Norsk Titanium USA, New York, has contracted with Norway-based Tronrud Engineering AS to produce three additive manufacturing machines to support higher-than-forecast demand for aerospace-grade titanium components made by its patented Rapid Plasma Deposition process. The company has received orders from a number of the world’s leading commercial and Aerospace and Defense (A&D) manufacturers.
Norsk says that its proprietary plasma arc Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology is the ultimate in 3D additive printing. Titanium wire is melted in a cloud of argon gas and precisely and rapidly built up in layers to a near-net-shape (up to 80% complete) that requires very little finish machining. Production cost is 50% to 75% less than legacy forging and billet manufacturing techniques.
“We are pleased to contract with Tronrud to build our exclusive technology for the production of aerospace-grade titanium structures,” said NTi President & Chief Executive Officer Warren M. Boley, Jr. “These 3D additive manufacturing machines will further boost our customer response time and expand manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for titanium components from the global aerospace industry.”
Mr. Boley, Former President of Aerojet Rocketdyne, took the helm of NTi in July of this year to oversee the transformation of the company’s manufacturing process to deliver titanium parts for A&D applications, while leading the groundbreaking program to establish the world’s first industrial-scale 3D additive manufacturing facility in the United States. The contract with Tronrud represents one of NTi’s key supplier partnerships aimed at supporting the company’s rapid expansion plans.
www.norsktitanium.no
www.tronrud.no
