News
Urenco expands its stable isotopes facility in the Netherlands
05 October 2021
Almelo – 5 October 2021 – Today, Urenco Stable Isotopes has officially opened its new Leonardo da Vinci cascade.
Like the Renaissance Polymath after which the facility is named, and who lived from 1452 – 1519, this cascade is extremely versatile. It is designed for the enrichment of multiple isotopes - including cadmium, germanium, iridium, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium, titanium, tungsten, xenon and zinc – for medical, industrial and research applications.
The growing market in this field has led us to expand our facility to meet the demand, especially for products in the medical field - for example, Xenon 129. This product is used in MRI imaging to detect lung diseases. Urenco Stable Isotopes is also conducting research to discover solutions for cancer treatment.
Boris Schucht, Chief Executive of Urenco Group, said:
“Already, hundreds of thousands of patients are treated every year with products made from our enriched stable and medical isotopes. Other applications of our products are very varied and include superfast computer processing power. We are looking forward to working with customers on new research and development projects, producing high quality, cost-efficient products and solutions that will change lives.”
Pictured left to right: Ad Louter, Manager Director, Urenco Nederlands; Arjen Gerritsen, Mayor of Almelo; Boris Schucht, Urenco CEO; Arjan Bos, Business Unit Manager, Urenco Stable Isotopes
Notes to editors:
- Urenco Stable Isotopes has operated for over three decades at Urenco Nederland in Almelo and has built a substantial portfolio of enriched and depleted products for a wide range of markets and customers.
- An isotope is an element that has the same number of protons (the same atomic number) but a different number of neutrons in the nucleus (different atomic mass). Isotopes can either be stable or unstable. Due to their unique properties, stable isotopes are used in a variety of applications, including medical diagnosis, semiconductor production for electronic devices and research on materials used in nuclear environments.
- Find out more at https://www.urenco.com/global-operations/urenco-stable-isotopes
About Urenco
Urenco is an international supplier of enrichment services and fuel cycle products with sustainability at the core of its business. Operating in a pivotal area of the nuclear fuel supply chain for 50 years, Urenco facilitates zero carbon electricity generation for consumers around the world.
With its head office near London, UK, Urenco’s global presence ensures diversity and security of supply for customers through enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Using centrifuge technology designed and developed by Urenco, and through the expertise of our people, the Urenco Group provides safe, cost effective and reliable services; operating within a framework of high environmental, social and governance standards, complementing international safeguards.
Urenco is committed to continued investment in the responsible management of nuclear materials; innovation activities with clear sustainability benefits, such as nuclear medicine, industrial efficiency and research; and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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