GKN Aerospace has launched TITAN-AM (Titanium Industrialisation and Technology Advancement for Near-net Additive Manufacturing), an US$8.4 million programme in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The initiative is aimed at advancing and industrialising Laser Metal Deposition with Wire (LMD-w) technology to support next-generation aerostructures.
The TITAN-AM programme will focus on five key areas critical to enabling LMD-w for aerospace structural applications. These include the industrialisation of LMD-w processes for large-scale titanium aerostructure components, the development of robust titanium material datasets to ensure structural performance and reliability, and the advancement of simulation capabilities to optimise both design and manufacturing outcomes. In addition, the programme will develop non-destructive inspection techniques tailored to additive manufacturing processes and demonstrate the technology on selected aerospace structural components.
The programme will be carried out at GKN Aerospace’s Global Technology Centre in Fort Worth, Texas, which serves as a hub for advanced manufacturing innovation and collaboration with U.S. defence and aerospace partners.
