Standing in front of the new Rolls-Royce Nuclear office at Port Elgin’s South Gate Plaza, May 10, from left, Brian Boccardi, Vice President Regional Operations, Rolls-Royce; Richard Horrobin, Bruce Power; Kevin Kelly, CFO Bruce Power; Paul Tobin, Executive Vice President Rolls-Royce Nuclear Digital Services; Robert Fletcher, President Rolls-Royce Nuclear; Mike Rencheck, President and CEO Bruce Power; Mitch Twolan, Bruce County Warden and Mayor Mike Smith.
Hub Staff
After signing a contract with Bruce Power on May 10, Rolls-Royce Nuclear will come to Port Elgin and open its third Nuclear Services office in the country.
As part of the contract, Rolls-Royce will implement its digital technology designed to optimize the operational life of nuclear power plants, known as T-104. The digital technology utilizes worldwide nuclear operating data to provide best-in-class asset management services to the Bruce Power fleet.
“It’s a really exciting day for me. How many small towns can look up and see the Rolls-Royce banner,” said Bruce Power President and CEO Mike Recheck, May 10. “We are the largest nuclear operating facility in the world so with working with one of the largest companies in the world - one of the largest nuclear companies in the world, we’re going to pair up to optimize and improve our operations for long term.”
Rolls-Royce President of Nuclear Services Robert Fletcher came from England for the announcement and said he was ecstatic about the relationship. “Getting a contract in place gives us the opportunity to bring not just our nuclear experience but experience like Mike (Rencheck) said across all of Rolls-Royce, in particular aerospace, where we have several thousand engines up there flying safely performing really well on the back of a lot of data and digital expertise that we generated.” Fletcher said they will use the data to localize and get close with Bruce Power for a more rapid response. He also stressed to “pass the message” that the office space is not a car dealership.
Vice-President of Regional Operations Brian Boccardi will be heading the service in Saugeen Shores. Boccardi will transfer from the Pittsburg location and as well as bringing several engineers with him, will be looking to hire locally as well. “I think we have space for probably about 20 to 30 [employees] or something like that. We’ll kind of be ramping up as the need comes up,” said Boccardi May 10.
Rolls-Royce is the first of more announcements that will help fill South Gate Plaza, the newly-built complex on Highway 21, said Town of Saugeen Shores Community Development Officer Jessica Linthorne. While attending a recent Canadian Nuclear Association conference, Linthorne was able to connect with representatives from Roll-Royce with regard to Saugeen Shores and said that it isn’t a hard sell. “The communities of Port Elgin and Southampton are different and we know that and they bring such different characteristics and opportunities, so for me to be able to talk about Saugeen Shores and how great it is to work here and play here is very easy.”
Rolls-Royce is a world leader in the aerospace, marine and nuclear power generation markets. With over £13.8 billion in revenue, Rolls-Royce has a large and highly experienced nuclear skills base that provides nuclear utilities with integrated, long-term solutions and support services that span the whole reactor lifecycle and help optimize plant operations and reduce operating costs, improve equipment reliability and uptime, extend plant life, and keep nuclear plants in compliance with ever-changing regulations.
Executive Vice President at the company’s Nuclear Digital Services unit, Paul Tobin signs the agreement while Bruce Power CEO and President Mike Rencheck shakes hands with President of Rolls-Royce Nuclear Robert Fletcher May 10.
Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power CEO and President at the Rolls-Royce announcement May 10.
