TITANIUM PROCESSING NEWS

Agreement Reached to Initiate Titanium 3D Printing for Boeing 787

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A Wichita, Kansas-based, manufacturer of fabricated parts for the aerospace industry recently announced its partnership with the world’s pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive-manufactured, structural titanium components to initiate qualification of parts for the Boeing 787.

Spirit AeroSystems and Norsk Titanium US Inc. have reached an agreement to initiate qualification of Spirit’s first additive-manufactured, titanium, structural component for the Boeing aircraft.

Ron Rabe, Spirit AeroSystems Senior Vice President of Fabrication and Supply Chain Management

This qualification will validate NTi’s production and industrialization processes, integrate Spirit’s work scope of machining final parts from additively manufactured near-net shapes, and verify material and final part conformity to requirements.

“Spirit has had a comprehensive and long relationship with Norsk Titanium, and this part will be our first additive structural titanium component incorporated into a commercial airplane program,” said Ron Rabe, Spirit AeroSystems Senior Vice President of Fabrication and Supply Chain Management.

NTi is the world’s first FAA-approved, OEM qualified, supplier of additive-manufactured, structural titanium components.  NTi’s proprietary Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™) process has been in serial production of Boeing 787 titanium components since April 2017.

“I am very proud of the Norsk Titanium team and this accomplishment. It represents years of technology development,” said Mike Canario, CEO of Norsk Titanium. “I also would also like to thank Spirit for this vote of confidence in the Norsk RPD™ process and capability.”

Mike Canario, CEO of Norsk Titanium

NTi’s Plattsburgh, N.Y., facility was recently added to Spirit’s Approved Supplier List (ASL) and Boeing’s Qualified Producer’s List (QPL).  Spirit and NTi have had an ongoing technology collaboration for more than nine years. In 2017, both companies signed a Master Procurement Agreement (MPA) for qualification and production activities.  The first commercial aircraft part will begin serial production later this year.

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“Titanium Man” Recognized for Developing Titanium Heat Treating Protocol

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Source: Santa Monica Daily Press

 

If there’s one thing that can be determined by reading through the reasons given for nominations to Heat Treat Today‘s 40 Under 40 feature, it’s this: there are in the industry many young metallurgical and heat treating professionals with drive, intelligence, work ethics, and skill that will land them a multitude of awards, promotions, and public acknowledgements.

But as to whether any of them will match the achievements of “titanium savant” Russell Gordon Sherman remains to be seen.

“Sherman’s claim to fame is his research and development concerning alloys and heat-treating protocols for the titanium industry, expanding upon the usability of the metal during the formative years of the titanium industry.”

Dr. Frauke Hogue, a Fellow of ASM International

Recently, Dr. Sherman, 92, who is a member of ASM International, was announced as the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Titanium Association for “his work in developing titanium alloys, pioneering the high-volume production of titanium aerospace fasteners, and designing heat treating protocols for the titanium industry.”

The Santa Monica Daily Press noted that Sherman made possible the high-volume production of titanium aerospace fasteners during the years when the U.S. and the Soviet Union were vying for aerospace supremacy. Sherman will be presented with the award at the Titanium USA 2018 Conference and Exhibition, October 7-10, 2018, in Las Vegas.

“The entire titanium industry has benefited from his research into developing a higher-strength titanium (the workhorse Ti-6Al-4V alloy) through the heat treatment of solution treating and aging,” wrote Dr. Frauke Hogue, a Fellow of ASM International.

Sherman’s research, presented first in a paper at ASM’s convention in Philadelphia in October 1955, titled, “The Heat Treatability of Ti-6Al-4V”, went on to impact multiple industries but particularly the industrial fastener industry as it intersected with aerospace.

Still providing consulting services in the titanium industry, Sherman, though retired, is not resting on his laurels.

“. . . . If you’re lucky, you might spot the Titanium Man out in Santa Monica, relaxing after a much-accomplished life.”

