Made in Rotherham - titanium powder for use in aerospace

METAL pioneers at a Rotherham firm have taken the first steps to commercialising its low-cost production of titanium powder.

Metalysis, the specialist metals technology company based at Manvers, is set to increase the production of its high quality, low-cost titanium powder for use in aerospace for the first time with a commercial partner as part of a new £1.5 million partnership programme.

The firm has teamed up with GKN Aerospace, Phoenix Scientific Industries Ltd and The University of Leeds as part of the initiative.

Funded by the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), it aims to support the application of titanium powder in the manufacture of aerospace components.

Dion Vaughan, chief executive of Metalysis, said: “Titanium made by the Metalysis process could replace the current use of aluminium and steel in many products, bringing many performance advantages.

“This project will demonstrate its potential in the additive layer manufacturing of metal components, bringing down the cost of production, manufacturing and increasing environmental performance of aerospace and beyond.”

Metalysis’ technology produces titanium powder directly from naturally-occurring sand using electrolysis, significantly reducing the cost of metal powder production.

It could see the firm cash in on an estimated £1.2 billion industry surrounding the wider use of titanium in the aerospace, automotive and other industries, where its application had previously been prohibitively expensive.

Metalysis has previously expressed a desire to create a $500 million titanium powder plant within the Rotherham borough.

Dr Vaughan said: “We have high hopes of making the next plant something very meaningful for South Yorkshire and something which sets us on the next stage of our journey to fully commercialise the project.”