Titanium Applications Development (TAD) Award deadline approaching

What started out as a simple idea to recognize individuals or organizations who have shown significant achievement towards improving and expanding the use of titanium has evolved into an internationally recognized program which has awarded a diverse range of candidates using titanium in a variety of sectors including aerospace, industrial, medical, and consumer markets.

The program, now in its 12th anniversary year, is collecting applications for the Titanium Applications Development (TAD) Award, where a $20,000 prize which will be presented to the winner at the TITANIUM USA Exhibition & Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada Oct. 7-10, 2018. You can download the application here.

The TAD award is intended to distinguish and remunerate commendable work in an area too little rewarded as well as potentially help support the continued development of the application.

Dr. Christopher Higgins, professor at Oregon State University, won the award in 2015 for his role in developing a novel titanium application for repairing highway infrastructure. Higgins designed the idea of the titanium staple and the requirement of a surface treatment that would allow titanium alloy bars to be used to strengthen concrete bridges.

“The ITA Grant Committee reviewed applications covering everything from musical instruments to building tools; connecting rods to micromachining technologies; marine vessels to a variety of medical applications,” says Jennifer Simpson, who has been the executive director of the International Titanium Association since 2001.

“What is interesting is they were all worthy candidates. Each one of the applications ITA received was so imaginative, admirable and praiseworthy of the award. Unfortunately, only one candidate can win each year, so the committee has to follow careful criteria when evaluating the best candidate. It’s a tough decision for them because there are so many highly creative ideas for using titanium metal.

Each year the committee is always excited to see what new ideas are out there.”

Synthes USA accepted the award in 2011 for the Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib (VEPTR), a medical implant that uses the alloy Ti-6Al-7Nb and commercially pure titanium components.

In 2014, Expliseat SAS (Paris, France) accepted the award for the development and launch of a commercial aerospace interior cabin product simply known as the Titanium Seat.

ITA members and non-members alike are encouraged to nominate any person or organization who would be considered an excellent choice for receiving this valued award.

(Left) Ronn Dunnett, of Dunnett Classic Drums, was the 2016 TAD award winner for his unique use of titanium metal in designing Dunnett Classic Titanium snare drums, a drum tuning device and a bass drum pedal.

Watch the video about 2016 TAD winner Ronn Dunnett.

For titanium industry veteran Stanley Abkowitz, winning the 2013 TAD award was more than just a personal honor; he feels it marks a new era for the use of titanium powder metal technology in the aerospace industry. Dynamet Technology Inc. (Burlington, Mass.) pioneered the development and application of titanium powder metal (PM Ti) technology for four decades. Acceptance of PM Ti as a substitute for conventional Ti-6Al-4V mill products or forgings for use in aerospace components has been a long-sought objective that marks a breakthrough for the PM titanium industry.

A team of researchers from Nippon Steel Corp. in Japan were the first recipients of the TAD award in 2007 for expanded use of titanium in exhaust system materials, engine valve materials, materials for parts around engines, and as the material for suspension springs in motorcycles.

Titanium Industries Incorporated (T.I.) underwrote the first TAD award in 2007. “ITA’s education and outreach efforts to promote new applications are considered essential for continued international growth of the Association,” says Brett Paddock, president and CEO of T.I. and past president of the ITA. Paddock, past chair of the ITA’s Grant and Membership committees, was instrumental in developing the criteria for the award.

“We want to promote the use of titanium in emerging markets. We want to inspire the next big idea for titanium,” Paddock comments, pointing to potential lucrative, high-end applications in consumer products, medical, and automotive as the fertile ground for new business.

Paddock sees the ITA’s TAD award as a beacon to inspire inroads for titanium in new markets and novel applications. Constraining elements that once caused some designers and engineers to hesitate from specifying the use of titanium – such as challenging welding techniques – have long been solved, he says. “The fabrication of titanium products is no longer the mystery it was some time ago.”

Help honor and commend colleagues who have made a positive effort to help advance the titanium industry as well as potentially help support the continued development of the applications.

Visit the ITA website at Titanium.org. The deadline to enter is June 30, 2018.