Boeing, the worldwide leading aerospace corporation based in Chicago, has qualified Swissmetal with the special alloy CN8. The material is used for components in landing gear and other moving parts such as plain bearing bushes. Swissmetal delivers bars and tubes manufactured from this high quality alloy to suppliers of Boeing, who subsequently process these in additional work stages to produce high-tech parts for aircrafts. Boeing uses parts produced from CN8 both in its new aircrafts and in retrofits for older aeroplanes within the framework of maintenance, repairs and modernisation programs.

CN8 is cast using the technically-challenging Osprey process, in which the liquid metal particles are joined together under a nitrogen atmosphere. The cast bars are subsequently pressed into the requisite shapes and dimensions using the new extrusion press at the Dornach site. During this process, the press is required to apply its maximum force of over 5,000 tons to this hard material. The alloy satisfied the complex qualification process due to its combination of excellent material characteristics including high material strength, high corrosion resistance and superb friction characteristics. The alloy, which was developed by Swissmetal itself for extreme loads in the aerospace and oil industries, is able to withstand constantly changing physical loads with ease – providing assurances for long and continuous performance capabilities in permanent operation.

CN8 is the result of intensive and successful cooperation between Swissmetal und Boeing and is one of many examples of development cooperation maintained by the company, e.g. with customers such as Messier-Dowty. This qualification opens up important market potentials to Swissmetal in times of uncertainty and significantly strengthens the strategic pillar of speciality products. Swissmetal also obtained material approvals from renowned manufacturers in the aerospace industry back in 2008, in order to equip aircrafts from Boeing and Airbus with landing gear components. Swissmetal estimates that the first orders will be issued at the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010. In the midterm, the company anticipates annual contributions to sales by CN8 in the two-digit millions.