Daher, European leader in industrial logistics in the aerospace sector, today announced the renewal of its partnership with ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) – which is the world's largest scientific project.

ITER’s goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a sustainable energy source by achieving net energy production (500 MW) and developing technologies for the reactors of the future.

Comprising seven members (the European Union, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States), ITER focuses on the construction, operation, and training of specialists for fusion power plants.

Since 2012, Daher has been involved in the ITER project’s overall logistics management. With the renewal of two major contracts, Daher will continue to provide its expertise for this ambitious and unique project.

Daher’s two contracts to support ITER

The renewal of its two major contracts enables Daher to support the ITER project’s next phases.

The first covers industrial and site logistics during the 2024-2028 timeframe. It involves the management of more than two million components stored at the Cadarache and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône sites in France. A team of 60 employees is dedicated to managing these components’ storage, preservation and availability for the construction phases, in compliance with nuclear safety requirements. This contract also includes the management of incoming and outgoing flows at these strategic sites.

The second contract, covering the 2025 to 2031 period, focuses on international logistics. It is focused on transporting components from factories of the member states to ITER’s Cadarache site in southern France. This mission integrates essential services such as planning, packaging, customs management, insurance, and multimodal end-to-end transport. The synchronization of deliveries is crucial to meet construction deadlines and ensure timely completion.

These renewals reflect the trust that ITER places in Daher to manage the complex logistics of this large-scale project. Both parties prioritize the safety of people and environmental protection in their operations.

Logistical innovation to address the challenges

To meet the specific challenges of ITER, Daher implements advanced technological solutions. Self-propelled modular trailers (SPMTs) – used for the first time globally – enable the transportation and handling of heavy components in sensitive environments while minimizing emissions. Additionally, a real-time geolocation control system facilitates convoy tracking and coordination between security teams and local authorities.

Daher also applies artificial intelligence to optimize storage space needs and anticipate future logistical constraints.

These technologies ensure operational efficiency and the smooth management of activities over the long term.

Extremely large components for delivery

The collaboration between Daher and ITER also involves the transport of oversized components. Among the remaining items to be delivered are vacuum chamber sectors weighing 600 tons each, manufactured in Italy; and superconducting coils (CS) from the United States. In 2025, approximately 20 exceptional convoys are scheduled to deliver essential parts for the reactor’s construction.