News

ANT is constantly on the move. Accompany us on this path and read what is worth knowing about in the areas of production, sales, marketing and personnel.

March 2011

MACE for France

The New Year started with an order from France. We produced a MACE with a 3-Axis Cutting Table and Base Fuse Manipulator for the French army. Delivery of the equipment and training for users is scheduled for the middle of April.

January until December 2010

Cutting of Buoys

We have noted several orders for the opening of fairway buoys in 2010. Our specialists were engaged no less than five times for cutting work by various water and shipping authorities. The project tasks included the opening of fairway buoys, namely the cutting of circular holes for the installation of flush openings, utilizing the water abrasive suspension system (WAS) cutting technology. Background for this cutting work is the presence of various highly flammable gasses (Methane) in the buoys, which may cause explosions. It is therefore mandatory to re-open all buoys at regular intervals using flush openings. Initial opening was performed by ANT, since its WAS technology enables work to be carried out in explosive and sensitive areas. After the modification, dangerous gasses can be released with a special device applied to the buoy, considerably reducing the potential risk of explosion.

October 2010

Renovations completed!

Mission accomplished! At the end of October, we were finally able to inaugurate our new offices and storage facility including a brand new workshop. A lot of work has been going on at ANT since the beginning of 2010. The floors and walls of the offices and conference rooms have been completely renovated! Sanitary and canteen facilities are gleaming with new coats of paint. The newly equipped communal area provides a warm and inviting atmosphere. However, the main focus has been on the rearrangement of our storage and workshop facilities. A new high-rack storage area, machinery, and a slewing crane, which support enhanced efficient and effective workflows has been installed. Improvements and renovation of the external areas, such as the reconfiguration of parking space and green areas have completed the rebuild.

We would like to take the opportunity to once again to thank all those who have helped in the reorganization process.

Team strengthened in administration

Mr. Sebastian Kehres joined ANT as Finance Director on the 1st of October. Before his current activities, Mr. Kehres was engaged from 2005 to 2010 in the Finance- and Controlling Department of novosom AG, Halle/Saale, most recently in a management position as Finance Director of the company. Mr. Kehres was previously a freelance consultant and employee of the Institute of Marketing and Commerce at the University of Göttingen. Mr. Kehres graduated in Business Management at the Universities of Marburg and Göttingen.

New orders Waste-Management Nuclear Technology

After ANT AG received the order from Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH, Mannheim, in summer 2010, for the construction, manufacture and delivery of two special components for the containment of radioactive waste material (final customer: Sanmen China), a follow-up order was made within only three months. The order includes the delivery of components for the handling of barrels and drums, such as lid magazines, screw units, closure facilities and transfer systems. The follow-up order from our new customer Westinghouse Electric Germany GmbH clearly shows a co-operation built on trust and strengthens ANTs role as a competent supplier and partner for the decommissioning and management of nuclear waste.

Atomic power station Stade: Disassembly of reactor pressure container

In October 2010 the last cuts on the lid of the reactor pressure container were made, and the project “Disassembly of reactor pressure container atomic power station Stade“ was successfully completed. Along with the removal and disassembly of the lid, the disassembly of the reactor pressure container was a major component of the project. The removal mainly involved thermal (propane-oxygen-cutting torch), and partially mechanical (cut-off saw) procedures. ANT AG constructed and produced a special dismantling table (payload: 165 t) for the work on the reactor pressure container as well as a disassembly and lifting device for Siempelkamp NIS Ingenieurgesellschaft GmbH, Alzenau. The disassembly system included two KUKA robots (equipped with a special joystick steering mechanism), which performed the cutting movements of the propane-oxygen torch and cut-off saw. The successful on-time completion of the project once more proves ANTs role a strong and reliable partner in the field of nuclear technology (dismantling, waste management).

Further information can be obtained from the press release of E.ON Kernkraft, Operator of the Nuclear Power Plant at Stade, at

www.eon-kernkraft.com/pages/ekk_de/Standorte/Stade/Aktuelle_Presse/Pressemitteilung.htm

June 2010

mini MACE for IEDD

The month of June closed with an order in the IEDD sector. telerob Gesellschaft für Fernhantierung-stechnik mbH, Ostfildern, placed an order for the production of a Water Abrasive Suspension (WAS) cutter mini MACE for the deactivation of dangerous explosive devices using one of telerob’s remote controlled robots.

Cutting Services on the tower bell of the Meißen cathedral

ANT AG successfully carried out cutting services using the Water Abrasive Suspension (WAS) system on Bell 1 (Johannes) in the Dom zu Meißen. The crown of the bell was to be repaired during the course of the year. As a first step, it was required to remove the damaged part of the crown. As the thermal cutting procedure could have had a negative effect on the chime of the bell, the Water Abra-sive System was chosen in order to avoid any thermal influences on the bell. In addition to the cutting service itself, ANT AG developed a custom-made cutting system for the bell and a corresponding catcher for the abrasive suspension. The successful application of the WAS cutting system underlines the flexible and versatile use of the system and the creative potential of the ANT engineers.

February 2010

Nuclear power plant Würgassen: Dismantling reactor pressure vessel

The project „dismantling reactor pressure vessel“ at the nuclear power plant Würgassen was successfully completed. This project entailed the dismantling of an approx. 15 m high reactor pressure vessel in 252 sections. A substantial part of the work was undertaken with the (WAS) Water Abrasive cutting system. The corresponding WAS unit as well as the cutting equipment and gripper were supplied to AREVA NP GmbH, Erlangen, by ANT. The dismantling of the reactor pressure vessel involved mounting the equipment on a scaffold. The constrictive working area, and the need to avoid leakages of water created a major challenge, required the highest standards for the development, construction and manufacturing of the cutting equipment. This once again proved ANT AG supplies, components and facilities, to be reliable and effective, ensuring a high safety level at work.

Further information can be obtained from the press release of E.ON Kernkraft, Operator of the Nuclear Power Plant at Würgassen, at

www.eon-kernkraft.com/pages/ekk_de/Presse_und_Wissenswertes/Pressemitteilungen/Aktuelle_Presse/Pressemitteilung.htm

January 2010

mini MACE and MACE Hungary / mini MACE Florida

“With full sails into the new year” was our motto in January. As soon as the year started we received new orders in the areas IEDD and EOD UXB International, Inc., Blacksburg, ordered three Water Ab-rasive Suspension (WAS) units, two type mini MACE and one MACE. Delivery is scheduled for March.

December 2009

MACE for EOD

In 2009 an order for a MACE was placed by the Belgian army for their EOD team. The mobile water jet system of MACE enables any detonator to be remotely, steadily and safely removed. The technology is reliable, easy to use and works under water and in the air. Delivery in February 2010.

November 2009

AMU 2000-40

We received an order from South Korea to build an AMU 2000-40. The AMU 2000-40 is mainly used in industrial, offshore and nuclear surroundings and can reach a cutting pressure of up to 2000 bar.

MACE + Multiflex Circular Cutter Plus

From the German county of Brandenburg an order was received to produce a MACE with a Multiflex Circular Cutter Plus. This equipment is specifically used for the disarming of live ammunition (unexploded ordnance devices, UXO); delivery is scheduled for March 2010.

October 2009

MACE + Base Fuse + Multiflex Circular Cutter

From the German county of Niedersachsen we received the order to produce a MACE with a Base Fuse Manipulator and a Multiflex Circular Cutter. This equipment is specifically used for the disarming of unexploded bombs and the removal of time-delayed detonators.