnel exposure is a primary objective. Remotely controlled automation and specialized tooling reduce manual intervention while helping teams perform work more safely and efficiently.
Waste Characterization & Segmentation
Accurately identifying, separating, and processing radioactive materials is essential for safe disposal and cost control. Automated inspection, characterization, and segmentation technologies, such as the MultiFlex, improve precision while reducing unnecessary waste handling.
Waste Volume & Disposal Costs
Disposal costs continue to increase, making waste minimization a critical project objective. Automated segmentation and volume reduction technologies help maximize container utilization and reduce the amount of waste requiring long-term disposal.
Complex Material Handling
Moving contaminated components safely through multiple processing stages presents significant logistical challenges. Automated material handling systems improve workflow, reduce manual handling, and enhance operational efficiency.
Project Cost & Schedule Certainty
Decommissioning projects often span many years and involve thousands of coordinated activities. Automation helps standardize operations, improve productivity, and reduce schedule variability to support more predictable project outcomes.
Regulatory Compliance & Traceability
Every waste package, inspection, and processing activity requires detailed documentation and traceability. Digital technologies and automated data collection improve quality assurance while simplifying regulatory reporting.
Our Solutions
ATS delivers integrated automation, robotics, specialized tooling, and digital technologies that support safe, efficient nuclear decommissioning and waste management from planning through final waste disposition.
Reactor Segmentation
Efficiently segment reactor internals using products such as the MultiFlex Nuclear Segmentation System, designed to improve precision, reduce worker exposure, and accelerate complex dismantling activities while generating valuable operational data.
Large Equipment Segmentation
Automate the dismantling of large radioactive components using purpose-built tooling engineered to improve cutting accuracy, reduce manual intervention, and optimize waste processing.
Volume Reduction Equipment
Reduce the size of radioactive waste safely and efficiently using specialized volume reduction systems that improve transportation, storage, and disposal while helping lower overall waste management costs.
Automated Waste Packaging
Standardize waste packaging through automated systems that improve consistency, optimize container utilization, and enhance traceability throughout the waste management process.
Inspection & Characterization
Use advanced inspection technologies to accurately assess radioactive materials, support waste classification, and improve decision-making before segmentation, packaging, and disposal.
Digital Training & Work Instructions
Prepare personnel before work begins using immersive digital training environments that improve task familiarity, standardize procedures, and build confidence prior to field deployment. Leverage digital work instructions to perform maintenance or troubleshoot right where and when the work is happening.
Key Benefits
Automation helps utilities and decommissioning contractors improve safety, optimize waste processing, and complete complex projects with greater confidence and predictability.
Reduce Worker Exposure
Remote automation and robotics minimize personnel interaction with hazardous environments, helping reduce operator dose while improving overall safety.
Accelerate Project Execution
Automated segmentation, material handling, and waste processing systems streamline critical activities, helping projects stay on schedule while improving productivity.
Lower Waste Management Costs
Optimize waste segmentation, packaging, and volume reduction to reduce transportation, storage, and disposal costs while maximizing operational efficiency.
Improve Process Consistency
Standardized automated workflows reduce variability, improve quality, and create repeatable processes that support successful project execution.
Increase Quality & Traceability
Automated inspection and digital data capture provide accurate documentation, improve regulatory compliance, and support informed project decisions.
Improve Project Certainty
Simulation, engineering validation, and proven automation methodologies help identify potential challenges early, reducing risk and improving overall project predictability.
Connect With Our Nuclear Automation Experts
Partner with ATS to automate complex decommissioning and waste management activities while improving safety, efficiency, and project certainty.