been their supplier of choice since then,” Hadaller notes. Recently, they added 10,000 square feet to their facility, now totaling 49,000 square feet, signaling readiness for future projects.“When I have new customers... we can say, well, here’s a spot we have for you,” he says, highlighting their expanded capacity. Projects Manager Richard Van Lochem emphasizes that continual infrastructure upgrades, such as waterjet and machine use, have been vital to maintaining competitiveness. Stern Labs also explores new technologies, including additive manufacturing and fiber optics for temperature measurement.“We’re always trying to keep up with what are the new technologies,” he states. Investment in tools like orbital welders has provided “finer controls” in the company’s operations. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS AND CUTTING-EDGE PROJECTS Stern Laboratories has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions for the nuclear industry, engaging in projects that span the globe and push the boundaries of reactor technology. Stern Labs is actively engaged in international projects, supporting clients in Asia, Italy, Sweden, South Korea, and Canada. They aid in developing advanced fuel elements with enhanced performance, as Van Lochem notes, “The heater rods are getting smaller. There’s more instrumentation, different types of instrumentation.” In CANDU reactor projects, Stern Labs works on innovative tooling, such as camera systems for fuel inspection and removal systems for radioactive flux detectors.” We’re engaged with some CANDU operators to develop new innovative tooling,” Van Lochem says. The lab’s international reach includes building a scaled reactor mock-up in Italy and negotiations with a Swedish SMR designer exploring lead as a 45 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 10 STERN LABORATORIES INC.
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