New York State to Have World’s Largest Additive Titanium Factory
Norsk Titanium (Norsk), the world’s first FAA-approved supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components, held a dedication ceremony yesterday of its Plattsburgh Development and Qualification Center (PDQC) in Plattsburgh, New York. This facility, which currently houses nine of Norsk’s proprietary Rapid Plasma DepositionTM (RPD) titanium printing machines, signifies the partnership between Norsk and the state of New York. The site will produce aerospace components for Boeing and other aerospace producers. State and local officials, including New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Howard Zemsky of Empire State Development, Michael Cashman of the Town of Plattsburgh, the City of Plattsburgh Mayor Colin Reed and Garry Douglas of the North Country Chamber of Commerce participated in the ceremony.
“Norsk could have chosen anywhere in the nation to set up their first-in-the-world manufacturing operations, but they chose Plattsburgh thanks to our economic development strategy and our pro-business climate,” Governor Cuomo said. “This partnership will help grow the booming transportation and aeronautics industry, create hundreds of good jobs and support economic growth in the North Country.”
Earlier this year, Norsk announced its first production order from Boeing Commercial Airplanes for the manufacture of 3D-printed structural titanium components for the 787 Dreamliner. “Congratulations to Norsk and New York State for a partnership that is bringing an exciting new technology and high-value aerospace jobs to Plattsburgh,” said Brian Baird, vice president, Aircraft Materials and Structures, Supplier Management, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Boeing is proud to support American manufacturing and engineering excellence through our U.S. supply chain, sustaining an estimated 1.3 million American jobs.”
Spirit Aerosystems, the world’s largest producer of aerostructures and strategic supplier to Boeing, also participated in the event. John Pilla, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer at Spirit Aerosystems said, “Spirit is very pleased to be standing alongside Norsk and Governor Cuomo for this very critical milestone in our partnership. Spirit builds thousands of parts every day, and now with this new RPD™ facility, we will be able to deliver more cost-effective solutions with the highest possible quality to our customers. Spirit will be looking for opportunities to use this new technology and this state-of-the-art facility to deliver world-class aerostructures.”
This past summer Norsk announced a 60 percent expansion of the PDQC facility, located less than a half mile from the future site of the Norsk Titanium Production Center. As stated in previous announcements, Norsk is targeting an additional 100 new jobs by the end of this year, 250 by the end of 2018, and 400 in 2019.
“Growth has been a consistent theme for Norsk Titanium, and today was no exception. This dedication signifies a 300% increase in our production capacity,” said Warren Boley, president and CEO of Norsk Titanium. “The partnership with Empire State Development has been key to attracting much-deserved attention to Plattsburgh’s ability to foster growth of high-technology companies. We are very pleased to be a part of the North Country community.”
While titanium 3D printing has grown over the years, Norsk has developed breakthrough technology that takes it to the next level. Norsk’s proprietary Rapid Plasma DepositionTM (RPD) process uses titanium wire with plasma torches to print titanium structural components on an industrial scale. RPD™ has demonstrated it can be used to produce large structural parts weighing over 100 lbs. RPD™ is also 50-100 times faster than powder-based systems, and uses 25-50% less titanium than incumbent forging processes. This technology is applicable to aviation, space, transportation, oil & gas, and maritime.
As Norsk has been planning and expanding its facility, it is also partnering with the North Country Chamber of Commerce in Plattsburgh to support and promote the successful launch and growth of Norsk’s industrial-scale factory including workforce training, economic development and STEM outreach with specific educational programs. Examples of these programs include the state’s Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP) at Clarkson University and the new Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at Clinton Community College.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “Throughout Upstate, Governor Cuomo’s inclusive, bottom-up approach to economic development is paying off – leading to transformative partnerships, attracting innovative global leaders like Norsk, and generating new jobs. Plattsburgh is now the world’s epicenter for next generation aerospace manufacturing, and it wouldn’t be possible without Governor Cuomo’s unwavering commitment to bringing business back to Upstate New York.”
Norsk Titanium’s choice to locate their first U.S. facility in the Plattsburgh region was due to its excellent transportation infrastructure, availability of a skilled and capable labor force, and the proximity to the large aerospace supply-chain community in the state and region.
About Norsk Titanium AS
Norsk Titanium AS is the world’s pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components. The company is distinguished in the aviation industry by its patented Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™) process that transforms titanium wire into complex components suitable for structural and safety-critical applications. Norsk Titanium is a tier-1 supplier to Boeing and is committed to cost-reducing aerostructures and jet engines for the world’s premier aerospace manufacturers. RPD™ is the world’s first FAA-approved, 3D-printed, structural titanium, delivering substantial lead-time and cost savings for aerospace, defense, and commercial customers. www.norsktitanium.com
