Ever growing demands in the aerospace industry for safer, lighter and stronger materials are also opening up exciting new possibilities – for reduced fuel consumption, flawless operation under higher pressures and reduced costs through smarter designs. For more than 50 years, we’ve supported leading engineering companies to develop next-generation civilian and defense aviation, spaceships and satellites. Our philosophy is simple: together, nothing is impossible!
It’s an innovative attitude rooted in a 154-year steelmaking tradition where metallurgical firsts – backed by today’s team of 2,700 R&D experts – has driven the development of premium stainless steel and titanium tubing products, structural components, composites and machining solutions. Our broad range of aerospace tubular products is used by leading OEMs for fuel lines, hydraulic lines, instrumentation systems, pressure gauging and more – in OD 3 to 50.80 mm for stainless (0.118 to 1.968 inches) and OD 6 to 50 mm for titanium (0.236 to 2 inches).
To secure the swift delivery of top-end products, we operate three highly specialized tube mills in key aerospace hubs in Europe and the United States: Sandvik High Precision Tube in Werther, Germany, Sandvik Special Metals in Kennewick, Washington, USA, and Summerill High Precision Tube in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, USA. Our tube mill in Germany is becoming a center of excellence for aerospace while our mill in Washington is a well-known, NADCAP-certified provider of advanced titanium tubing. Additionally, our tube mill in Pennsylvania is an established manufacturer of high precision tubes serving demanding aerospace customers for over 120 years. Key aerospace certifications have either been received or are underway at all mills.
A new generation of smart, multi-role defense aircraft is placing tough demands on strong, lightweight materials for critical hydraulics and other operations. They must deliver unrivalled performance, while handling higher system pressures and at temperatures ranging from –65° to 275°F.
High strength and lightweight hydraulic tubing and structural components from Sandvik are used throughout the fuselage, often in titanium or high-alloy steel grades. Whether for door hydraulics or seating structures, our aircraft grade titanium products offer high quality and are roughly 30% stronger and 50% lighter than conventional steel. Precision hydraulic instrumentation tubing is critical to safe actuation of flight control surfaces such as flaps and slats, as well as fuel supply management.
The vibration and stress on modern helicopters necessitates the usage of increasingly lightweight and strong materials. Sandvik is proud to provide some of the world’s most demanding manufacturers with top-end stainless steel and titanium tubing for the trailing edge of helicopter rotor blades as well as the critical tubing for hydraulics and instrumentation. With hydraulic pressures often exceeding 3,000 psi, the challenges on the hydraulic actuators can often be extreme.
Modern jet engines are expected to be stronger, lighter and quieter than ever, while still delivering up to 120,000 pounds of thrust and zero defects. We work closely with the aerospace industry in the development of materials for next generation engine programs. This includes some of the latest high-strength
grades of titanium for hydraulic tubing and fuel systems as well as special alloys.
Today’s increasingly larger aircraft require more wheels and advanced designs, with hydraulic systems capable of ensuring safe operation with pressures often exceeding 3,000 psi. Modern landing gear must be optimized for shock absorption to minimize the loads on touchdown and to insure optimal ground-riding comfort. This demands carefully engineered subassemblies designed for the more severe requirements on safety, reliability, service life, maintainability and weight.
The resurgence of interest in private space exploration, satellite launches and high altitude flight is placing demands on new engine designs that are lighter, more energy efficient and even reusable. With their high thrust-to-weight rations, modern rocket engines rely on fuel systems made of the highest-grade stainless alloy or titanium tubing material. We’re proud to supply some of the world’s leading space programs.
Sandvik is an engineering group in materials technology, metal-cutting, and mining and rock excavation.
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