Titanium alloy powder has $700m potential

Government Minister Dr Wayne Mapp yesterday joined a large group celebrating the start of a new industry in Western Bay centred around locally developed titanium alloy powder.
Dr Mapp, the Minister of Research Science and Technology, officially opened the Applied Powder Metallurgy Centre  at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's Windermere campus and housing the recently formed Titanium Industry Development Association (TiDA).
"This is the beginning of a hugely transformative industry for New Zealand," Dr Mapp told the invited guests. "It is high technology which is the future for the country. We have to lift the quality of our export products into higher-value areas."
Tauranga firm Titanox Development, based on research at Waikato University, found a way to produce and supply high-grade, affordable titanium alloy powder.
TiDA, which has installed the latest testing equipment, was set up to help companies develop sophisticated titanium products for the international marketplace using powder metallurgy processes.
Dr Mapp said $20million worth of private investment had gone into the titanium development and the Government had funded $8million through the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, and NZ Trade and Enterprise.
Powder metallurgy courses will be established on the Windermere campus, and the new industry has the potential to hit at least $700million turnover within 10 years.
Dr Alan Hampton, the polytechnic's chief executive and a TiDA member, said Kiwi ingenuity and determination had provided this opportunity to manufacture high-value components.
The titanium alloy powder can replace existing materials that already had a reputation in the marketplace, he said.
Titanium products are used in the aerospace, medical and automotive industries, and in the latest laptops and cellphones.
Components made from the new titanium alloy powder are  stronger and can withstand higher temperatures.