Fort Wayne Metals
Metal wire
Company Overview and Global Presence
Fort Wayne Metals, established in 1970, is a global manufacturer specializing in precision materials for critical applications. With headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, and an additional plant in Ireland, the company maintains a significant international footprint, exporting products to over 45 countries through 12 facilities in the U.S. and two in Europe, supported by various global sales representatives. The company operates with a strong commitment to innovation, quality, and customer focus, underpinned by values such as integrity, teamwork, and social responsibility. Fort Wayne Metals holds numerous certifications, including AS 9100D, ISO 9001:2015, EN ISO 13485:2016, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for chemical and mechanical testing, and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management.
Precision Materials and Product Forms
The company offers an extensive portfolio of precision materials, including various grades of stainless steel, titanium, Nitinol, high-performance alloys, and refractory metals. These materials are engineered to possess specific properties such as corrosion resistance, high strength, biocompatibility, superelasticity, and shape memory effects, catering to demanding environments. Product forms include round, flat, and specialty-shaped wire; complex strands and cables (down to 0.04 mm overall diameter); HHS® tubes for torque and flexibility; centerless ground bar; and custom mechanical assemblies. Fort Wayne Metals also provides specialized offerings like DFT® wire (combining dissimilar materials), SLT® wire (straight-off-the-spool), and NDR® wire (enhanced fatigue life).
Advanced Capabilities and Customer Support
Fort Wayne Metals boasts advanced manufacturing capabilities, including fully integrated Nitinol melting processes (Plasma Arc Melting and Vacuum Arc Remelting) to ensure supply chain security and consistent quality. The company's Research and Development team, with over 225 combined years of experience, drives custom alloy development and material optimization. An accredited in-house laboratory offers comprehensive materials testing. Additional services include precise laser ablation for coating removal, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) packages, a Kanban stocking program for consistent supply, and a VELOCITY℠ program for accelerated product delivery. The company's commitment extends to offering a variety of coatings (e.g., ETFE, PFA, Polyimide) for electrical insulation, chemical separation, or enhanced lubricity, with wall thicknesses ranging from 0.010 mm to 0.1270 mm.
Target Markets and Differentiators
Fort Wayne Metals primarily serves the medical device industry, with a vast majority of its materials used in applications supporting nearly every area of the human body, including neurostimulation, orthopaedics, and cardiac rhythm management. Beyond healthcare, its precision materials are vital in aerospace, industrial, automotive, and electronics sectors. The company's key differentiators include its deep material science expertise, vertically integrated production, extensive R&D capabilities, a broad range of specialized product solutions, and a strong focus on quality and customer collaboration to meet unique application requirements.
