AWI targets Additive Manufacturing opportunities for its nickel alloy wire
July 14, 2022
Alloy Wire International (AWI), a leading manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire, headquartered in Brierley Hill, West Midlands, UK, is now targeting the metal Additive Manufacturing industry with its nickel alloy wire range.
The company, which has been AS9100-accredited since 2013, is manufacturing wire particularly suited for Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), a wire-based Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process capable of providing quicker lead times than conventional forging or casting without the need for complex tooling, moulds or dies.
Angus Hogarth, R&D Director at AWI, stated “It’s all about finding that manufacturing difference and Additive Manufacturing is a discipline the aerospace manufacturers are increasingly investing in. We were confident we could play a role in 3D Printing and, after months of R&D and technical reviews, we see our business as being a strong supplier of Exotic nickel alloy wire to the growing Additive Manufacturing sector.”
Alloy Wire International will be showcasing its latest materials at Farnborough International Airshow, July 18-22, 2022, exhibiting as part of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance cluster in Hall 1 (Pod 1, Stand 1320). AWI is seen as a 4th-tier supplier to the aerospace market, with its material manufactured into components that are integral to aircraft structures, in instrumentation and high-performance engines.
The company’s wire and straight bars, which are produced at its factory in the West Midlands, are made into springs, fire detection wire, fasteners and electrical instruments – all manufactured so that they work at high temperatures and/or in corrosive gases or liquids.
Paul Chatterley, Sales Executive at Alloy Wire International, added “We’ll be displaying some commonly used alloys for the aerospace sector, including Inconel, Nimonic, Monel, Nitronic, Phynox and Waspaloy. For only the second time, delegates will also be able to explore the recent introduction of INCONEL: 617®, a Nickel-Chromium-Cobalt-Molybdenum alloy with an addition of aluminium. This is our latest addition to a 60+ range of alloys and delivers a combination of increased strength and stability at elevated temperatures (up to 1100°C/2012°F), whilst retaining the high temperature resistance of INCONEL® alloy 601.”
