Norsk Titanium signs qualification agreement with Airbus
Norsk Titanium, headquartered in Hønefoss, Norway, has signed a new Cooperation & Research Agreement (CRA) with Airbus. The move is said to mark another milestone in the industrialisation and qualification of Norsk Titanium’s proprietary Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology for structural titanium parts.
“Together with the recent FAA certification of the Lower Frame Fitting for the Airbus A350, this represents an additional endorsement of our RPD technology and another step toward expanding the adoption across commercial aircraft programmes,” stated Fabrizio Ponte, CEO of Norsk Titanium.
According to the companies, the Lower Frame Fitting is the largest and highest classification additively manufactured component to be certified by EASA and FAA for an aerostructure in commercial aerospace. It is in series production at Norsk Titanium’s Plattsburgh, Pennsylvania, production facility and first flew on an A350 in 2026.
Under the CRA, Norsk Titanium and Airbus will jointly mature the RPD technology for more potential applications on fatigue-critical structural elements. The collaboration will focus on technical qualification of titanium wire, industrial process validation, and the standardisation of these technologies in accordance with Airbus specifications.
Norsk Titanium will interface with the Airbus DED project team to ensure coordination across all essential functions, from engineering and airworthiness to operational implementation at the Saint Eloi and Varel plants. By engaging across the global Airbus organisation, this agreement is intended to act as a framework for standardising materials and manufacturing processes for long-term production use across Airbus’ aircraft programs. This integration brings RPD into the core of Airbus’ material, process and industrial standards, paving the way for broader adoption and future innovation.
The collaboration is structured around four key work packages centred on technology scaling, material and process qualification, and material expansion beyond titanium.
This new agreement complements the Master Supply Agreement signed with Airbus Aerostructures in 2024 to support A350 production, and the collaboration with Airbus’ facility in Varel, Germany, to jointly develop and document the Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing process for Norsk Titanium’s RPD technology. The latest announcement broadens the relationship into a comprehensive industrialisation and qualification partnership.
“Industrialisation takes time, but the direction of travel is clear. Working together with Airbus, we are building the foundation for RPD to serve the industry at scale and to deliver the cost, lead-time and material savings that the aerospace industry requires,” concluded Ponte.
