Japan Titanium Society Celebrates Its 70th Anniversary

By Motoi Miki, Executive Director JTS

First of all, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to post an article in TITANIUM TODAY. The International Titanium Association and JTS have had a long cooperative relationship. We would like to continue working together to contribute to the development of the world’s titanium industry. Here, we will introduce JTS and the Japanese titanium industry, both of which have celebrated their 70th anniversary.

Japanese titanium industry started in 1952, following the United States. On the other hand, the Japan Titanium Society was established in 1952 at the dawn of the Japanese titanium industry as the world’s first titanium-related organization.

In 1952, there were ten titanium smelters in Japan. Of these, only two still exist: Osaka Titanium Technologies and Toho Titanium. Japanese sponge titanium production reached 2,500 to 3,000 tons a year between 1956 and 1959, most of which was exported to the United States for use in Cold War fighter engines.

For seven years after Japan’s defeat in the Pacific war, the occupation army GHQ prohibited Japan to develop and manufacture aircraft, so the aircraft industry, which is an important use of titanium, did not grow in Japan. The expansion of titanium wrought materials in Japan was supported by the development of applications in fields other than aircraft.

In the 1960s, it began to be applied to chemical manufacturing equipment. It is used for the lining of reaction vessels and reaction towers, electrodes, etc., which require corrosion resistance. Since the latter half of the 1970s, it has been used in power plant condensers. From the 1970s, it was used for watch cases and bands, and from the 1980s, it was used for eyeglass frames. It is used for weight reduction and biocompatibility. The shipment volume of wrought titanium material increased, reaching 7,700 tons in 1982.

JTS also sent technical missions to the Middle East six times between 1984 and 1999 with the aim of applying welded titanium tubes to seawater desalination plants. Thanks to this, it was adopted for a largescale seawater desalination plant. Since the latter half of the 1980s, it has been used for roofs and walls of modern architecture, taking advantage of titanium’s life cycle cost, weight reduction, and design. Since 2010, it has been used for the roofs of traditional Japanese architecture such as temples and shrines.

Since the mid-1990s, it has been used in golf drivers due to its light weight, large size, and high repulsion performance, and has been favored by most golfers. It is also used in mufflers for mass-produced motorcycles due to its weight reduction, pleasant exhaust sound, and burnt color. It is also used in connecting rods and valve retainers made of titanium alloys, and has begun to be applied to computer and camera cases, reaching over 10,000 tons in 1997, and 19,700 tons in 2008. In this way, as the demand for titanium increased, the number of companies involved in the titanium industry and those considering entering the industry increased.

In 2014, it was adopted as a separator for the fuel cell installed in the fuel cell vehicle MIRAI, contributing to carbon neutrality. This is an epoch-making development of applications for titanium, and in fiscal 2022, Toyota Motor Corporation, the developer of the technology, was awarded the association’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award. The most common applications for titanium in Japan:

• Chemical plants. Titanium is used in many types of chemical processing equipment. About 30 percent of titanium used domestically in Japan is for chemical plants.

• Seawater/Heat Exchangers. Titanium is used in nuclear and fossil-fuel power generating stations for large heat exchangers. Condenser tubes for heat exchangers represent about 20 percent of domestic titanium consumption in Japan.

• Daily Life. Titanium is used for consumer goods, sports equipment, medical applications and building materials. These applications represent about 30 percent of domestic titanium consumption in Japan

• Aerospace. In Japan, only 3 percent of titanium is consumed for domestic aerospace applications, compared with about 70 percent in the United States.

• Titanium awareness activity. Staff training courses (Tokyo/ Kansai), titanium workshop, Exhibition at various exhibitions (metal materials, medical, ships, fasteners).

• Dissemination of titanium information to members

Publication of bulletin

“TITANIUM JAPAN” (four issues per year, currently Vol. 70), Send titanium information by e-mail.

• Usage development activities.

• Development meeting activities (application development activities in the Medical subcommittee, Ship WG, Construction WG, and Welfare/Medical WG). Titanium demand development subsidies (for associate members only) Seawater desalination mission (Middle East, 1984-1999).

• Development of titanium standards. ISO (Japan is the secretariat country for titanium. 11 standards have been established) JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) TIS (JTS Standard) FRS (Fastener Research Standard) WES (Japan Welding Society Standard) Cooperation with the Japan Welding Society.

