Avic Laser won the first prize in the National Award for Technological Invention competition with its "laser forming technology of titanium alloys", according to a winner list released on Jan 21. This technology will be soon utilized in industrial production in Beijing.

The new technology has applications for integral aircraft component manufacturing as it replaces the traditional method, which depends on forging and mechanical processing.

Wang Huaming, professor at Beihang University, and his research team developed the technology. They found that titanium alloy is the best material for manufacturing integral components like windshields. The new technology is on the cutting-edge of material engineering and advanced manufacturing.

China's independent titanium alloy windshields found in aircrafts used to be large and complicated. As a result, domestic aircraft manufacturers could only purchase products from European companies at high prices and long delivery cycles.

Wang's research team developed the model in only 55 days in 2009. The cost was one-tenth of European counterparts. China has thus become the second country in the world to develop "rapid laser forming technology of titanium alloy" and apply the technology in airplane production. The program has now settled in Zhongguancun's Changping Park.

"The Beijing municipal government highly values this achievement," said Professor Wang. Government ministries and related entities decided to list it as a major industrialization project. The Beijing government allocated 4 million yuan ($463,200) of equity investment to develop the project. The city will establish an industrialization base and support the university to establish an engineering research center for more R&D programs.

Wang's team aims to industrialize their technical achievements and apply them in China's major equipment manufacturing programs.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai