Decontamination is a crucial service across several high-risk industries, but none so much as nuclear power, where safety and compliance are paramount. Founded as the world’s first licensed radiological laundry in the 1950s, UniTech Services Group Ltd is now the global leader in radiological laundry and protective wear programmes. Following the company’s recent recognition in the Welsh Enterprise Awards 2025, we took a closer look at its standout services.
Based in Crumlin, South Wales, UniTech Services Group Ltd is the UK subsidiary of UniTech Services Group Inc, the nuclear services division of UniFirst Corporation. As a publicly traded company, UniFirst Corporation provides uniform and workwear services across North America and Europe. Within that structure, UniTech specialises in radiological laundry, protective wear leasing, and contamination control for the nuclear industry. The UK site extends these services to the domestic market, operating from a purpose-built facility that offers protective wear laundry, PPE servicing, and specialist decontamination.
The South Wales facility, UniTech UK, has provided unparalleled laundry and decontamination services to the UK’s nuclear industry since 2009. The facility has ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 27001 certification, and holds Investors in People Silver accreditation, reflecting a commitment to quality, environmental responsibility, workplace safety, and staff development. Alongside this facility, the European Division also operates a facility in Holland that serves as a backup to the UK facility, with the establishment of a third facility in central France currently being considered.
At present, UniTech UK provides radiological laundry services to more than 80% of all nuclear related sites within the United Kingdom, including both operating and decommissioning stations, national defence, research, and medical facilities. The company’s current customer base represents approx 55% capacity demand of the current South Wales facility, leaving 45% capacity for new customers or increased capacity of existing customers. Whilst it has historically been a trusted partner to the nuclear industry, it has in recent years expanded to serve customers from research, military, and varied engineering needs, enhancing its services in accordance to better serve a wider range of needs.
Today, UniTech offers innovative personal protection garment design and manufacturing, direct sales of PPE, short-term and long-term garment lease programmes, and respirator service and lease programmes. The additional service of an automatic replacement programme has been added, in which UniTech immediately replaces damaged PPE identified in the quality inspection process with new items, ensuring reduced costs and delivery times. It has also installed automatic scaffolding tube and board radiological monitoring equipment at its South Wales location, enabling the team to provide customers with rapid offsite monitoring capabilities compliant with UK radiological clearance requirements.
Recently, UniTech has initiated work in a new area for both nuclear and non-nuclear customers, using the AGC Pulse system, which facilitates the reliable, controlled distribution of PPE, loan items, and consumable items in a variety of business settings, including laundry, hospital, hospitality, pharma, food and beverage, and municipal authority sectors. Using the system, UniTech combines different modules and products that distribute items in an optimal and cost-effective way, supported by a powerful analytical software package. AGC Pulse actively supports environmental goals by reducing waste and improving resource tracking.
Clients will receive several benefits from AGC Pulse, including full inventory control, significant cost reductions, and huge space savings. With active stock alerts, the system supports accurate item lifecycle analysis and helps prevent both over-withdrawal of consumables and the loss or theft of loaned equipment. What’s more, the system also enables 24/7 unmanned issue and return, ensures compliance with regulatory obligations, and provides full accountability by user across multiple locations.
In the longer term, Unitech’s future ambitions include supporting the UK’s new-build nuclear stations, notably Hinkley Point C (HPC) and the proposed Sizewell C (SZC). These are large-scale developments that represent a significant opportunity for the company to provide its full suite of services – including protective wear, laundry, respiratory programmes, and contamination control – to contractors and operators working on these sites. In Wales, UniTech is preparing for the arrival of micro modular reactors (MMRs), with several expected to be built in South Wales over the coming years.
Alongside future builds, UniTech continues to support the existing nuclear fleet, including operations at Trawsfynydd and Wylfa and also research sites in Wales. The company is also expanding its reach further into non-nuclear sectors, with growing involvement in heavy industry, research, and medical fields. By strategically diversifying its specialist services to cater to a broader range of high-risk and regulated environments, UniTech UK continues to maintain its status as the Best Specialist Decontamination Services Provider 2025.
Contact Details
Contact: Paul Chesters
Company: UniTech Services Group Ltd
Web Address: www.unitecheu.com