PLATTSBURGH Norsk Titanium has reached another milestone in its efforts to expand into the commercial aerospace-component market.

The company has established an industrial-scale supply chain to move high-quality, low-cost parts that are made through Norsk's rapid-plasma-deposition process and completed by the machining/finishing expertise of Mechachrome's Mirabel, Quebec, operation.

It is the result of a long-term agreement the two firms, signed last year to develop the processes needed to turn Norsk's near-finished 3D-printed titanium components into finished pieces.

FASTER, LESS COSTLY

Mecachrome is extremely proud and excited to collaborate with Norsk Titanium and be part of that journey towards the shift to production of a disruptive innovation, leading to shorter cycle times and competitive costs, Mecachrome CEO Arnaud de Ponnat said in a press release.

Norsk Titanium Senior Vice President Christopher Bohlmann said Mechachrome's expertise helped pave the way for its low-cost production of Federal Aviation Administration-certified components.

100-PERCENT YIELD

Earlier this year, Norsk landed a contract to supply components to Boeing for its 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Their capability has allowed for greatly improved buy-to-fly ratios with a 100-percent machining yield on the first production lot," Bohlmann said.

"Mecachromes ability to achieve 100-percent yield with the extremely small machining margins of RPD is a testament to their capability."

That perfect yield builds on Norsk's ability to save companies time and material, compared to traditional forging and machining.

Norsk prints 3-D components that require minimal finishing compared to creating parts from larger blocks of material.

The two companies continue to work together on cost-improvement initiatives. They are bidding on production orders from multiple aerospace customers, both in Europe and North America.

PARIS SHOWCASE

Bohlmann previously told the Press-Republican that Norsk chose Plattsburgh as the site of its North American manufacturing operation in part due to its proximity to the Montreal aerospace sector and companies such as Mechachrome.

Norsk will have examples of its Boeing components on display at its booth at the Paris International Airshow from June 19 to 25, as well as a mock-up of the Merke IV machine used in its manufacturing process.

Three machines are presently operating at its facility in Air Industrial Park in Plattsburgh, with about 20 expected there by late 2017 or early 2018.

Email Dan Heath:

dheath@pressrepublican.com

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Norsk Titanium announces supply chain progress - Plattsburgh Press Republican