Rolls-Royce Taps Norsk Titanium for Additive Production
The engine maker enters a development phase for titanium structural parts using Rapid Plasma Deposition technology.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Materials Science
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Rolls-Royce has placed a purchase order with Norsk Titanium for an aerospace structural component, marking the latter’s approval as a supplier for development projects. The part is manufactured using Rapid Plasma Deposition technology.
Why it matters
This engagement signals an industrial shift toward additive manufacturing for critical aerospace hardware, with both companies evaluating the scalability of Rapid Plasma Deposition for future aero-engine applications.
The structural component utilizes Ti-6Al-4V, a widely used titanium alloy, produced via Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD). RPD functions by melting titanium wire in a plasma arc to additively build near-net-shape parts, potentially reducing material waste compared to traditional subtractive machining.
The players
Rolls-Royce
A British multinational company known for designing and manufacturing power systems for the civil and defense aerospace sectors.
Norsk Titanium
A Norwegian industrial firm specializing in additive manufacturing through its proprietary Rapid Plasma Deposition technology.
The details
Rapid Plasma Deposition uses a controlled plasma arc to deposit titanium layer-by-layer, creating structural geometries with high material efficiency. Production is centered at the Norsk Titanium Technology Center in Norway, while the post-production machining phase is set to occur in Germany. This additive process allows for complex shapes to be printed close to their final form, requiring less subsequent material removal than forging or billet-machining.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: The supplier agreement and initial purchase order were formalized.
The Tech Race
Aerospace manufacturers are aggressively replacing traditional forging methods with additive manufacturing to reduce long lead times and raw material consumption. This pilot order places Rapid Plasma Deposition alongside existing laser-based and powder-bed fusion techniques currently competing for flight-critical engine parts.
This development is limited to current Rolls-Royce development activities and does not immediately affect existing flight hardware or commercial airline operations. Engineers and supply chain managers in the aerospace sector should monitor future announcements to see if these parts transition from testing to mass-market engine integration.
The takeaway
The industry is moving toward additive manufacturing for core engine components to improve material efficiency. Watch for follow-up announcements regarding engine integration timelines or the certification of additional part geometries using Rapid Plasma Deposition.
Further reading
For broader trends in structural metal production, explore our coverage in Materials Science.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TCT Magazine.
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