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.
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.”
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.
