Stockholm, Sweden
Blykalla today announced the signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with ESAB AB, global leader in fabrication technology. The agreement formalizes an industrial partnership to develop and industrialize Blykalla’s proprietary Alumina Forming Steels (AFS) for the SEALER, transitioning the collaboration from exploratory cooperation into a dedicated development framework.
The partnership combines Blykalla’s expertise and innovation capabilities in materials sciences with ESAB’s manufacturing and industrialization capabilities in various welding applications. The companies will together industrialize proprietary alumina-forming alloys that are critical for the corrosion protection of reactor internals operating in high-temperature molten lead process conditions.
“This partnership bridges Swedish materials innovation and world-class manufacturing,” says Jacob Stedman, CEO of Blykalla. “By industrializing our proprietary alloys with ESAB, we are securing the specialized supply chain necessary to bring the next generation of clean baseload power to market.”
The companies will carry out dedicated project plans for Blykalla’s AFS. Blykalla will define application requirements and contribute the base materials, while ESAB will lead the formulation, production, and optimization of alloy-matched filler metals and welding parameters. The work encompasses materials characterization, weldability studies, and mechanical and corrosion testing to establish qualified, production-ready joining solutions.
"ESAB is proud to partner with Blykalla to help solve the critical challenge of clean baseload power," says Per-Åke Björnstedt, Director Global Product Management, Specialty Alloys filler Metals at ESAB. "Our collaborative efforts should help to ensure that the materials required for these groundbreaking reactors meet the required standards of safety, quality, and industrial scalability."
By securing a robust, high-performance supply chain with a global industrial leader like ESAB, Blykalla continues its trajectory toward realizing a future of abundant, safe, and reliable nuclear energy.
About Blykalla
Blykalla is a global leader in advanced nuclear technology, commercializing the next generation of clean, reliable energy through its lead-cooled reactor, the SEALER. Blykalla’s work is built on an industry legacy of quality, safety, and excellence. By combining decades of specialized research with world-class partners, Blykalla is building the backbone of the global AI and industrial economy.
About ESAB
ESAB is a world leader in fabrication technology. For more than 100 years ESAB has transformed industries built by fabricators, providing complete workflow solutions through our diverse portfolio of products from more than 40 of the most trusted brands in welding and cutting in the world. From industrial demands to repair and maintenance, innovators that shape the world rely on ESAB’s portfolio. To learn more, visit esab.com