• Research presentation. Presentation at the Japan Institute of Metals, the Iron and Steel Institute, and the Titanium World Congress.

• Industry-academia collaboration. Grant for titanium research (for young researchers at research institutes). Industry-academia exchange meeting for young people (paper presentation competition) Collaboration with the Titanium Society.

• International exchange. To the International Titanium Association Participation in the annual convention.

• Compatible with carbon neutral A subcommittee has been set up, and work is underway to obtain PCR certification (target for the end of fiscal 2022).

Purpose of the 70th Anniversary Commemorative Project

Praising the efforts of our predecessors, celebrating the 70th anniversary with everyone involved in titanium; resolved to contribute to the development of the titanium industry in the future, and to express it internally and externally.

The 70th anniversary event of the Japan Titanium Society (JTS) was held at Gakushi Kaikan in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo on November 22, 2022. Titanium Konwakai, the predecessor of the Titanium Association, was established on December 19, 1952. JTS will celebrate its 70th anniversary on December 19, 2022. The following program was held on the day. Seats were reserved to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, and the tournament was crowded with 187 participants and the party with 171 participants.

• Message from the Chairman: Takashi HIROSE

• Guest speech: Daisuke MATSUNO, Manager, Metals Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

• Award ceremony: 15 people and 3 companies were award. They have contributed to the titanium industry.

• Special Lecture: Tsuyoshi TANE (Architect, Representative of Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects) “Archaeology of the Future.” (He lectured remotely from Paris on architecture using titanium).

• Commemorative Lecture by Technology Award Winners:

1 Matsuhide HORIKAWA (Toho Titanium Co., Ltd.)

“Development of titanium foil manufacturing technology by smooth electrodeposition method.”

2 Yasuyuki FUJII (Kobe Steel, Ltd.) “Differentiated product of titanium plate using cold rolling technology.”

3 Shutoku TAKEBE(Nippon Steel Corp.) “Mechanism of manifestation of size effect in thin titanium sheet and structure control of ultra-thin material.

• Panel discussion: “Future Vision of the Japanese Titanium Industry” Panelist: 1) Takayoshi ITO, director, Metal Technology Office, Metal Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 2) Toru OKABE, director, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo Toho Titanium Co., Ltd., executive officer.

3) Matsuhide Horikawa, operating officer, Toho Titanium Co., Ltd.; Takashi Yashiki, titanium factory manager, Kobe Steel, Ltd. Coordinator: 1 Yoji YATSUNAMI, chairman of the Development Committee (Nippon Steel Corporation, general manager of Titanium Engineering Department).

Dawn of Japanese titanium industry:

• 1946 Dr. Kroll Participates in U.S. Bureau of Mines’ Titanium Test Plant Construction

• 1947 U.S. Bureau of Mines makes two tons of titanium sponge

• 1951 Annual output of 500 tons of sponge titanium in the United States

• 1952 Commencement ceremony for titanium metal production of Osaka Special Steel Manufacturing Co. (predecessor of OTC)

• 1952 Nov. The Cabinet approves the Titanium Industry Scholarship Policy Guidelines. (tax exemptions and subsidies to titanium industry)

• 1952 Nov. Osaka Titanium Co. Ltd. Established

• 1953 May Dr. Kroll visits Japan

• 1953 Aug. Toho Titanium established; end of 1953, 10 titanium sponge smelting companies start

• 1952 19th of Dec.: Titanium Social Gathering (Predecessor of JTS) inauguration

• 1954: Titanium Social Gathering (Corporation)

• 1969: Japan Titanium Society Corporation

• 1982: The 30th Anniversary Symposium (Kobe city) Guests: J .W .Byrne (TIMET),T .W .Farthing (IMI), J .Hure (Cezus)

• 1992: The 40th Anniversary Convention (Tokyo) Guests: L. Fredrick (TDA President), David k. Peacock (TIG President)

• 2002: The 50th Anniversary Convention (Tokyo)

• 2012: The Japan Titanium Society (Institute)

• The 60th Anniversary Convention (Tokyo)

• 2022: The 70th Anniversary Convention (Tokyo)

Chairman: NAKAGAWAJI (Osaka Titanium Manufacturing), Director: KUSUMOTO (Kobe Steel), and TANAKA (Sumitomo Metals) other

Purpose of establishment

The purpose of establishing this society is to plan the sound development of the whole titanium industry, and therewith, to contribute to improving the lives of the people as well as economic development of the society.

