Boeing has expanded a long-term agreement with ATI Inc. for supply of titanium alloy products, which are critical raw materials and components in aircraft production. The specific terms of the deal remain undisclosed, but ATI noted its products will be in place on all of Boeing’s commercial aircraft.
For ATI, the significance of the new agreement may be the scope of its supply of titanium-alloy plates, sheets, and coiled products following its recent start-up of a greenfield rolling plant in Pageland, S.C.
"This agreement highlights ATI's critical role in the titanium supply chain and validates our strategic investments—especially in expanding capacity and advancing titanium alloy sheet capabilities," stated president and CEO Kimberly Fields.
ATI supplies high-performance materials and components in titanium and titanium-based alloys, nickel- and cobalt-based alloys, and specialty materials. It will be supplying Boeing with titanium-alloy long products, including ingots, billets, rectangles, and bars, as well as flat-rolled products.
Securing supplies of titanium will help to stabilize Boeing’s supply chain, which in recent years has seen various disruptions and complications impact the OEM’s manufacturing programs. With China and Russia being major sources of titanium raw materials, deliveries are potentially vulnerable to disruptions from geopolitical tensions, unreliable suppliers, and unstable pricing.
Titanium alloys are critical to aircraft design due to their high strength-to-weight ratio as well as corrosion-resistance and ability to withstand high temperatures. They’re found in airframes, landing gear, and engine components.
The agreement is not exclusive on either side. Boeing sources titanium sheet and plate, as well as cast and forged parts from numerous sources, and ATI also has a long-term supply agreement with Boeing’s rival Airbus, for titanium plates, sheets, and billets.
The agreement also covers titanium alloy supplies to Boeing's third-party subsidiaries, for example airframe builder Spirit AeroSystems which Boeing is due to take over this year.
Fields said the Boeing agreement validates the supplier’s recent capacity expansion. “We're delivering high-quality, differentiated titanium solutions at scale to support the next generation of commercial aircraft," she stated.
