California-based hazardous waste systems company Kurion Inc. on Tuesday announced the acquisition of British robotics firm Oxford Technologies for an undisclosed sum.
Kurion's existing Robotic Systems and Services team has delivered and designed over 180 systems for projects around the world. Among its most high profile contracts employed Kurion technology to investigate a damaged reactor at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan.
Kurion also designed systems to create safe access to hazardous material and environments at notable locations such as Hanford in the United States and Sellafield in Britain.
Oxford Technologies specializes in full life-cycle remote handling systems, complex plant assembly and radiation-hardened systems, the companies said in a joint statement.
Oxford Technologies has put its remote systems to work “at the most-challenging decommissioning sites worldwide, including Sellafield and Dounreay in the UK,” according to the statement.
Oxford's systems have also been put to use in operations and maintenance of fusion reactors, including ITER, the international nuclear fusion project in the south of France. The company has also won the prestigious Minister's Award from the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for its work at Dounreay, an award that recognizes advancements in technological innovations from modestly-sized companies.
Kurion Chief Executive Officer William Gallo said the purchase, which includes new technology, established clients and 60 highly skilled engineers would "accelerate Kurion's growth."