The National Center for Excellence in Metalworking Technology (NCEMT), RMI Titanium and the U.S. Army are teaming up to develop a plasma arc cold hearth melting (PAM) process to melt and cast titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) into high-quality rectangular slabs that are suitable for rolling directly into armor plate and other applications. With a cost savings of up to 25% over current casting processes, titanium can be used in increased quantities in military vehicles and armament to reduce their weight and enhance their deployment and performance.