PARIS, November 06, 2025 — At the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE), the leading international event for the civil nuclear industry, the Orano group and Sintermat, a company specialized in flash sintering, are announcing the signature of an exclusive partnership to support and boost technological advancement of the latest generation of nuclear packaging, TN Eagle.
The TN Eagle is the packaging model designed for the transportation and dry storage of used fuel from nuclear power plants throughout the world. It has been developed by Orano NPS, a subsidiary of the group specialized in the design and manufacturing of nuclear packages, and in transport operations.
Flash sintering is a process that enables the design of innovative materials with unique properties – in terms of hardness, lightness, density, service life, and design – using metal, composite and natural powders. These materials have applications in the aviation, defense, luxury goods and energy sectors.
This aim of this partnership is to develop innovative and disruptive materials, capable of bringing significant gains in performance to a nuclear package which is already recognized as a technological benchmark. By combining Orano NPS’ expertise in the design and qualification of nuclear packages with Sintermat’s know-how in the manufacturing of advanced materials by flash sintering, the two companies intend to accelerate innovation and reshore the production of critical components back to France.
For Frédéric de Agostini, Senior Executive Vice President responsible for Nuclear Packaging and Services at Orano: “This agreement with Sintermat is going to enable us to develop new materials for our nuclear packages to be more competitive and boost our performance by reshoring the manufacturing of key components back to France. With Sintermat, we share the desire to accelerate the innovation phase by proceeding very quickly from the first tests to industrial qualification. I would like to thank Foad Naimi and his teams for their commitment to work in tandem with us, as these developments are going to boost our performance.”
For Foad Naimi, founder of Sintermat: “This partnership with Orano is a tremendous opportunity to put our flash sintering technology to work in a strategic sector. Together, we are going to design bespoke materials, which are stronger, lighter, and more durable, to meet the extreme demands of nuclear applications. It is also an excellent illustration of the commitment we share to making French industry more sovereign, more innovative and more agile. I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Frédéric De Agostini for his confidence and vision, which have been crucial in bringing this ambitious partnership to fruition.”