Decommissioning specialists DB Nuclear has bolstered its presence in Cumbria with the acquisition of Holemaster’s Demtech Nuclear Services operation based in Egremont.

Cutting, drilling and robotic demolition experts BD Nuclear has bought its similarly-skilled counterpart for an undisclosed fee – taking on Energy Coast Business Park premises and all of Demtech’s current staff.

BD Nuclear has also invested in eight new vehicles, a range of new drilling and sawing equipment and a completely new IT system, the company said.

The company said it not would not only continue to deliver services previously provided by Demtech to its clients within Sellafield, but also offer additional capabilities and specialities from BD Nuclear and the wider John F Hunt Group.

John F Hunt Group – which acquired BD Nuclear in 2017 – is a privately-owned group of construction related companies, including a division focused on demolition.

The group’s chairman John Hall said: “BD Nuclear and John F Hunt Group are already involved in some exciting new projects within the Sellafield plant and I feel the acquisition of the former Demtech business will serve to further demonstrate our commitment to invest in this highly specialist sector.

“John F Hunt are a diverse group of companies and I can see a huge opportunity for expanding the activities of this new depot, perhaps with the introduction of our power division before the end of the year.”

BD Nuclear was established in 2006 by Dave Dougan, and over the past 13 years has become recognised as one of the UK’s leading specialists in concrete, dry metal cutting and contaminated surface removal in the nuclear decommissioning sector.

It has also pushed the boundaries of Diamond Wire Sawing technology to enable size reduction of complex metal processes.