Harnessing magnetic forces in the order of tens of meganewtons requires more than just theory. It requires 180 tons of top-notch engineering work.
In the Northern Italian town of San Stino di Livenza, the test assembly of the main skeleton for
the new COMPASS Upgrade tokamak is underway these weeks. Dal Ben S.p.A. has been working on this
structure, made of special AISI 316LN steel, since January 2024.
With this project, the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences is moving
toward a tokamak capable of handling extreme physical loads. Magnetic coils inside the device will
generate a huge magnetic field to confine the hot plasma. The task of this massive steel structure
is to keep the entire system stable and prevent its deformation during fusion experiments.
The takeover of the finished skeleton is planned for the end of 2026. At the beginning of 2027,
the final assembly will start directly in the experimental hall in Prague.
Photo: IPP.
24 Jun 2026
