Norway-based Norsk Titanium (NTi) has selected Tronrud Engineering to produce three 3D additive manufacturing machines for production of aerospace-grade titanium structures.

Norsk Titanium is involved in manufacturing titanium components for aerospace and industrial applications.

The company uses its patented rapid plasma deposition (RPD) process to build titanium parts. The technology transforms titanium wire into complex components in a short period of time.

It will also lower production costs by 50% – 75% due to less waste and machining energy.

The contract is part of an expansion plan of Norsk, which established the world’s first industrial-scale 3D additive manufacturing facility in the US.

"These 3D additive manufacturing machines will further boost NTi’s customer response time and expand manufacturing capacity."

NTi president Warren M Boley, Jr said: "These 3D additive manufacturing machines will further boost NTi’s customer response time and expand manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for titanium components from the global aerospace industry."

Aerojet Rocketdyne’s former president Boley started working for NTi in July and is involved in transforming the company’s manufacturing process.

Last July, titanium and speciality metal producer RTI International Metals made an investment in NTi.

RTI made the investment for strategic co-operation projects of NTi’s 3D printing technology, known as direct metal deposition (DMD) technology, used in NTi’s patented process for the manufacture of premium quality titanium components.

Tronrud Engineering is involved in providing technological solutions for developing and manufacturing advanced machinery. The company acquired NOR-REG Systems after it filed for bankruptcy last August.

Tronrud acquired the bankrupt estate, including all assets, IPs, patents and technology of NOR-REG Systems.