---
title: "Norsk Titanium and Airbus strengthen collaboration with DED agreement"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/norsk-titanium-and-airbus-strengthen-collaboration-with-ded-agreement/
date: 2026-03-06
modified: 2026-03-06
lang: en
author: "Joseph Caron-Dawe"
description: "Norsk Titanium and Airbus have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly develop and document the Direct Energy Deposition (DED) process for Norsk Titanium's Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology. [caption id=\"attachment_409935\"..."
categories:
  - "Additive Mass Production - AMP"
  - "Aerospace AM"
  - "Aviation"
  - "Metal Additive Manufacturing"
tags:
  - "insights"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Production-floor-at-Norsk-Titaniums-Plattsburgh-New-York-Demonstration-Qualification-Center-e1772791558379-640x400.jpg
word_count: 322
---

# Norsk Titanium and Airbus strengthen collaboration with DED agreement

[Norsk Titanium](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/norsk-titanium-as/) and [Airbus](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/airbus/) have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly develop and document the Direct Energy Deposition (DED) process for Norsk Titanium's Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology.

![Technician monitors from the MERKE IV machine’s Rexroth Bosch interface](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Technician-monitors-from-the-MERKE-IV-machines-Rexroth-Bosch-interface-247x340.jpg)A technician monitoring a MERKE IV machine.

As part of the agreement, Norsk Titanium will [install one of its Merke IV RPD machines](https://www.voxelmatters.com/norsk-titanium-qualifies-rapid-plasma-deposition-for-airbus-production/) at an Airbus production facility in Varel, Germany. Together, the companies will collaborate on a [joint technical evaluation of RPD manufacturing processes](https://www.voxelmatters.com/norsk-titanium-qualifies-rapid-plasma-deposition-for-airbus-production/), controls, and validation data.

The overarching goal is to transition from part-specific qualification to broader, process-based methodologies for specific titanium products. [Airbus recently revealed how it was extensively using wire-Directed Energy Deposition (w-DED) to create structural aircraft parts from titanium](https://www.voxelmatters.com/airbus-w-ded-3d-print-titanium-aircraft-structures/).

“This agreement marks a pivotal milestone in the enduring technical partnership between Norsk Titanium and Airbus, acting as a catalyst for the adoption of additive manufacturing technologies at Airbus,” stated [Fabrizio Ponte, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norsk Titanium](https://www.voxelmatters.com/norsk-titanium-has-appointed-fabrizio-ponte-new-chief-executive-officer/).

## Process standardization and industrial application

The Varel installation is intended to generate the technical data and documentation needed to assess the industrial application potential of RPD within Airbus' manufacturing operations. 

The effort is a part of Airbus' broader strategy to advance diverse DED solutions across its production footprint.

“With a standardized process it will be easier to transition parts to RPD and to bring many more parts into scope over time. This will support Airbus' pioneering work to implement DED in more applications,” Ponte said.

## Expanding an existing supply relationship

This new agreement supplements an existing long-term master supply agreement, under which Norsk Titanium supplies RPD raw material to Varel to support Airbus A350 production. 

The commercial aerospace market remains central to [Norsk Titanium’s growth strategy](https://www.voxelmatters.com/norsk-titanium-signs-two-new-customers-for-rpd-metal-parts/).

“We are still very early in the industrialization process, and we remain very confident that our RPD technology can offer the aerospace industry significant savings on cost and time. Together with Airbus we will make this happen,” added Ponte.