Board members (as of November 2022):

Chairman (39th):Takashi HIROSE (Nippon Steel, vice president);

Directors: 10 persons (include chairman)

Auditors: Two persons

Regular members of JTS, as of November 2022.

Titanium Sponge Producers Mill Products Producers Trading Companies

OSAKA

Titanium technologies

Kobe Steel, Ltd

Mitsui Bussan Metals Co , Ltd

Toho Titanium Co , Ltd Nippon Steel Corporation Sumitomo Metalex Corporation

Daido Steel Co , Ltd Alconix Corporation

JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation Shinsho Corporation

JFE Steel Corporation

Aichi Steel Corporation

ITOCHU Metals Corporation

Nippon Steel Trading Corporation

Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc

Associate Members (as of November 2022): 163 companies, (including nine overseas members) and 32 persons

Secretariat: Four persons, including Executive Director (10th) : Motoi Miki

Consultants: 11 persons

JTS consultants are retirees from titanium companies who still have a passion for titanium. Currently, 11 people (cumulative total of 39 people since 1994) support JTS activities as seminar instructors and moderators of subcommittees.

(Note: Motoi Miki is the executive director and secretary general of the JTS.)

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Monico Alloys is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our founder Saul Harold Zenk on October 22, 2022, after a courageous 30-year battle with Waldenstroms (a rare form of blood cancer).

After starting his career with Commercial Metals in the 1960’s, Saul and his partner, Henri Kahn, formed Monico Alloys in 1979. Under his leadership, Monico Alloys grew into one of the premier Titanium and Superalloy vacuum processors in the world.

Monico Alloys’ family asks that any donations be made to:

Hoag Hospital Foundation

1 Hoag Drive

Building 41

Newport Beach, CA 92663

Attn: Gwen Ritter

Memo: Cancer Research In Memory of Saul Zenk

Hermitage, Pa, November 21, 2022 – On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, NASA’s unmanned Orion spacecraft launched successfully from Cape Canaveral at 1:47 am for a six-week test flight around the moon and back. This launch marks the first iteration of NASA’s moon-to-Mars Artemis 1 program. Each successive launch is designed to push the rocket through a series of rigorous tests before it is deemed reliable enough to carry astronauts to the moon and eventually on to Mars.

One of the most daunting aspects of launching a full spaceflight crew into space is deciding what to do if something goes wrong. The astronauts are essentially riding on top of a directed, controlled explosion for approximately nine minutes. For the 2014 Orion launch, NASA introduced the Launch Abort System (LAS). This large manifold housing made from 6AL-4V titanium is designed to rapidly propel astronauts away from the main rocket in case of a catastrophic explosion or any other unexpected event. Once fired, the LAS will accelerate the astronauts away from the main rocket at forces up to 10 to 15 times normal gravity (“G’s”). This critical part of the safety system was once again vacuum heat treated by Solar Atmospheres of Western PA for their most recent launch.

Michael Johnson, Sales Director stated “Before the mighty Artemis rocket left Earth’s atmosphere with 8.8 million pounds of thrust, many of the components and support hardware had already experienced a lunarlike atmosphere here in western Pennsylvania. Many of the titanium and Inconel components were processed well below 1x10-5 Torr throughout thermal processing. Although our crew here on Earth were wearing nitrile gloves, it’s overwhelming to know we had a hand in heat treating these critical parts.”

Solar Atmospheres of Western PA is very proud to contribute to the success of the Orion Artemis 1 Mission and all SLS programs.

For more information about Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, please contact Mike Johnson at 866-9820660 x2223, or mikej@solaratm.com, and visit us at www. solaratm.com.

WARRENVILLE, IL (February 3, 2023) – Plymouth Tube Company announced changes to the composition of its Board of Directors with the retirement of family shareholder Alan Van Pelt and the addition of three new directors.

Plymouth’s CEO Drew Van Pelt thanked Alan Van Pelt for his service, stating that “during Alan’s tenure he brought analytical insight, strategic thinking and financial acumen, as well as a grounding in the values of the Van Pelt family to the board.”

