Black Country manufacturer Alloy Wire International has increased its work in the nuclear sector by 15% after securing ISO 19443 certification.
Certification specialist LRQA presented the accreditation at AWI’s Brierley Hill factory.
Industry experts believe the 29-strong company is the first precision wire manufacturer certified to the global quality standard for supplying critical nuclear components and materials.
AWI completed the nine-month assessment with zero non-conformities and praise for its quality management systems.
AWI said the certification had helped it secure up to £150,000 in additional sales from customers supplying parts for nuclear reactors, mini reactors and decommissioning projects.
Kevin Guest, Head of Quality, Health & Safety and Environmental Management at Alloy Wire International, said: “When the founders launched AWI eighty years ago, they did so with quality at the heart of the business - in the material we produced and in the way we looked after our customers.
“Operating to the highest standards is still the bedrock of our company in 2026 and this latest nuclear certification reinforces how we can modify existing robust systems to ensure they meet the bespoke needs of a sector that is arguably one of the most demanding in the world.”
He continued: “ISO 19443 was probably the standard with the most involvement from every member of the team. Culture was paramount and everyone had to understand the importance of traceability and where the material was heading, whether they worked in production, packaging or in sales.”
Simon Payne, Executive Vice President UKI at LRQA, said: "Alloy Wire International's ISO 19443 achievement demonstrates a commitment to quality, traceability and continuous improvement. Drawing on decades of experience supporting organisations across the nuclear supply chain, LRQA is proud to have supported the team, strengthening its confidence in delivering safety-critical products and services to the sector.”
AWI manufactures precision drawn round, flat and profile wire with high-temperature and corrosion-resistant properties for nuclear applications, including high-performance springs and seals.
The company said its six most requested alloys were Inconel 718, Inconel X750, Alloy 400, Nimonic 90, Alloy 80A and Stainless Steel 316, all available within three weeks of ordering.
“Traceability is a major pre-requisite and the ability to prove the authenticity of the materials (traced back all the way to the mills) we process at our factory,” added Kevin.
“A close working relationship with our suppliers ensures we get their original data that we can then build into the ISO 19443-approved management system.”
He concluded: “Alongside this, we have invested more than £500,000 into bringing a lot of subcontract testing services in house so we can retain as much control as possible, not to mention speed of turnaround with the well-documented backlog being seen at testing houses.”
Photo: (l-r) James Whateley (LRQA), Tom Mander, Kevin Guest (both Alloy Wire International), and Inny Mahal (LRQA) with Mark Thompson (Initiative Quality and Safety)