How the ISIS targets group are helping ESS to prepare for operations
06 May 2026 - Rosie de Laune
As well as the close relationships built through the construction of the LoKI and FREIA beamlines, other ISIS groups are also working closely with their counterparts at the European Spallation Source (ESS). This includes target operations group leader Jeremy Moor (Jez), who has set up collaborations with their targets, remote handling and cryogenic systems teams.
Jez built the partnerships with their operations teams as an alternative to formal conference attendance and discovered that “this type of meeting is even better, as we share lessons learned rather than just the highlights.”
The collaboration has involved multiple trips between the facilities, for the ISIS team to visit and share their experiences gained over many years of operations, and for the ESS teams to see how it works in reality.
This has included the basics, like the ISIS group size and structure, as well as ways of working, risk assessments and other safety procedures such as DSEAR and PSSR. “We are helping them to get prepared and have a head start for when the facility becomes operational,” explains Jez. “It may be small things that we discuss, but the conversations are very useful to both us and them.”
One example was a recent visit to ESS by Justin Miles from the targets group, who went over to help with the ESS cold box, showing their technicians how to change the circulator bearings, as it’s not something any of them had done before. He was able to explain in person as they went along, rather than them teaching themselves, or Justin trying to demonstrate remotely.
We are helping them to get prepared and have a head start for when the facility becomes operational. It may be small things that we discuss, but the conversations are very useful to both us and them.
Jeremy Moor, ISIS Targets group
Jez is currently working with the Skills Centre to set up apprenticeship placements at the ESS, similar to the existing partnership with CERN. This is a new concept to ESS as Sweden does not have apprenticeship programmes in the same way as we do in the UK. As part of this process, Alexandra Eyles, the apprentice in the targets group, joined Jez on his latest visit to explore the opportunities available, for example in their detector manufacturing facility.
One noticeable difference between the facilities is that ISIS has just one group managing all aspects of target operations, whereas ESS has separated theirs out into different sections. “This makes for a busy timetable when we go to visit,” says Jez. “Our most recent visit included discussions with the target cryogenics section, workshop and remote handling teams.”
Unlike at ISIS, in the remote handling cell at ESS there are no windows to look directly inside, which means they will use cameras and virtual reality to see what the arms are doing. Even with this different setup, there is still lots of things to learn, in particular with the development of the new handling facility being built in R105.
Moving forward, the partnership is set to grow, with the summer seeing multiple visits from ESS teams to ISIS, to experience operations first-hand. “This combined learning is really valuable,” says Jez. “There are things both us and the ESS teams have already been able to implement thanks to these conversations.”
As well as ESS, Jez also has similar collaborations with the PSI and SNS target teams, with whom he meets regularly to share ideas and best practice.
