ITA accepting applications for titanium development award

The International Titanium Association (ITA), Broomfield, Colo., is accepting applications for its second annual Titanium Applications Development award.

The ITA will announce the winner of the $20,000 award at the TITANIUM 2008 Conference, which is scheduled for Sept. 21-24 at Caesar's Palace Hotel in Las Vegas. Five executives from Tokyo-based Nippon Steel Corp. garnered the ITA's initial Applications Development award last year.

Brett Paddock, president and COO of Titanium Industries Inc., Rockaway, N.J., said the titanium industry is, to a large degree, a cyclical market driven by the aerospace sector, and as a result the ITA's education and outreach efforts to promote new applications are considered essential for the association's continued international growth. Paddock, who also chairs the ITA application award and membership committees, was instrumental in launching the award. He said aerospace remains the key driver of titanium, but it is now more important than ever to find other, sustainable industrial markets to complement the aerospace business and consume the expanded metal production.

The award also represents the continuing efforts of the ITA to promote new business for its members. Judging criteria include significant achievement toward improving and expanding the use of titanium; promoting titanium products into new applications or enhancing existing applications; unveiling technology breakthroughs; influencing research or market programs; and creating important, innovative uses for titanium.

The application deadline is June 30. Application forms can be downloaded from the ITA Web site at www.titanium.org. Applicants should mail forms to ITA (Titanium Applications Development Award), 2655 W. Midway Blvd., Suite 300, Broomfield, CO 80020. Additional information is available at 303-404-2221.

A nonprofit networking trade association for the titanium metals industry, the ITA promotes the continued growth of the industry and works to educate the public on the benefits of using titanium.