Arcam AB has received an order from Avio in Turin for four EBM systems for manufacturing of aero-engine titanium aluminide (TiAl) components. A long term agreement has also been signed between Arcam and Avio and Arcam has appointed Avio as Center of Excellence for its TiAl EBM technology.  

The agreement is the result of a joint development project between Arcam and Avio with the goal to industrialize Arcam's EBM technology for manufacturing components in titanium aluminide. The co-operation started in 2007 with Arcam's adaptation of its EBM technology for use with titanium aluminide. After extensive testing and verification Avio has now decided to put the technology in production. In the framework of the agreement Avio will place additional orders for EBM Arcam equipment. Titanium aluminide is an inter-metallic material that combines excellent mechanical properties at elevated temperatures with low weight. Low weight in aero-engine results in increased thrust-to-weight ratio, better fuel economy and thus lower emissions. The market for titanium aluminide is predicted to grow quickly when new generations of fuel-efficient aero engines are launched. Avio is a leader in the aerospace sector. Founded in 1908, it is headquartered in Italy with subsidiaries in the United States, Poland, Holland and French Guyana, with 11 industrial plants and over 5,500 employees. Company turnover in 2008 was € 1.7 bn. The Group operates in four main business areas, both in the civil and military fields: Aeronautical, Space, MRO and Services, Marine & Industrial.  

"Arcam's strategy is to establish our technology for production of orthopedic implants and aerospace parts, two areas with high requirements on material properties and productivity. Our EBM technology is already today well established in the orthopedic industry, with thousands of components produced and implanted.  We are now very happy to announce this order from Avio, confirming that our technology complies with the aerospace industry's high standards for volume production", says Magnus René, CEO at Arcam.                                                                                                                                  

"We have now reached high confidence in the application of Arcam's EBM technology to aero-engine parts and we are committed to move the process from research to production. We look forward to achieving business success through this long term partnership with Arcam", 

says Giorgio Abrate, SVP Corporate Business Development at Avio.