Norsk Titanium supplies titanium AM components for Boeing Dreamliner
Norsk Titanium US Inc, Plattsburgh, New York, USA, has announced production deliveries of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner components to Leonardo’s Grottaglie Plant, part of Leonardo’s Aerostructures Division, based in southern Italy.
Built using Norsk’s Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) process, a form of plasma-based Directed Energy Deposition (DED), Norsk engineers designed Ti6Al4V preforms that reduced raw material needs by over 40%. The Additive Manufacturing process enabled Norsk to create a near-net-shape design, while maintaining the stringent process control and material properties needed for structural applications in Boeing aircraft.
“We are pleased to be Leonardo’s supplier,” said Karl Fossum, director of customer programs for Norsk. “This delivery marks a significant increase in the number of additively manufactured parts previously manufactured from titanium plate. It also is an important step towards our mission to provide an alternative to titanium forgings in aerospace applications.”
The delivery is reported to add a third production customer to Norsk’s commercial aerostructures customer base, and represents Norsk’s first recurring production order from a European Union based aerospace company.
