Konecranes in 2025 received an order for four advanced cranes to support the construction of TerraPower’s Natrium Plant, an advanced nuclear reactor with an integrated energy storage system, in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The cranes will be supplied to Bechtel, TerraPower’s engineering, procurement, and construction partner, and serve critical roles across the plant’s nuclear island, energy island and a unique on-site fabrication facility.
This order follows an earlier contract from 2024, bringing the total number of cranes supplied by Konecranes to five.
The four new cranes will be installed in key construction areas, each designed for specific functions:
- Reactor Fabrication Building crane: A high-capacity maintenance crane with a lifting capacity of up to 125 tons (plus a 15-ton auxiliary). It will handle large components during on-site assembly and fabrication, supporting TerraPower’s innovative approach to performing some manufacturing activities directly at the plant.
- Fuel Handling Bridge crane: A nuclear-rated crane built to the ASME NOG-1 Type 1 Single Failure Proof standard, with a main lifting capacity of 150 tons (and 30 tons auxiliary). This crane will manage fuel handling and cask movements within the fuel handling bay.
- Reactor Building crane: A nuclear-rated crane designed to ASME NOG-1 Type 1 standards, with a lifting capacity of 150 tons (plus 30 tons auxiliary) will support all overhead lifting for reactor assembly and maintenance.
- Turbine Facility Bridge crane: A high-quality crane rated for 100 tons main lift capacity (and 20 tons auxiliary), intended for turbine assembly, maintenance, and repair. While not nuclear-rated, it meets the stringent quality requirements of turbine operations.
All cranes will be manufactured to the highest quality assurance standards, ensuring safe and reliable operation. The nuclear-rated cranes include advanced safety and reliability features such as seismic restraints and radiation-resistant coatings and components. Each main hoist has a sister hook for additional security, redundant hoist machinery and additional structural safeguards to prevent dropped loads. These measures comply with strict nuclear industry safety and quality standards, enabling dependable performance under the demanding conditions of advanced nuclear power generation.
Andrew Grooms, Regional Sales Manager, Konecranes Nuclear Equipment & Service, says, “This order reflects the commitment and expertise Konecranes brings to meeting Bechtel’s strict and precise standards at the TerraPower’s Natrium Plant site. Working alongside such a skilled and experienced project management team has been a great experience — they expect the highest quality and precision from the start. With this order, Konecranes continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in nuclear material handling equipment. Since 1942, we have proudly supported the nuclear industry and remain at the forefront of innovation in both traditional nuclear power and emerging technologies like small modular reactors.”
“We continue to move the Natrium project forward with the help of our supplier partners including Konecranes,” says Bechtel Project Director Suchit Chopra. “This is another step in delivering nuclear power commitments for the people of Wyoming.”
A strong focus on customers, commitment to business growth, and continuous improvement make Konecranes a material handling industry leader. This is underpinned by investments in digitalization and technology, as well as efforts to make material flows more efficient with solutions that support the decarbonization of the economy and advance circularity and safety.
For a concise overview of Konecranes’ business, please click here. Konecranes’ leading solutions for the nuclear industry can be found here.
Further information:
Tanja Wilson, Communications Director, Industrial Service & Equipment
Email: tanja.wilson@konecranes.com or phone: +971 56 4141878
Konecranes Media Desk
media@konecranes.com
Konecranes is a global leader in material handling solutions, serving a broad range of customers across multiple industries. We consistently set the industry benchmark, from everyday improvements to the breakthroughs at moments that matter most, because we know we can always find a safer, more productive and sustainable way. That's why, with around 16,500 professionals in over 50 countries, Konecranes is trusted every day to lift, handle and move what the world needs. In 2024, Group sales totaled EUR 4.2 billion. Konecranes shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KCR).