The three new directors recruited to serve on Plymouth’s board include John Byrne, Pete Murray and Dax Whitehouse.

John Byrne is Chairman of the Board for STS Metals and serves on the board of Pasayetn Advisors following a successful twenty-year tenure at Boeing as VP of Aircraft Materials and Structures.

Pete Murray is president of Stirling Rock LLC, a business advisory and service firm focused on small and mid-sized manufacturers. Having started his career in sales and marketing at Alcoa, Pete subsequently led Charter DuraBar, Charter Automotive and Charter Wire as President.

Dax Whitehouse is the Managing Director of Axiom Financial Strategies Group, providing advisory services to closely held and family businesses. Previously Dax was CEO of NetShape, a powdered metal and metal injection

Denver, Colorado - The International Titanium Association (ITA) has named Dr. Markus Holz, professor for Operations Management at Anhalt University of Applied Science, Bernburg, Germany, as the new president of its executive board of directors and committee chairs. Dr. Holz is active in the Titanium Industrie for more than two decades and member of the ITA board for 14 years, where he served the last two years as vice president. The ITA announced Holz’s appointment at its annual TITANIUM USA Conference and Exhibition held Oct. 9-12 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Resort in Orlando, FL.

He graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1986 and earned his Ph.D. in 1992. Following his manufacturer and GM of Hawk Precision Components, an additive manufacturer.

“We are pleased to welcome John Byrne, Pete Murray and Dax Whitehouse,” said Paul Lemke, Chairman of the Board. “Collectively these gentlemen have decades of experience in key disciplines vital to Plymouth’s future success: lean operations, business development, pricing strategy, performance management and leadership development.”

Please contact Holly Both, Vice President of Marketing, with any questions at 630-791-2759.

Plymouth Tube Company is a privately-held, familyowned, precision metals manufacturer. Our products include tubing, extruded shapes and cold drawn shapes spanning specialty carbon, alloy, stainless steel, nickel alloy and titanium. Headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois with seven plants in the United States and Plymouth Schwerter Technik in Germany, Plymouth is known for offering industry leading service levels and unique technical innovations.

10 years of service in the German Airforce, Holz began his career with ThyssenKrupp in 1992, where he assumed several executive positions mainly in the stainless steel and special metals branch. In 1999, Dr. Holz became Managing Director of ThyssenKrupp Titanium GmbH (formerly Deutsche Titan GmbH) and in 2002 he was appointed Managing Director of ThyssenKrupp Titanium S.p.A. (formerly Titania S.p.A.). He was responsible for Tubificio di Terni, Italien, from 2004 through 2007. From 2007 to 2009 he was CEO of the ThyssenKrupp Titanium Group (Germany and Italy). In January 2010 he joined the Managing Board of Hempel Special Metals, Oberhausen, Germany.

After joining as MD the ALD Vacuum Technologies Management Board in October 2011, Holz was appointed as the president of AMG’s Engineering Systems Division and CEO of ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH from 2012 to 2019.

Frank L. Perryman, the president and chief executive officer of Perryman Co., Houston, PA, who led the ITA board from 2020 to 2022, will fill the board position of past president. In 1988 he co-founded Perryman Company with his father and brother. Perryman, with offices in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, London, Zurich, Tokyo and Xi’an, China, is an integrated titanium producer from melting of ingot to finished products.

Martin Pike, VP of Global Commercial Strategies, ATI Specialty Materials, Charlotte, North Carolina, was named vice president of the ITA board. As an executive at ATI Specialty Materials, Pike’s responsibilities include international product management, sales, and long-term agreements with customers. Sam Stiller, vice president, commercial, Howmet Structure Systems, Niles, OH, becomes the secretary/treasurer for the ITA board. Other board of directors include Phil MacVane, vice president, the Americas, PCC Metals Group Global Sales; Michael Marucci, chief technology officer, Kymera International; Brett Paddock, president and chief executive officer, T.I. (Titanium Industries, Inc.); John J. Scherzer, vice president, medical markets, Carpenter Technology Corp.; Edward Sobota Jr., president, STS Metals.

