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Tertiary education and research

Titanium Industry

In 2006 a ground-breaking process for producing titanium alloys was unveiled by a Tauranga-based research company, which is sparking a new multi-million-dollar manufacturing industry. Based on initial research from University of Waikato, Titanox Developments advanced a cost-effective process for making very high purity alloy powders. Titanium is the world's fourth most abundant material; however it has a very high processing cost, including a significant proportion of wastage. The titanium alloy powder developed by Titanox is lighter and stronger than stainless steel, resistant to corrosion, and can be used for a wide range of specialised products including jet engines, car parts and medical implants like knee and hip joints. In addition, no wastage occurs during the manufacturing process.

The Titanium Industry Development Association (TiDA) was formed to help unlock the potential of the industry and has now reached an exciting stage in helping New Zealand companies develop new products for the international marketplace. Titanox Managing Director and TiDA chair, Ian Macrae, says the best way to realise the economic potential of the titanium powder industry is to support local companies in developing new products. “Titanium powder has no value on its own until it’s consolidated and made into something. We want to give New Zealand companies the leading edge and give them a leg into the international market.” Mr Macrae says he hopes to see Tauranga become a ‘baby Silicon Valley’ but in titanium powders. “The seeds are all there. Now we have the infrastructure we can build all sorts of new industries around it.”

Over the past 12 months TiDA has been working with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic to develop a world-leading advanced powder metallurgy research centre which will undertake research, component testing certification, fast prototyping and specialist metallurgy training. The centre opened in March 2010 and features state of the art equipment. The collaborative nature of this venture will see the TiDA and the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic working with four universities, crown research institutes and commercial research companies to value add and develop uniquely engineered products. For further information, visit www.tida.co.nz.