05.11.2025
Axima Nucléaire signs a contract with EDF to supply high-power chillers for the next six EPR2 reactors in France
On the occasion of the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE), Axima Nucléaire, a subsidiary of Equans France, and EDF officially signed a contract for the supply of high-power DEL chillers for the next six EPR2 reactors. These safety-classified emergency units produce and distribute the chilled water needed to cool the air in the nuclear island when the normal operating system is unavailable. Axima will design, qualify, manufacture and supervise the assembly and commissioning of 30 series chillers, at the heart of an ambitious industrial partnership between two French players in the energy sector.
Chillers at the heart of nuclear safety
This contract covers the design, qualification, manufacture and supervision of the assembly and commissioning of several series chillers.
The chillers developed by Axima Nucléaire will play an important role in the operation and safety of the future EPR2 reactors. Designed to cool water to 7°C, they will power air-handling systems to maintain controlled temperatures in sensitive areas of the nuclear island - both for critical equipment and for operator comfort. In the event of an incident, these chillers become safety equipment: they prevent a temperature rise.
Of imposing size, these machines will be designed to withstand some of the most demanding cumulative conditions: earthquakes, electromagnetic shocks, air crashes. Before being put into service, they will undergo a complete qualification process: vibrations, accelerated ageing, extreme temperatures (up to 50°C), to guarantee their robustness. These chillers will also incorporate new cybersecurity requirements.
A contract for sovereignty and industrial development
These machines will be designed and manufactured in France by Axima Nucléaire, in a new 4,000 m2 production workshop located in Isère. The new contract, which consolidates more than fifteen years of Axima Nucléaire know-how in the manufacture of special machines, illustrates EDF's renewed confidence in Equans, and underlines the importance of French expertise in the development of technologies for the nuclear power of the future. Mobilizing up to 20 Axima Nucléaire employees simultaneously, this project demonstrates the company's determination to become the French benchmark for classified cooling units for the nuclear sector.
“ This contract is an excellent recognition of Axima Nucléaire's expertise. Being able to manufacture such strategic equipment in France is excellent news for the country's energy and industrial sovereignty. It is also a strong signal of EDF's confidence in our teams and technologies ”
“ This contract illustrates our shared ambition to align the entire value chain with performance: from the program's purchasing strategy through to the design, qualification, manufacture and supply of chiller equipment. I'm convinced that the success of our industrial projects depends on our joint operational efficiency to deliver quality, costs and deadlines, with the constant objective of safety and security. Together, we will ensure our country's energy and industrial sovereignty ”