Jennifer Simpson is the executive director of the ITA. ITA is the global trade association of the world’s primary titanium metal producers who together account for over 90% of worldwide titanium production. Visit ITA at www. Titanium.org. Questions may be directed to Jennifer Simpson, ITA 1-303-404-2221 Telephone or ita@titanium. org Email

We are pleased to welcome Nate Fairfield to T.I. in the global role of “Key Account Director”. Nate joins T.I. with strong career experience in specialty metals, sales, marketing, business development and commercial leadership.

With more than 25 years in the industry, Nate has worked for companies like J&L Specialty Steel in sales; ATI –Allegany Ludlum as Plate Marketing Manager; and in 2011 Nate joined Uniti Titanium first as Sales Manager and then later as Sales Director.

Nate’s responsibilities have included strategic pricing systems, product mix optimization, global travel, industrial market mill product development, multifunctional team leadership, insides/outside sales management, etc.

Nate’s successes include selling into new titanium market applications, product strategies for margin improvements, industry association speaking and committee work.

Nate’s full understanding of the titanium market and history; his leadership skills; and hands on management reports to Greg Himstead. style should enable a quick ramp up of his activities as he assumes responsibility for T.I.s large LTA customers. We are looking for synergies between Nate’s deep knowledge of newer industrial applications and the opportunities to grow our industrial market share. When not on the road or when not in the headquarters office in Rockaway, Nate works from his home office in Pittsburg, PA. Nate

Please join me in welcoming Nate to T.I. and please look for the opportunity to introduce yourself to the T.I. team. (nfairfield@titanium.com)

Stanley Joseph Gillish Jr., 79, of Rothbury, passed away Saturday, February 25, 2023. He was born April 14, 1943, at home in Shelby, the son of Stanley Sr. and Eva (McClellan) Gillish. Stan retired after 41 years of employment with Howmet Aerospace, but continued as a consultant in the Titanium industry with Keywell Metals, following his retirement. He also enjoyed various hobbies, including hunting, fishing, golfing, and traveling. Stan had a green thumb which aided him in his gardening and planting of multiple pine trees, earning him the nick-name “Stanley Pinecone.” He was a devout member of St. Peter’s By-The-Lake Episcopal Church in Montague.

Stan is survived by: his loving wife of 62 years, Karen Gillish; children, Scott Gillish, Kevin (Tina) Gillish, Kurt (Dawn) Gillish, and Stacey Gillish; grandchildren, Justyn Gillish, Joshua (Amanda) Gillish, Jared (Bailey) Gillish, Jacob (Megan) Gillish, Kendra (Jeffrey) Mallet, Mallory (Scott) Fick, Hanna Cruz, Grant (Cassie) Gillish, Alex Gillish, Clark (Holly) Gillish, Kyle (Sienna) Burnett, Justine Burnett, and Erica Gillish; and 19 great-grandchildren. Stan was preceded in death by: his parents; and sisters, Marlene and Patricia.

Diane Graham Sobota of Latrobe passed away on Monday, February 6, 2023 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Mercy Neurological Trauma Unit. At 77 years of age, she was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, a community pillar, and most importantly, a great friend to those who were fortunate enough to know her. While working at Teledyne Vasco, she met her future husband and business partner, Edward F. Sobota. They married in 1967 and together shared 43 years and 360 days of love, entrepreneurship, adventure, joy, and happiness until the day Edward passed away.

In 1975, Edward and Diane leveraged their ingenuity, her accounting skills, and his Metallurgical Engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh, to establish TechSpec Inc., a consulting firm specializing in titanium. From its very humble beginnings in a makeshift office in a small room that also served as the laundry room in their home, Ed and Diane built their company into a multimillion dollar manufacturing facility located in Derry. Now known as TSI Titanium, it currently employs 65 people locally and is recognized as a leader in the production of titanium bar product. Diane was very proud of the hard work and risks that she and Ed, and later with their son Eddie, took over the years to build, sustain, and grow their company.

In 2012, two years after the sudden death of her husband, Diane officially retired from TSI Titanium. Following her retirement, Diane began a legacy of philanthropy, much of which she kept private. In honor of her deceased husband, Diane and her sons established the Sobota Family Scholarship at St. Vincent college in 2010 and the Edward F. Sobota Memorial Scholarship Fund for the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering in 2011. She was a very passionate and vocal supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project and similar charities to support our Veterans.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sobota Family Scholarship at St. Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650 or to the Wounded Warriors Project at www. woundedwarriorproject.org.