Our Expertise

Without doubt, our biggest assets are our people.

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    • Our Expertise

    Without doubt, our biggest assets are our people.

    We’re proud to work with so many professional Engineers and Scientists. Thanks to their vast experience and expertise they can deliver innovative packaging solutions time after time. Our technical team regularly provide input to various committees that set UK industry standards, and offer insight when regulations are under review.

    Our team consists of a cross section of seasoned personnel who have spent many years within the nuclear industry working directly on nuclear plant and process and have gained a first hand knowledge of what delivering safe solutions means. We also look to the Young Generation Network which allows a unique blend of knowledge and experience to be exchanged between the older and younger generations. Younger people are encouraged to stay and provide a resource for the future.

    In recognition of the need for continued improvement, we constantly strive to improve and enhance our training for all our staff. In recognition of this, we have been awarded NEF Assured Nuclear, the industry specific standard for assuring deliverers of training in the nuclear sector. The Independent Advisory Panel recommending the award commended the company for its engagement and drive in ensuring consistency in learning and training development particularly given its size and capacity to deliver. We are the first SME in the nuclear field to be granted the award. The NEF Assured Nuclear Award is recognised by the National Skills Academy Nuclear.

    Our training helps us ensure consistency and benchmark against industry standards for training for all staff. The NEF scheme has been specifically developed to assure the quality of training that is delivered ‘in house’ by nuclear organisations, and helps us to enhance our approach to training. It recognises the need for continuous improvement and for training to impact directly on business objectives and highlights performance in six areas: strategy and planning, engagement, design and delivery, innovation, standards and impact.

     

    Mark Johnson

    Managing Director

    As Managing Director Mark is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the business including both its day-to-day activities and its strategic direction and stakeholder interactions.

    Mark is also the technical lead for the engineering design function. A Chartered Engineer with over 30 years of science and engineering experience, covering mechanical, nuclear decommissioning, repository design development and radioactive waste management. He has worked in the areas of research and design consultancy, both in the private and public sector.

    Mark previously worked for the NDA Radioactive Waste Management Limited where for 10 years he led the design development of the generic geological disposal facility for higher activity wastes in the UK. He has in depth knowledge of package design and performance assessment, applied to the storage, transport and disposal of radioactive wastes and materials.

    A recognised expert in his field, Mark has published a range of papers, been a prominent spokesperson at industry conferences and led UK and international project teams.

     

    Alex Ferguson

    Licensing Director

    As Licensing Director Alex is primarily responsible for licensing packages for the transportation of radioactive materials. Alex has worked in the nuclear industry for over 36 years, starting out with UKEA and AEA Technology before joining Croft. His background includes providing engineering support to active handling facilities, designing remote handling facilities and pressurised equipment for UKEA/AEA Technology and subsequently providing technical support for the licensing activities at Croft.

    The work in which Alex is typically engaged includes project management of licensing work for internal and external customers, addressing elements such as package impact, thermal, shielding and containment assessments, regulatory interpretation and liaison with regulatory approval authorities such as ONR.

     

    Bob Vaughan

    Founding Director

    As Founding Director of Croft, Bob established the company in 1980. From the beginning, Bob has been responsible for the successful management, development and expansion of the company, including the formation of Croft Inc in 1993, based in the US, to provide services to the US Department of Energy (DOE).

    With a PhD in Physics Bob has worked in the nuclear industry for over 40 years. Bob is a member of several Committees including the Transport Container Standardisation Committee (TCSC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), writing the standard on Leakage Testing of packages for the shipment radioactive materials. Bob is also a member of the Institute of Nuclear Engineers and a consultant to the IAEA.

    Bob has published a number of papers on transport packaging for radioactive materials and wastes.

     

    Ian Dingwall

    Head of Manufacture

    As Head of Manufacture, Ian is responsible for managing the manufacture and supply of packagings to carry radioactive materials and has gained many years of continuous and varied project management and engineering experience in the Nuclear, Aerospace, Defence, and Marine Industries.

    Ian started as an apprentice and undergraduate trainee at British Aerospace in Manchester and has since worked for four medium sized companies which has given him a wide range of experience and skills, predominantly in managing manufacturing projects.

    Ian joined Croft in 2006 and has since managed many large projects involving the manufacture and qualification of Type B packages in both the UK and US and works well with colleagues ensuring that they work to the same high standards.

     

    Trevor Tait

    Head of Engineering and Projects

    As Head of Engineering & Projects Trevor is responsible for strategic Portfolio, Programme and Project management within Croft, in essence managing those projects which do not fall under “business as usual”.

    In particular, Trevor has managed the strategic development of Croft’s capability with regards to Ductile Cast Iron Containers (DCICs) suitable for interim storage, transport and final disposal of Intermediate Level Waste (ILW). This has included project managing recent major programmes for Magnox and Sellafield Ltd pertaining to design, substantiation, testing and manufacture of DCICs.

    As well as being a qualified APMP practitioner, Trevor is also a Chartered Mechanical Engineer. He has a background in engineering management within major nuclear industry tier 2 organisations. As such he compliments his project management capability with over 20 years experience of many aspects of engineering within safety critical and highly regulated environments.

    Trevor has been with Croft for 9 years, during which he has successfully managed major tenders at a number of the UK site licence organisations.

     

    Steve Ralls

    Quality Manager

    As Quality Manager Steve is responsible for all quality aspects of Croft’s operations and maintenance of the ISO 9000 and the US 10CFR 71 QMS certifications. In addition, Steve also administers the Health & Safety program and the NEF assured training development and delivery program.

    Formerly an Aerospace Engineer, Steve served 10 years in the Royal Air Force followed by 2 years in civil aviation before moving into Quality Assurance. Gaining considerable experience in QA and Engineering Steve spent the next 13 years supporting the manufacture of superconducting magnets for use in NMRI scanners. After a brief spell as Chief Inspector supporting QA in the testing and manufacture of Cobalt alloy components, Steve took up the role of Quality Manager with a specialist Lithium battery manufacturer, eventually becoming General Manager of the UK facility before joining Croft.

     

    Adam McConaghy

    Senior Project Engineer

    As Senior Project Engineer Adam is responsible for specifying and managing the design, manufacture and delivery of packaging designs and ancillary equipment for the transport of radioactive materials compliant with national and international regulations.

    Adam is also responsible for managing development and testing programmes to validate packaging designs and has been instrumental in the test programme of intumescent coated packages at Croft.

    Adam has worked for Croft for 11 years during which time he has used his expertise in leak testing to develop procedures for periodic and pre-shipment leak tests.

    Adam has recently become more involved in the licensing of packages including Type B modifications and Type A certificates.

     

    Chris Shaw

    Senior Project Engineer

    As Senior Project Engineer Chris is responsible for the specifying and managing delivery of the design development programmes for packaging designs and ancillary equipment for the transport of radioactive materials compliant with national and international regulations.

    Chris is also responsible for the managing development and testing programmes to validate packaging designs and has been instrumental in the design development and associated material substantiation research and development of ductile cast iron packaging at Croft.

    We have over 150 customers across the world, including...