PRESS RELEASE4 MIN READ
- CEI is an industry leader in engineering with alkali metals for the nuclear industry.
- The acquisition aims to support Oklo’s liquid metal systems work and liquid metal safety training.
- CEI has generated positive free cash flow for more than five years.
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Oklo Inc. (NYSE: OKLO) (“Oklo”), an advanced nuclear technology company, today announced that it has acquired Creative Engineers, Inc. (“CEI”), an industry leader in chemical process engineering with extensive expertise in sodium and alkali-metal systems. The acquisition brings CEI’s specialized capabilities in liquid-metal systems, component development, fabrication, manufacturing, and applied R&D into Oklo’s expanding team, strengthening technical areas directly relevant to sodium handling, thermal systems, and Oklo’s sodium-cooled, Aurora powerhouse technology.
Founded in 1996, CEI has decades of experience working with sodium, sodium-potassium alloy (NaK), and lithium systems, including legacy cleanup and decommissioning-related work connected to landmark nuclear sodium programs such as the Fast Flux Test Facility, Fermi 1, and the Experimental Breeder Reactor II. CEI and Oklo have worked together for multiple years on sodium-related equipment and capabilities, including sodium loop work, flow meters, pumps, and sodium safety training.
Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse is a sodium-cooled fast reactor designed to use liquid-metal cooling, passive safety characteristics, and natural circulation to support decay heat removal after shutdown, making sodium systems expertise directly relevant to Oklo’s planned deployment pathway.
The acquisition advances Oklo’s development and deployment strategy by bringing a specialized technical partner in-house to facilitate critical-path sodium-related work for Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse deployment. CEI’s expertise is expected to support faster design iteration, improve access to specialized sodium-handling expertise, and reduce execution risk associated with specialized equipment, fabrication, testing, and training.
“CEI brings specialized sodium- and alkali-metal engineering capabilities that are directly relevant to Oklo,” said Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte. “They have already been a strong technical partner, and bringing that expertise in-house will help accelerate our path to commercialization.”
“Our team has built its reputation around solving difficult engineering challenges involving sodium and other alkali metals,” said CEI President Rich VanLieshout. “Through our work with Oklo, we have developed a strong appreciation for the Aurora powerhouse design and the company’s deployment model. We are excited to join Oklo and bring our engineering, fabrication, testing, and sodium-handling experience more directly into its commercialization efforts.”
CEI brings a highly specialized team of around 20 engineers, fabricators, and welders with deep experience in sodium and other alkali-metal systems to Oklo’s expanding technical and manufacturing organization. The acquisition adds a free cash flow positive business while strengthening Oklo’s ability to internalize critical engineering, fabrication, testing, and R&D capabilities that support Aurora powerhouse commercialization.
In addition to supporting Oklo's programs, CEI plans to maintain its longstanding commercial relationships across the nuclear sector, by continuing to provide specialized sodium technology, manufacturing, and engineering services.
About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, affordable energy at global scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical isotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert used nuclear fuel into clean energy. Oklo was the first to receive a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant, was awarded fuel from Idaho National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.
About Creative Engineers, Inc.: CEI is a specialized process development and skid fabrication company with a long background in reactive metals. The company specializes in the design, build and operation of pilot scale R&D systems. Experience covers a large range of chemistry and processes. In recent years nuclear research involving alkali metals has become a substantial part of the business and many of today’s nuclear pioneers have been customers of CEI. Metallization of high value metals has been a business driver for well over 20 years involving such materials as silicon, titanium, tantalum, hafnium, scandium, and many of the rare earth elements. CEI manufactures pumps, flow meters, pressure transmitters and other equipment associated with liquid metals. Chemicals production and sales have also been a small but growing component of CEI’s business.