Paris Air Show: High Demand for Titanium Tubing Generated by Increasing Global Aircraft Build Rates
Fine Tubes (United Kingdom) and Superior Tube (United States), leading global manufacturers of high precision tubing in titanium, stainless steel and nickel alloys, enjoyed a successful week at the Paris Air Show. The sister companies supply tubular products for critical airframe and engine component applications, and their presence at the show attracted considerable attention from the delegates, with particular interest shown in their high performance titanium alloy tubing.
Both businesses work closely with the world’s leading aerospace manufacturers in the civil, defense and space sectors to develop innovative tubing solutions for global projects. Customer approvals include Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, GE, Pratt Whitney, Rolls-Royce and Groupe Safran, covering the comprehensive portfolio of high strength, corrosion and heat resistant tubing for critical hydraulic, mechanical and structural applications including:
Hydraulic and pneumatic control systems
Aerospace Engine tubes
Instrumentation
Transmission tubing
Mechanical tubes
The show proved to be extremely busy with plenty of visits to the Fine Tubes and Superior Tube booth and enquires about new innovative materials that can lead to weight and cost savings.
Paul Mallett, Aerospace Product Manager, comments:
“With increasing global aircraft build rates leading to supply chain challenges for large and small companies alike, the meetings at the show indicated a strong interest for light weight, high strength tubing that can offer critical cost savings. This demand matches our unique manufacturing expertise in a range of seamless titanium grades, including Ti 3Al-2.5V (Grade 9), Ti 6Al-4V (Grade 5), Ti CP (Grade2) and TiX, amongst others.
Fine Tubes and Superior Tube also offer an extended portfolio of seamless, welded and welded redrawn tubing in stainless steel, including 21-6-9, 321 and 347, and in nickel alloys, including 625, X-750 and Waspaloy.”
Dirk Fanning, Business Development Manager, adds:
“As one of the leading innovators in metal tube fabrication, we have the engineering capability to manufacture tubing solutions in new, higher strength grades of titanium that offer substantial weight savings compared to the current industry standard.”
Much interest was also generated by the news of both companies’ recent acquisition by AMETEK Inc., and their incorporation into its Specialty Metal Products Division.
“The show provided the first opportunity for Fine Tubes and Superior Tube to exhibit as part of AMETEK Inc. This new structure has enabled both companies to further increase their capabilities and global reach as reliable precision tubing suppliers to the aviation industry,” concludes Paul Mallett.
Superior Tube and Fine Tubes are collectively a unit of AMETEK Specialty Metal Products, a division of AMETEK, Inc., a leading manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical products with aerospace manufacturing and service facilities worldwide.
