The Role of Titanium Suppliers in Aerospace, Medical and Industrial Applications

Titanium is a necessary metal that is used extensively in aerospace, medical and industrial applications. This metal is important to these industries for various reasons. In the aerospace industry, it is used for its high tensile strength.

High tensile strength equates to the prevention of tears and fractures in equipment. The aerospace industry is tied to the military industry in the US and other countries.

In the medical industry, the usages of titanium run the gamut from hardware for technologies, to using titanium for joint replacements due to accidents or conditions such as arthritis. Titanium is lighter than other metals for joint replacement and also bonds more readily with human tissues.

Car manufacturers are increasingly turning to titanium also. Any type of manufacturing is considered industrial usage though so this would be inclusive of that category.

Characteristics of Titanium Supplier 

Any good supplier of titanium must have the following characteristics and this is part of the role of being a good titanium supplier, especially for the consistent usage of industrial, medical, and aerospace segments.

1. A great reputation. Large suppliers with years of experience are many times the best choice but not always. Research should be done and speaking to current and former clientele will help in the choice of supplier.

Years in business also count for a lot in the experience of the role of a titanium supplier. Since the uses for this metal are such high-level uses, nothing really compares with the experience that years bring to suppliers.

• Quality of the titanium. Titanium can come in different grades, and the highest quality, needless to say, will perform the best. The tensile strength is generally 22 in the atomic numerical field and anything lower should be avoided.

• Timeliness of delivery. It goes without saying that any delivery that is delayed or in the worst case, never delivered can cause huge holdups in the industries that depend on titanium. Delays in any of the industries that use titanium cost money and time and can have dire consequences, especially in the medical field.

• Good suppliers have more than one source. As the world changes and sources become either depleted or inaccessible there is a need for a titanium supplier to have more than one source to acquire the amount of titanium. At the moment,

China produces the most titanium, followed by Russian and then India, with about 6 more countries following the list of large suppliers. A good supplier of titanium will religiously check on this list published by World Atlas.

• Affordability. Although there is a need for the highest quality a good titanium supplier will also know the pricing of titanium and will seek to consistently look for the best deals of titanium for all clientele.

The cost can fluctuate tremendously according to market conditions and the demand for titanium at any given time. The role of a titanium supplier is to also check the current price while keeping in mind that the highest grade, as stated above, will always be at the forefront of buying decisions.

• Knowledge of regulations. Because of the high-end markets that use titanium, a good supplier of titanium also has the role of being well-versed in government regulations. This might vary from country to country but is usually regulated regardless of area.

Both manufacturers and users of titanium are held to standards. A good example of this in the USA is the regulations imposed by OSHA (Occupational and Safety Hazard Association). NFPA 484 is the exact regulation that covers titanium manufacturing and usage in the USA.

There are other regulations as well in the USA and other countries as any titanium manufacturing or usage causes dust which in large increments can be hazardous to health. A good titanium supplier would do well to look at the complaints against any company from which they are purchasing titanium to serve their own clientele well.

Since the aerospace, medical, and industrial sectors are high users of titanium, the utmost caution in all aspects of procurement does fall under the role of the titanium supplier. While titanium has such advantages in weight and cost, as well as durability, the overall safety for the industries that use it must always be taken into consideration.

Any medical, aerospace, or industrial manufacturer could easily be shut down by any government worldwide if any occurrence with the products they are using is negative. Even if a shutdown of a company does not occur, lawsuits may ensue, or fines.

The role of any supplier of titanium for the medical, aerospace, and industrial industries therefore cannot be taken lightly. These suppliers can spend years learning the industry of being a supplier and must be versed in all aspects of titanium purchasing.

The training is not formal but usually occurs by working in the industry alongside or for large companies. There are supply chain issues of which suppliers must be aware as well, and Forbes magazine specifically addresses these.

A “chain of command” from locating the titanium to the actual delivery of the product to the manufacturers also exists most certainly in the medical and industrial fields. It is not the easiest field in which to make a career certainly but can be lucrative as well as very rewarding.

Nothing substitutes for knowledge and attention to detail and all good suppliers generally will share these characteristics. Travel is also many times necessary, and the paperwork must also be flawless. These are other components of this role. The role of a titanium supplier is not for everyone but those that do well in the field do tend to do very well!

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