New appointment announced: Barrington D'Arcy takes on role as Chief Manufacturing Officer at Proxima Fusion
New and Groovy: Proxima Fusion's New Kid on the Block
Hey there, fusion fanatics! Buckle up for a mind-blowing ride as we introduce you to the latest addition to the Proxima Fusion family - Barrington "Baz" D'Arcy, the new Chief Manufacturing Officer. This badass brings some major know-how from his leadership roles at BMW, SpaceX, and CMR Surgical.
Now, what's Baz gonna do with all that mad skillz? Simple: he'll lead the development and scaling up of manufacturing systems for Stellarator fusion power plants. The ultimate goal? Connect the world's first Stellarator fusion power plant to the grid, baby! And to make it happen, Baz's gonna focus on developing those high-field, high-temperature superconductors (HTS) that are gonna be the backbone of this technological revolution.
Remember SpaceX and those record-breaking missions back in the day? Yep, that's where Baz shined. As Manufacturing Engineering Director, Baz fueled the rocket ship's production before moving on to new adventures as Senior Production Director after SpaceX launched its 100th mission.
Fast forward to now, and Baz's landing at Proxima Fusion is just what the fusion-loving doctor ordered. He'll play a crucial role in streamlining production processes to help Proxima Fusion achieve its ambitious goals. Proxima Fusion already secured a sweet long-term partnership with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) to develop, manufacture, and test large HTS magnets for Stellarator fusion devices.
Things are heating up as Proxima Fusion strives to make fusion energy a reality by 2031. With the construction of its demonstration magnet, the Stellarator Model Coil (SMC), risks for HTS technology in Stellarators will be significantly mitigated in 2027. This paves the way for Proxima Alpha, the company's groundbreaking demonstration Stellarator, which promises to deliver the first taste of net fusion energy in a stationary state.
Francesco Sciortino, co-founder and CEO of Proxima Fusion, is hyped about Baz's arrival. With an eye on the bold timeline for commercial fusion, Sciortino calls Baz the man with the midas touch, a world-class player who knows how to take on the challenges of the most demanding industries. Excited to bring Baz's talents to the fusion table, Proxima Fusion will use Europe's finest assets to produce stellar quality gear for Europe's energy transition.
Baz's ready to roll up his sleeves, saying, "I've learned a thing or two about manufacturing in my past ventures, and I can't wait to apply those lessons to the next level here at Proxima. We're not just building Stellarators - we're building the future of clean energy."
A little bit about Proxima Fusion: This bunch of visionaries spun off from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in 2023, and they’ve been making moves ever since. Working in a public-private partnership with IPP, Proxima Fusion is expanding the physical and technical foundations for building the first generation of fusion power plants with quasi-isodynamic Stellarators. It's all about taking the revolutionary work of the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) experiment and running with it, using advanced computing technology and high-temperature superconductors.
Now that you're up to speed on Proxima Fusion's latest addition, stay tuned for updates on this electrifying fusion adventure!
Press Contact: Whitney [email protected] Fusion, an exciting spin-off from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), is at the forefront of fusion energy development with its innovative approach and collaboration with leading research institutions.
- Baz's extensive experience in both the automotive and space industries will be crucial as he leverages his knowledge of technology to lead the development and scaling up of manufacturing systems for Proxima Fusion's Stellarator fusion power plants, contributing to the company's goal of connecting the world's first Stellarator fusion power plant to the grid.
- Proxima Fusion's collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in developing, manufacturing, and testing large high-temperature superconductors (HTS) magnets for Stellarators demonstrates the company's commitment to utilizing cutting-edge science and technology in its mission to make fusion energy a reality by 2031.
