Apr 13 2006
Titanium Metals Corporation (TIMET) has announced that it will construct a new state-of-the-art electron beam ("EB") cold hearth melt furnace at its facility in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. The new EB furnace will provide TIMET with the additional capacity to melt approximately 8,500 metric tons of titanium metal per year, increasing the Company's overall EB melt capacity by approximately 54%, depending on product mix.
The latest furnace design capitalizes on TIMET's leading position in EB melting technology and incorporates sophisticated data acquisition controls, sensors and the Company's recently patented monitoring systems. The new EB furnace will cost approximately $35 million and upon full commissioning in the first quarter of 2008, will be capable of producing quality titanium products for use in all market sectors.
EB Single Melt ("EBSM") technology has a long history in the production of commercially pure titanium, while the production of alloyed products has required subsequent final vacuum arc remelting. TIMET has pioneered EBSM production of alloyed products, which has achieved customer acceptance within the industrial and automotive sectors. EBSM provides the necessary productivity improvements to support expansion into these markets due to the elimination of secondary melts, and for some products, downstream forging processes as well.
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