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titanium aircraft parts as a potential supply the MoD wants and can play a key role in the future supply of AMS’s high value circular economy product, a recycled titanium powder. Used in 100 per cent recycled or a recycled blend (like food packaging), AMS can support the supply chain risk mitigation for the UK and its allies but perhaps more importantly it is a key enabler in a more sustainable future. With critical mineral supply at its heart and unaffected by the geo-politically turbulent world we live in, AMS believes their technology has a bright future.
With the Global Combat Aircraft Programme (GCAP), AUKUS alliance for submarine supply and a buoyant home market for space manufacturing the needs for titanium and the opportunity for AM are large but the risk in supply is also high. AMS has therefore developed a solution, with R2. AMS being awarded funding from Innovate UK to build technical feasibility into their theoretical approach to turn aircraft parts into powder. This project was successful, and the process optimised. AMS’s first major customer was the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Due to the availability of
Additive Manufacturing Solutions create sustainable and secure titanium supply
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How a Lancashire based company created an innovative solution for a sustainable future
Additive manufacturing (AM), sometimes called 3D printing is a process in which materials are selectively added together to build 3D geometry. AMS has metal powder AM processes in house in which the energy source, electron beam or laser, melts the powder in these selectively defined areas. The titanium powder market globally is worth just a fraction of the global titanium market and the supply fluctuations induced by conflict have a larger impact on the titanium powder market. Over recent months the availability of titanium powder and prices have ranged from £150-275/kg and lead times up to 5 months for supply in some instances.
Russia and Ukraine have long since had key contributions to the titanium supply market and within the whole of the West of Europe there is not a single capability that can process titanium in its rawest form, sponge. Additive Manufacturing Solutions Ltd (AMS), based in Burscough, Lancashire has developed a solution to the titanium supply problems facing the supply of metal powders for additive manufacturing. AMS are world leaders in the metal additive manufacturing with their training academy, the AMA, alongside their process excellence. The final addition to this is their material development capability.
Titanium and its alloys have been readily used in many industries to great effect however it is the aerospace sector which has seen the main benefits. Titanium has very high strength and low mass giving the coveted high strength to weight ratio alongside its chemical and corrosion resistance and ability to work in high temperature environments. Titanium has and continues to be an important alloy across civil and defence aviation. In a world post Brexit, Covid and amid conflict in the Ukraine, alongside increasing tensions in the south pacific, there is a geo- political situation in which the future needs for titanium within our aerospace sector are put at risk for supply.
“AMS was created to bring our process expertise for material development and AM to support the growth of our industry.
Robert Higham AMS founder and CEO
“To do this the need for a controlled supply of feedstock became our mission. We now have proven what is possible for innovation and sustainable minded companies.”
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plane talk summer 2024
www.aerospace.co.uk
@NWAerospace
plane talk summer 2024
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