Norsk Titanium to receive MERKE IV rapid plasma deposition machine at US facility

Aerospace-grade components provider Norsk Titanium is set to receive the first of the 20 MERKE IV rapid plasma deposition (RPD) machine at its manufacturing plant currently under construction in Plattsburgh, New York, US.

Already shipped from the company's Norway headquarters, the machine enables production of titanium components used in aircraft.

Norsk will receive the MERKE IV RPD next month, while the Plattsburgh manufacturing plant is scheduled to be operational next year.

Norsk Titanium operations senior vice-president Chris Bohlmann said: “We have been working around the clock to prepare our facilities for a smooth ramp-up process as the first lot of 20 RPD machines arrive in sequence.”

Designed to run on up to 40 MERKE IV machines, Norsk’s patented RPD process will enable the production of titanium components that could cost around 50% to 75% less than other equivalent components.

Norsk noted that the delivery of the machine will represent the next phase of collaboration among the company, SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) and New York State.

The collaboration is expected to create around 400 jobs and more than $1bn in investments over the next decade.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute president and CEO Dr. Alain Kaloyeros said: “Today’s announcement is a significant next step in the development of Norsk’s US headquarters and manufacturing plant, and has been made possible by governor Andrew Cuomo and his leadership in building upon Albany's nanotechnology-based public-private partnership model, which is luring new innovation-based industries to our state and driving unparalleled economic development opportunities.”

As part of its collaboration, SUNY Poly will help Norsk with the recruitment and training of members of the workforce, who will staff the new facility.

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Image: Norsk Titanium’s MERKE IV rapid plasma deposition machine has been shipped from Norway. Photo: courtesy of Norsk Titanium.