 

Read more:

“Russell Gordon Sherman, The Titanium Man”, Santa Monica Daily Press

“ASM member Russell Sherman Receives Award from International Titanium Association”, ASM International

 

 

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Swedish Group Invests in Titanium, Nickel-Based Metal Powders Production

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Annika Roos, head of product area powder at Sandvik Materials Technology

A Swedish engineering group in metal-cutting and materials technology recently announced that it will invest about $24.5 million in a new plant for manufacturing of titanium and nickel fine metal powders near its raw material supply and additive manufacturing center in Sandviken, Sweden.

The group’s investment within Sandvik’s Materials Technology will complement its manufacture of broad stainless steel, nickel-based, and cobalt-chromium alloys in the United Kingdom and Sweden. Sandvik powders reach sectors throughout Europe, North America, and Asia through the Osprey™ brand.

The demand for metal powder for additive manufacturing is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. Titanium and nickel-based alloys are key growth areas in the field of additive manufacturing, accounting for a significant portion of the metal powder market.

“This investment is an enabler for future growth and means that we are expanding our metal powder offering to include virtually all alloy groups of relevance today. In addition, it will also support the overall additive manufacturing business at Sandvik,” said Annika Roos, head of product area powder at Sandvik Materials Technology.

The facility is expected to be operational during 2020.

 

 

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PA, Wash to See Increased Titanium Heat Treat Activity

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Rich Harshman, ATI’s chairman, president, and CEO

A Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of specialty materials and complex components predominantly for aerospace & defense industries recently signed two new long-term pricing agreements (LTPAs) with General Dynamics (GD) Land Systems, a supply chain network provider for the U.S. military and its allies, based in Richland, Washington, to be the preferred supplier of titanium plate for the Abrams tank (United States) and the AJAX specialist vehicle (United Kingdom).

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) will begin production of titanium products at its melt facility in Richland and will complete it at ATI’s specialty plate facility in Washington, Pennsylvania.

“We are pleased to enter into these agreements with GD Land Systems, marking the beginning of a new relationship with this strategic global customer,” said Rich Harshman, ATI’s chairman, president, and CEO. “ATI is forging a strong technology connection with GD and together we are developing specialty materials and components for improved protection and light-weighting of next-generation military vehicles.”

“Revenue from these LTPAs will total approximately $75 million combined over the contract periods. This marks a significant increase in the Flat-Rolled Products segment’s strategic aerospace and defense market sales, which are an integral part of our ongoing portfolio transformation toward more high-value products,” said Bob Wetherbee, executive vice president, Flat-Rolled Products Group.

Bob Wetherbee, executive vice president, Flat Rolled Products Group

The Abrams LTPA runs through 2019 while the AJAX LTPA runs through 2021.

 

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Scissors Maker Goes for the Gold with Titanium Coating

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William Whiteley & Sons, the oldest scissor-makers in the western world, has chosen a UK-based company that specializes in hard coatings, heat treatment, and vacuum brazing, among other services, to provide the Titanium Nitride PVD coating on their new EXO Gold scissor.

The EXO range has been developed with assistance from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield, using state of the art 3D tooling, surgical grade stainless steel and advanced coating materials, including TiN from Wallwork Cambridge. The scissors can cut through the toughest materials encountered by tailors and haberdashers, crafters and DIYers, boaters and interior designers.

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Titanium Producer Boosts Melt Capabilities with New Furnaces

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Frank Perryman, president and chief executive officer of Perryman Company

Perryman Company, a metal fabricator headquartered in Houston, Pennsylvania, recently announced it will more than double its current titanium melting capacity through the addition of two new furnaces, one electron beam (EB) and one vacuum arc remelt (VAR).

The integrated titanium producer from melting of ingot to finished products has existing melting facilities at its western Pennsylvania location which are utilized for projects in the commercial aircraft and medical sectors. The company expects the new furnaces to alleviate backlog and support demand for titanium products in these as well as other industrial, recreation, and infrastructure industries.

“Our aerospace forecast model indicates there will be a need for additional melting capacity. With the increased capacity we will be in position to pursue segments of the aerospace market where we have not yet been a participant. We believe there’s more opportunity for us to leverage our fully integrated capabilities,” stated Frank Perryman, president and chief executive officer of Perryman Company.

The added capacity will also support planned growth in medical, additive/3D and other emerging markets.

