Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC) has entered into a long-term contract with the SAFRAN Group to supply titanium alloy billet.
SNECMA, a leading global manufacturer of jet engines, is part of the SAFRAN Group and NSSMC has recently been approved by SNECMA to supply standard grade (SQ) titanium alloy.
The titanium in question will be produced at Nippon Steel Sumikin Naoetsu Titanium using its EB and VAR furnaces.
Nippon Steel Sumikin Naoetsu is a corporate joint venture between NSSMC and Toho Titanium, which was established in 2013.
SAFRAN’s new LEAP engine, developed in conjunction with GE in the USA, will be used in the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus 320 NEO, says NSSMC.