Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks March 2026

Game Changers Technology Talk webinars are aimed at anyone who is interested in technical innovation in the nuclear industry, learning about cutting-edge research developments and understanding how the Game Changers programme helps solve challenges that can’t be met with off-the-shelf solutions.

The next Game Changers Technology Talks session will take place on Wednesday 25th March 2026 at 12pm (GMT). Register here for free.

March's session will feature the following talk:

Concrete Decontamination – A New Approach

Speakers: George Sewell (Barrnon Ltd) and Gordon Tait (NRS Dounreay)

Our upcoming Game Changers Tech Talk will feature Appleby-based engineering company Barrnon Ltd, alongside challenge owners from Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Dounreay, presenting Scabbler – an innovative, remotely operated technology developed to address the complex challenge of safely removing contaminated concrete from nuclear facilities.

The session will explore the significant technical and operational challenges associated with decommissioning large concrete structures, particularly in highly contaminated environments such as legacy ponds and restricted areas where traditional removal methods have struggled to manage dust, debris, and operator safety. Built on Barrnon’s proprietary Rotocutter technology and adapted for the nuclear industry through the Game Changers innovation programme, Scabbler combines hydraulic power, remote operation, and an integrated vacuum collection system to suppress and capture hazardous material directly at source.

Speakers will discuss the collaborative development journey, from early feasibility work and proof-of-concept activities through to successful demonstrations and deployment on nuclear sites. The talk will demonstrate the device’s design, minimal operator intervention, and capability to remove significant depths of contaminated concrete in a single pass without material escape, helping to reduce downtime, containment requirements, and overall decommissioning costs.

Challenge owners from NRS Dounreay will outline the operational need, the drivers behind adopting new approaches to contaminated concrete removal, and the wider benefits the technology brings to safety, efficiency, and long-term decommissioning strategy across the nuclear estate.

Register now.