The words "low cost" and "titanium" are rarely used in the same sentence. As a material developed for the aerospace industry, titanium has been relegated to expensive, highly engineered components. The unique properties of titanium are not often found in every day products that can benefit from its high strength to weight, excellent corrosion resistance and superior heat transfer characteristics that contribute to its popularity as an exotic metal. Low cost manufacturing processes for consumer products in steel and aluminum are mature and stable; however it wasn't until the golf industry discovered the benefits of titanium that it became more of a commodity. Now, methods like lean manufacturing with just‐in‐time delivery are used to lower the price of titanium components. Rapid prototyping and concurrent engineering are frequently used to assure the shortest possible cycle time from design to market. Proprietary methods to reduce raw material costs have been developed. Processes such as chemical milling and heat treatment can be eliminated in most cases when there is no added benefit to the function of commercial components.
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