[en] This paper present the Framatome's recent experience in the manufacture of 1300 MWe PWR vessels; one shows how the very high standards of quality have been obtained to meet the stringent requirements. After a description of a pressure vessel, materials and forgings properties are presented. The nature and sequence of the main fabrication operations are reviewed. This paper deals after with the quality of welds, the preheating and post-heating equipment, the submerged arc welding process and procedures, the cladding process, and the under-clad cracking problems. Ultrasonic inspection procedures of the main welds are described with a comparison of RCCM (design and construction rules for mechanical components of PWR units) and Sizewell B specifications. Support of data on the reproductibility and effectiveness of ultrasonic examination and on the reliability given by repetitive inspection are presented