Installation of the new furnaces will begin in late 2018 and are expected to be fully operational by mid-2019. Once complete, the company’s total melt capacity will exceed 26 million pounds, placing Perryman among the world’s largest melters of aerospace quality titanium.

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ATI and GE Aviation Announce Titanium JV

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Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, a global leader in the production of technically advanced specialty materials and components, announced a joint venture (JV) with GE Aviation for the development of a new meltless titanium alloy powder manufacturing technology. The JV will construct a new R&D pilot production facility. The titanium alloy powders are being developed for use in additive manufacturing applications, including 3D printing.

ATI will provide operational, technical, and project support to the joint venture. The joint venture will leverage ATI’s technology, manufacturing, and quality leadership in the production of specialty metal powders and premium-quality titanium and nickel-based alloys for critical and technically advanced applications. The JV will also draw upon GE Aviation’s engineering and development capabilities and technical knowledge of the use of alloyed titanium powders.

“We are pleased to join with GE Aviation to create this innovative next-generation technology joint venture,” said Rich Harshman, ATI’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The science of specialty metal powders is a transformative technology and we intend to maintain and enhance our industry-leading position.”

“Developing new materials is an important part of our vision for our business,” said David Joyce, vice chairman of GE and president and CEO of GE Aviation. “ATI is a recognized leader in advanced specialty materials, and we are excited about the collaboration this new joint venture enables.”

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Aerospace Supplier Orders Titanium Rotary Hearth Forging Furnace

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A leading North American aerospace supplier ordered a 36 ft. diameter pancake style rotary hearth furnace for the production of large fixed wing aircraft titanium and nickel based alloy closed-die structural forgings. The open hearth configuration furnace system which allows for more flexible loading and uniform heating, was supplied by Can-Eng International Ltd. and features an advanced low NOx combustion system designed to meet the most stringent environmental and temperature uniformity requirements. Special dual-door design provides the customer with significant flexibility for forging to press manipulation within in their existing plant layout. The system is capable of processing up to 250,000 pound load capacity in a 24/7 production environment.  The furnace system complies with thermal performance requirements laid out in AMS2750E, integrates a low shrinkage ceramic fiber lining, unique rotating hearth drive and sealing system. The system is scheduled to be commissioned to the United States in the third quarter of 2017.

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GE Purchases Titanium Alloy from Kobe Steel

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Kobe Steel, Ltd. announces that it has begun supplying titanium alloy forged material for shafts to IHI Corporation. The forged material certified by IHI is used in a large commercial jet engine manufactured by General Electric (GE). IHI is one of the joint development partners of the engine.

Rotating parts such as shafts and disks made of titanium alloy forged material must be of extremely high quality. These are some of the largest components used in aircraft jet engines. Kobe Steel launched development of the forged material three years ago and has recently received certification from IHI. Kobe Steel has begun mass-producing and supplying the titanium alloy forged material for shafts.

Kobe Steel is in charge of process design of the forged material for shafts, and its group company, Japan Aeroforge, Ltd. (or JForge) does the forging. Kobe Steel is responsible for the other processes as well and quality assurance.

Forge is a joint venture of Kobe Steel, Hitachi Metals and several other companies established in January 2011. Equipped with a 50,000 metric ton hydraulic forging press, one of the largest class in the world, JForge manufactures large forged material used in aircraft, where demand is anticipated to increase worldwide. Kobe steel and JForge will expand the titanium business for aircraft jet engines following the supply order from IHI.

Passenger jets in service worldwide are projected to increase from approximately 20,800 in 2015 to over 38,000 in 2035, according to Japan Aircraft Development Corporation, which promotes the development of commercial aircraft. As a result, demand is also anticipated to expand in related industries.

Kobe Steel will supply titanium forged products to the world aviation industry through the practical use of its excellent quality, advanced process engineering and design technology based on the extensive supply record to the aviation industry for many years, and additionally by using JForge’s advanced forging equipment, one of the world’s largest.

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Titanium Success

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BOTW-50w  Source:  Russian Aviation Insider

Russia’s VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, the world’s largest titanium producer, is successfully increasing the share of machining in its output both within its own projects and jointly with partners. The company’s close ties with the international aerospace industry allow it to plan further production growth.

Read More:  Titanium Success

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