Titanium Conference to Highlight Commercial Aerospace

The International Titanium Association, sponsor of TITANIUM 2009, has announced the event will have a major commercial aerospace focus, with a keynote speaker from Airbus, a dedicated panel of experts delivering industryrelated presentations, and a significant portion of its World Supply and Demand Trends panels examining aerospace need for the metal.

The titanium industry's 25th annual conference and exhibition is scheduled for September 13 to 16 in Kona, HI.

According to Michael Metz, Conference Chair, "The inside knowledge shared at TITANIUM 2009 should help companies, especially aerospace-related firms involved on any level with the metal, make long-term business and investment decisions during this time of global economic slowdown." As keynote speaker, Simon Pickup, Director of Business Operations and Analysis for Airbus, will present his company's Global Market Forecast (GMF) for aircraft demand over the next 20 years. The GMF gives a detailed analysis of world air transport developments, as well as a year-by-year fleet evolution of the world's aircraft operators, through fleet analysis of nearly 700 passenger airlines and 177 freighter operators. Highlights include a review of significant developments that have influenced passengers and airlines, affecting the shape and direction of the aviation industry, as well as determining the level of future demand around the world. A number of factors result in a projected demand for new aircraft, by region, nation and size, from very large to small single-aisle aircraft.

A panel of commercial aerospace experts will address materials developments and trends including how advanced material usage will change on future generation aircraft and how that, coupled with escalating use of composites, will affect titanium's role. How aeroengine designs will meet the green challenge and what that means for titanium will also be considered.

Two presentations will focus on titanium fasteners and rivets. The production of lowercost titanium alloys via cryogenic technology, to replace Ti-6Al-4V in fasteners, will be discussed, as will a new Ti-45Nb alloy for rivets.

Finally, an academic panelist will present research work on purpose-aimed forging and heat treatment to produce lightweight Ti-6Al- 4V forgings.

Recognizing that aerospace is, and will continue to be, the primary driver for titanium, the World Supply and Demands Trends panels will devote considerable time to commercial engines and airframes.

On the Demand side, the panel will review the impact that the global recession and financial markets meltdown have had on aircraft manufacturing and the long-term growth drivers that still make the aerospace segment such an attractive end market.

On the Supply side, panelists will examine changes that are occurring in the production and consumption of titanium ores, sponge, scrap and alloying elements from North America, Russia, China and Japan. Availability and merits of various feedstocks, melting techniques, and manufacturing capacities could be examined.

In addition to the aerospace focus of TITANIUM 2009, the conference will host more than 70 experts from across the supply chain to examine multiple other consuming industries including medical, industrial, consumer and automotive. Manufacturing methods, as well as machining processes and powder technology will also be discussed.

The event last year drew more than 1,000 delegates and 70 exhibitors from 34 countries.

Because TITANIUM 2009 will be held in Hawaii, in recognition of the significant growth of the Asian titanium industry, "We expect a delegation from Japan and participants from China, Korea and other Pacific Rim countries," Metz comments. As always, there should be strong European and Russian participation.

TITANIUM 2009 registrations are running ahead of last year's pace. To register or get more information, visit www.titanium.org.