Fort Wayne Metals Expands Nitinol Melting Capabilities

To meet growing market needs and customer demand, Fort Wayne Metals has expanded to melting nitinol into bar, strip, and sheet form. (Credit: Fort Wayne Metals)

Fort Wayne Metals, a developer of precision materials for the medical device industry, has expanded its nitinol melting capabilities. The company doubled its melted Nitinol output from 2022 to 2024 and is poised to double that capacity again in 2025, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and customer support, according to the company.

Since opening its nitinol melt facility in 2012, the company says that it has established itself as a fully integrated supplier, controlling every step of the nitinol manufacturing process — from melting to custom finishing.

Over the past decade, the company has supplied more than 650,000 lbs of its melted alloy in wire form, becoming a trusted partner for manufacturers of miniaturized and complex medical devices. Furthermore, in the last 12 months, to meet growing market needs and customer demand, Fort Wayne Metals has expanded to melting nitinol into bar, strip, and sheet form.

To address growing demand and increase capacity, the company upgraded its plasma arc melting furnace, doubling production output compared to 2022–2023. Additionally, a second vacuum arc remelting (VAR) furnace is set to become operational in early 2025, which will enable shorter lead times for customers and further enhance capacity, positioning Fort Wayne Metals to melt as much as 1,000,000 lbs of nitinol annually.

“The expansion of our melting capabilities demonstrates our long-term commitment to meeting the needs of our customers and becoming the largest, most reliable source of Nitinol for medical device manufacturers,” says Scott Glaze, chairman and CEO of Fort Wayne Metals. “We are always looking to the future, continuously innovating to better serve our customers and empower their own groundbreaking developments.”

Fort Wayne Metals-melted Nnitinol is available in custom-shaped wire, bar, and shape-set assemblies. Wire and bar size capabilities range from 0.0127 mm (0.0005 in.) to 51 mm (2 in.) in diameter, including extremely small diameters that are used in tiny, complex medical devices and cutting-edge medical technologies. With these latest advancements, the company says that it is well positioned to continue solidifying its role as a global leader in nitinol production.

For more information, visit www.fwmetals.com .