The Liuzhou OVM Machinery Co. Ltd. (OVM) recently won the bid offered by China Nuclear Power Engineering Co. Ltd. for the research and development of a steel joint used in the shell of a third-generation nuclear power plant that protects the plant from being hit by big commercial planes.

Ever since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster which occurred at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant on March 11, 2011, countries around the world have improved the safety standards for nuclear power plants. In China, another shell is built around the containment vessel (a large-volume pre-stressed reinforced concrete silo-shell structure to prevent radioactivity) in building the third-generation nuclear power projects. The shell is made of reinforced concrete and the steel bar in the shell plays an important part in withstanding strikes from outward forces. The steel joints, which are normally more vulnerable than other parts of the steel bar, are required to pass an instant impact force test in order to stay intact when being hit by outward forces. During the test, the steel bar should be snapped in one second when being hit by instant impact forces, but the steel joint should remain intact. At present, China is not able to produce steel joints that can stand an instant impact force test. All the steel joints used in the third-generation nuclear power projects are imported.

OVM has produced nuclear power products since 2008, and its products have been used in many nuclear power projects, making it the only prestress company producing manufacturing products used in nuclear power plants. The company has been providing products for nearly 10 nuclear power projects, including the Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian Province, the Fangjiashan Nuclear Power plant, the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in Lianyungang of Jiangsu Province, the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan Province and the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant in Pakistan, and has yielded positive economic and social benefits.

This time marks OVM's first bid for product research and development projects. The company has won the bid thanks to its strong research and development capability, as well as the achievement and reputation it has already gained in the nuclear power field. Winning the bid has expanded the areas the company can bid for and increased the variety of its scientific research projects.

However, winning the bid is only a start. OVM will carry out the research and development tasks in accordance with the contract signed with China Nuclear Power Engineering and will try to finish the project on time in order to make contributions that promote the domestic production of products used in the nuclear power field.