Making a difference

Mandil, Panoff and Rockwell (shown with Glenn Seaborg, at left, discoverer of Plutonium) leave Naval Reactors to start MPR. The first office is at 815 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC.

MPR develops a condition- based maintenance program for U.S. Navy submarines, and helps the Navy to implement it over a several-year period. This program is instrumental in dramatically extending submarine operating cycles.

MPR provides technical leadership and designs key parts of the Loss-of-Fluid Test (LOFT) facility. LOFT is used to conduct experiments related to nuclear reactor safety, producing data for international use.

MPR purchases its first computer – a Harris model that reads punch cards. Beside it, Panoff hangs a glass encased slide rule marked: “In case of emergency, break glass!”

MPR is the first to visually observe failed fuel at TMI-2; a seminal event in the nuclear industry. Later (1990), MPR removes 15 metal specimens from the lower head, thus determining how molten fuel interacted with the vessel steel during the 1979 accident.

MPR’s availability improvement program produces a worst-to-first turnaround for a PA coal-fired power plant. Subsequently, MPR’s work justifies extended life for numerous coal-fired power plants.

Panoff passes away; Mandil and Rockwell retire and are succeeded by three new Principal Officers: Dr. Doug Chapin, Bob Weiner, and Bill Schmidt. A test of the sustainability of MPR begins.

MPR proposes a standard for future nuclear power plants and provides technical leadership in the ALWR program. MPR's authored sections become an international reference and resource for existing plants.

MPR issues the guidance document for use of earthquake experience data to qualify nuclear power plant equipment. This document, approved by the NRC in 1992, ushers in a new and needed tool for seismic qualification.

MPR moves from Washington, DC to its present location at 320 King Street in Old Town Alexandria, VA. The surroundings are more picturesque while inside, the dress becomes more casual.

MPR leads the EDG owners’ group for owners of Cooper Bessemer engines. MPR’s troubleshooting guides and maintenance approaches lead to improvements in reliability and reductions in maintenance costs to industries using these diesel generators.

MPR patents a novel repair for cracked BWR core shrouds. MPR implements the first tie rod repairs at Oyster Creek and FitzPatrick plants in the U.S. Far simpler and more effective than previous repairs, it is installed in more than 15 plants worldwide.

MPR designs a manufacturing process and fabricates custom equipment to produce a first-of-a-kind medical drug and delivery system. MPR’s successful production launches our technology development for life science firms.

MPR qualifies self- contained breathing apparatus for fire fighting aboard U.S. Navy ships. MPR’s integral role in procurement and training leads to fleet-wide use and earns the 1997 Defense Standardization Award as the outstanding Navy acquisition activity.

MPR expands domestic and international business, opening an office in Houston, TX and partnerships in Japan and Korea.

MPR transitions two new Principal Officers: Alex Zarechnak and Paul Damerell replacing Bob Weiner and Bill Schmidt.

MPR develops and patents the Smart Valve logic, which detects and isolates ruptures in ship-board systems damaged in combat. This device is one element in MPR’s development of automated damage control systems to reduce ship manning.

MPR, as OE, completes the first phase of Brazil’s Termonorte plant, critical to the country’s diversification from hydropower. Subsequently, MPR assists with the Araucaria plant and the Macae plant, the latter earning Power Plant of the Year award.

Sensing the coming resurgence of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the U.S., MPR forms CH-IV International, a joint venture company specializing in LNG engineering.

MPR completes work on EPRI TR-102348. Sponsored by EPRI and DOE and supported by NEI, the guideline sets the standard for designing and implementing digital upgrades to instrumentation and control systems throughout the nuclear power industry.

MPR, through an alliance with Basler Electric, provides first EDG excitation system at Beaver Valley Units 1 and 2; a first of a series of replacement systems commercially dedicated in accordance with 10CFR50 Appendix B Quality Assurance requirements.

MPR develops a unique cell digestion technology that streamlines the tissue manipulation process, using collagenase and human adipose tissue in a first-of-a-kind, single piece integrated digestion and centrifuge chamber.

MPR, as Owner’s Engineer, executes NRG Energy, Long Beach Generating Station to meet Southern California’s need for reliable energy. Based on an emergency electricity demand, NRG reconstructed the 260 megawatt (MW) gas-fueled plant in less than four months.

MPR continues to expand and opens an office in Connecticut.

Bob Coward replaces Dr. Doug Chapin.

MPR directs the design of key parts of the URENCO USA National Enrichment Facility (NEF). At full capacity the facility can produce sufficient enriched uranium for nuclear fuel to provide approximately 10% of America’s electricity needs.

MPR quality system receives certification for compliance with ISO-9001 and ISO-13485.

MPR opens office in Boston area to better reach Health & Life Sciences clients.

Sensing the need for specialty design and fabrication solutions to address equipment obsolescence, MPR forms NuSource, a joint venture with Gavial Holdings.

MPR designs, manufactures, and delivers eight custom ventilation platforms for the decommissioning of the first U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the USS ENTERPRISE.

MPR develops one of the first wireless and 3G enabled medical device products. Mobile health connectivity monitors the patient’s condition and equipment through data capabilities and cloud data storage.

MPR, as OE, completes the first wind project in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, the first General Electric (GE) wind turbine installation in Mexico. MPR’s support leverages activity in U.S. markets.

The Nuclear industry turns to MPR to evaluate and resolve open phase condition issues across utilities and power plants; MPR provides solutions for grid modernization and other technical challenges affecting the transmission & distribution of electricity.

Robert Carritte succeeds Paul Damerell as Principal Officer.

A team of eight MPR engineers commission the world’s largest battery energy storage project, a 30MW, 120MWh AES Energy Storage Advancion lithium-ion array, for SDG&E.

MPR is awarded a 5-year, $48M contract with USACE to provide engineering and project oversight services to DOE and other government agencies. The contract has been used in support of projects at LANL, Oak Ridge, Savannah River Site, Sandia, Hanford, and DOE.

MPR develops a surgical-assist robotic device, improving surgical safety while reducing operating duration and staffing.

MPR works collaboratively with MacuLogix to design and develop the AdaptDx Pro™ later receiving an international design award with MacuLogix.

Tom Lubnow joins Bob Coward and R. Jason Gwaltney as Principal Officer.

R. Jason Gwaltney joins Bob Coward and Tom Lubnow as Principal Officer.