Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks March 2026
Wednesday, 25th of March
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.
March's session features the following talk:
Concrete Decontamination – A New Approach
Speakers: George Sewell (Barrnon Ltd) and Gordon Tait (NRS Dounreay)
March's Game Changers Tech Talk features 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 explores 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 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 demonstrates 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 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.
