14th Aug, 2010

International Titanium Powder LLC (ITP) of Woodbridge, Illinois, USA, is expected to begin producing commercial quantities of low cost pure and alloyed Ti powders at its new plant in Ottawa, Illinois, later this year. The plant is expected to reach its capacity of 4 million lbs (2000 short tons) of Ti powder during 2011.

ITP has been commercialising its patented Armstrong Process for low cost titanium powder for a number of years at its R&D facility and pilot plant. The company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Cristal Global, headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2008. Since then Cristal Global has expanded the ITP team and is committed to bringing the new titanium powder on stream.

Cristal Global is said to be the world’s second largest producer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) with sales in the region of $2billion in 2008. “Ti and Ti alloy powders from the Armstrong process have been proven to have properties that will provide the foundation for an expanding powder-based titanium product market. We look forward to working with our suppliers, customers and titanium metal consumers in programmes to accelerate use in existing and new markets”, said Robert Daniels, Vice President – Titanium Metals for Cristal US.