Investment casting company Tital GmbH, Bestwig, Germany, has partnered with a nearby university to build a titanium casting plant and expects to begin series production of turbine blades in the next three years.

According to a statement released by the company, Tital commissioned the new plant on April 28, and series production is expected to begin sometime in 2013. The facility will produce titanium aluminide blades with an overall size or edge length ranging up to 300 mm through a unique process developed in conjunction with the Access program at RWTH Aachen Univ., Aachen, Germany.

“The success of this technology transfer, coming as the result of a long-term R&D effort by Access, underlines the significance of what we have achieved,” said Access Chief Executive Officer Robert Guntlin. “In Tital, we have found a partner ready to take the next step by launching series production.”
 
According to Tital, titanium aluminide is lightweight and resistant to high temperature. The company said it has been able to develop casting processes for the alloy with the help of Access through financial backing from the German government and other industrial partners.

“We are extremely happy that our partnership with Access has enabled us to develop a process for titanium,” said Philipp Schack, Tital’s chief executive. “Turbine blades made of intermetallic gamma [titanium aluminide] alloys offer a unique technological edge over turbine blades made of the materials previously available.”

Tital supplies companies in the field of aerospace, defense, motorsports and industrial systems with aluminum and titanium investment castings. The company employs 400 and reported 2009 revenues of $63 million.

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