The Chepetsky Mechanical Plant (ChMP) in Russia, a subsidiary of Rosatom's fuel division TVEL, is preparing to expand its domestic supply capacity for zirconium and titanium sooner than initially planned. Originally set to increase production capacity by 2027, TVEL now plans to commission most of the additional capacity by the end of 2024 to meet growing industrial demand.
This expansion involves installing compacting equipment, preparing spaces and utilities for additional units, and restructuring production processes to streamline product movement. This affects not only the plant's metallurgical and rolling production processes but also the supporting infrastructure, such as the tool production facility for rolling equipment.
ChMP produces materials and components for fuel assemblies, nuclear energy enterprises, and the chemical, oil, gas, and medical industries. It is the only Russian manufacturer of products made from zirconium and zirconium alloys, hafnium, calcium, and low-temperature superconducting materials for the aerospace, oil, chemical, nuclear, and mechanical engineering industries. Additionally, the plant produces niobium and titanium metals and alloys, with an annual production capacity of 500 tons of finished titanium products.
In response to international sanctions affecting Russian trade flows, the plant has been tasked with rapidly doubling its production capacity to accelerate domestic industry development.
TVEL is developing new businesses in chemistry, metallurgy, energy storage technologies, 3D printing, digital products, and nuclear facility decommissioning. Within TVEL, industry integrators for additive technologies and electricity storage systems have been established.
The ChMP plant and the nuclear industry integrator for additive technologies have developed a new national standard for titanium alloy powders used in 3D printing. This standard establishes technical requirements, testing methods, packaging, and transportation of metal powders, as well as production safety and environmental protection requirements.
ChMP produces wire for 3D printing and technologies for manufacturing powder products.
Russian demand for titanium powders for manufacturing is projected to grow by 15% annually over the next three years, driven by the adoption of additive technologies in aerospace, other high-tech industries, and medicine. This increase is expected to further boost the usage of related materials.
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