Norsk Titanium Boeing 787
A 3D printed structural titanium component made with Norsk's proprietary Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) process.
Norsk Titanium, a supplier of aerospace-grade additive manufactured structural components, has announced the closure of a significant investment from Triangle Holdings LP.
Triangle Holdings is an investment company which looks to support firms operating in the aerospace sector, owned by funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group. Since its foundation in 2011, Triangle has invested $1.2 billion in aircraft and aerospace-related assets.
This investment, of an as yet unspecified amount, will be used by Norsk Titanium to continue development of its Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) additive manufacturing technology. Norsk’s proprietary AM technology sees titanium wire melted in a cloud of argon gas, before being rapidly built up in layers to a near-net-shape that requires little finish machining.
RPD is used to produce the structural titanium components that Norsk manufactures for its clients. In April, Norsk announced it had supplied some of these titanium parts to Boeing, with a view to using them within its FAA-qualified 787 Dreamliner model. With Triangle’s investment behind it, Norsk is hopeful that part-deliveries of this kind can become more and more common.
“This strategic investment from Triangle Holdings allows Norsk Titanium to extend our Rapid Plasma Deposition capability fully into the commercial aerospace sector, and beyond that accelerates its revolutionary changes to metal manufacturing processes,” said John Andersen, Jr, Norsk’s Chairman of the Board. “The capabilities of Triangle and its affiliates are extraordinary, and the ambition demonstrated by this strategic investment will bring Norsk Titanium’s customers unprecedented application opportunities.”
Jeremy Barnes, a partner in Triangle Holdings, added: “Based on a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum, our investment in Norsk Titanium reflects our strategy of investing in game-changing businesses across the aerospace sector. We look forward to working with Norsk Titanium on proliferating its RPD technology.”
The titanium components supplied by Norsk to Boeing will be on display at the International Paris Air Show from June 19th to June 25th, in Hall 1 Space H299. This display will be supplemented by a full-scale mock-up of the company’s Rapid Plasma Deposition machine, MERKE IV, which was used to produce the parts.
