Rolls-Royce buys ROV Technologies to expand nuclear reactor services

Engineering group Rolls-Royce has beefed up its reactor inspection operations through the purchase of US nuclear utility operator ROV Technologies.

Vermont-based ROV, which specialises in remote visual inspection services for boiling water reactors and pressurised water reactors, was acquired for an undisclosed sum, Rolls-Royce said on Monday.

Jason Smith, the president of Rolls-Royce's nuclear division, said that ROV has an "impressive" portfolio of remote inspection and cleaning solutions and is a "natural extension to our nuclear services business".

The deal "underlines our commitment to developing a nuclear business that meets customers’ needs for improved equipment reliability and outage performance over the operational and extended lifetime of their plant", Smith said.

Rolls-Royce's nuclear services activities, which support operational reactors in 20 countries, account for over half of its civil nuclear business.