Orano Opens Next-Gen TN Eagle Factory with Innovative Nuclear Packaging Technology

The Orano group has inaugurated its first 4.0 manufacturing facility in Cherbourg, Normandy, where it will assemble the next-generation TN Eagle cask. The opening ceremony was attended by Claude Imauven, Orano’s Chairman, and Frédéric de Agostini, Senior Executive VP for Nuclear Packaging and Services, along with regional officials, customers, and economic stakeholders.

The TN Eagle is a newly designed cask for transporting and dry-storing spent nuclear fuel, primarily serving markets in Europe, the U.S., and Asia. With an innovative modular design, the cask is 5 meters long, 3 meters in diameter, and weighs 150 metric tons, offering improved safety and efficiency for power plant operators. Orano has already secured multiple orders from both French and international clients for the TN Eagle.

The new factory, which spans 6,600 m², is a fully automated 4.0 facility incorporating advanced, disruptive technologies. The plant can produce up to 30 weld-free casks annually, reducing assembly time from over 40 months for previous-generation models to just 15 months. The construction and assembly lines were handled by Normandy developer SHEMA and companies Latesys and Metrasur.

The TN Eagle cask, featuring ten times fewer parts than similar designs and zero welding, has received transportation approval from both the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) after passing rigorous safety tests, including falls, fire, and immersion.

Supported by France’s Relance recovery plan, Orano's factory is entirely French-made. Frédéric de Agostini praised the factory’s advanced technology and its role in safer, more efficient manufacturing, while CEO Nicolas Maes highlighted the group's commitment to innovative solutions and customer support worldwide.