Fact and Fiction of American Manufacturing

As of late, the manufacturing sector has seen more signs of recovery. These include surging exports, new hiring, and the “re-shoring”, or return of employment opportunities that had been moved overseas. An American manufacturing revitalization must be on the cusp, and as the industry picks up so do the stories surrounding it.

While manufacturing is returning, so are certain commonplace myths. Many of these myths are unfounded, however, or based off wrong information, including these common four misconceptions about the American manufacturing sector.

The first myth is that all manufacturing companies have the same requirements, such as access to markets and raw materials like titanium, along with low-cost labor, and an encouraging business environment. This is, in fact, a myth as manufacturing is quite diverse. Industry conditions vary quite a bit. In order for a local market to become globally innovative, much research and development is necessary.

The second myth is that the decline of American manufacturing was due to off-shoring of jobs and trade. Actually, between the years of 2000 and 2010, the disappearance of manufacturing jobs is in large part due to the outpacing of output growth as compared to productivity growth, resulting in a twenty percent decline. Additionally, falling demand along with other factors accounted for the loss of over 700,000 jobs.

Another myth is that assembly line work is required for manufacturing employment. Manufacturers investing in machinery have the goal of increasing productivity, in turn requiring less manual laborers. Thus, there is shift in the mix of job types and service-type jobs are created in this scenario. Consider the growth in marketing, engineering, IT services, trucking, etc. Manufacturing is directly linked to 4.7 million jobs in the service-sector.

The final myth is that historical peak levels in manufacturing employment can be someday returned. The 1950s saw twenty-five percent of employment in manufacturing. The United State’s growth and economic evolution seems to have fallen. However, one must realize that the sorts of jobs have changed. Rather than working a production line, better positions are opened such as high-skilled programming of robots or market opportunities.

Only time will tell how manufacturing will grow and change in the U.S. Whether the current growth is sustainable or not can only be measured in the years to come.

How is Titanium Made?

In order to make a titanium block or ingot, there is a specific scientific process that must be carefully followed. Titanium is abundant in the crust of the earth, but does not occur by itself. Rather, it is present in rutile, limonite sphene, iron ores, and titanates. Almost seventy years ago, William Kroll developed a method by which titanium could be produced commercially into the form of a titanium block. The minerals that contain titanium must be charged with a chlorinator in order to make them spongy. At this stage, the substance is referred to as titanium tetrachloride. The chlorinator causes the ores to become porous. After the oxygen is removed from the titanium tetrachloride, a colorless material is left behind. This substance is then distilled. A chemical process is initiated which results in a metallic titanium sponge. An electrode vacuum arc furnace is needed at this point in order to transform the metallic sponge into a titanium block. Before that can occur, however, the spongy material must be completely crushed and pressed. When the pulverizing stage is complete, the resultant substance is then melted in the vacuum arc furnace at very high temperatures. Titanium block ingots are shaped into various sizes, with some weighing as much as six tons. After the development of pure titanium for industrial uses, an economic market soon came into being for the prized metal. With more than a hundred industrial uses, titanium is considered both a financial and scientific success. The aerospace industry uses the metal for its strength and low weight. That combination makes it perfect for dozens of high-tech aerospace applications. In the world of ornamental jewelry, titanium has become a very popular metal, leading to a large demand for titanium bracelets, necklaces, and rings. A titanium block can be melted down and uses in smaller quantities, making it usable for any number of other industries as well.

The Reason Titanium is Used in Aerospace Applications

To the aerospace industry, titanium is unequaled. During the earlier days of manufacturing aircrafts, numerous promising concepts could not be put on an assembly line due to the lack of a strong enough metal, which was light enough to benefit an airplane. Yet with the introduction of titanium approximately one hundred years ago, titanium began being utilized, changing things rapidly throughout the whole industry. This metal has remained the dominant chemical element used in the aerospace sector since then and according to scientists and designers it is considered a scientific wonder.

Titanium’s most amazing quality is its exceptional strength to weight ration. While in its natural form, titanium is surprisingly soft and weak. Once it is alloyed, however, titanium becomes the amazingly powerful and useful substance we are accustomed to. In addition to this, titanium is incredibly heat resistant, being able to resist heat up to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. Titanium is also resistant to oxidation, does not fracture easily, is corrosion resistant, and hardly ever reaches the point of chemical fatigue. Large quantities of titanium are not only utilized by the aerospace industry. Numerous automotive components are manufactured daily by the automotive industry. The jewelry industry is another that makes use of titanium’s versatile characteristics. Medical research sectors also use titanium and have created artificial limbs for the disabled with the use of titanium. Dental appliances are also taking advantage of metal, as titanium works well as implants. Of course, the military has made use of this remarkable material. The areas that titanium is utilized by the military seem endless. For example, fighter jets are equipped with titanium engine components, body panels, and wings. This wonder metal is also found in landing gear and a wide variety of parts for aircraft, avionics, and other weapons. The duel characteristics of mega strength and low weight make the metal a staple of modern science. Like the Titans who ruled completely over their domain, and the beings for which it is named after, titanium has taken the leading role in aerospace technology. Modern technology would not look the same without the usage of this material. If it did not exist, technology would not be so advanced.