The MTC helps TTI develop a phased implementation plan to create a fully functional manufacturing facility to supply high value components produced by advanced powder metallurgy techniques.
TTI Group Ltd provides surface engineering and heat treatment services to the UK engineering industry. The group is part of the materials technology division of Dutch company Aalberts Industries NV. TTI provides its customers with access to extensive experience and expert metallurgical knowledge. In addition to offering a full range of traditional heat treatment processes, TTI also provides special treatments designed to overcome specific problems such as abrasion, corrosion and adhesion. TTI Group operates from six sites throughout the UK including the Letchworth site which features two industrial Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) units.
TTI aims to set up a complete manufacturing facility to supply high value components produced by advanced powder metallurgy manufacturing techniques. Already possessing extensive thermal treatment and surface engineering process capability, TTI needed to understand what further equipment, processes and skill sets were required to produce finished components.
The MTC reviewed industry standard and state of the art practices to understand investment opportunity and costs involved to extend TTI’s existing capability into a growing High Value Manufacturing market. The MTC provided a phased implementation plan to create a fully functional production line in the Letchworth facility with specified equipment, cost, lead time and training requirements.
Following the delivery of the phased implementation plan TTI were able to make a fully informed decision on the investment required to develop their new line. The second phase of the study will involve the MTC engineers placed on site at TTI playing a pivotal role in the setup and training required to get the new line up and running.
Following their sign up as MTC members TTI have provided specialist coating, heat treatment and HIP services to active MTC research projects and to other MTC members. This has allowed TTI to further understand the requirements of the High Value Manufacturing sector which, in turn has resulted in them taking a leading role in two large collaborative research project supported by Innovate UK with key OEMs in the nuclear and automotive industries.
