In the copper alloys industry, few designations are as important as being NNS-approved.
This term refers to being formally approved by Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) – one of the largest and most demanding shipyards in the world to manufacture specific copper-based materials.
Here at Copper Alloys, we are proud to be NNS-approved for submarine forgings.
The NNS approval is a mark of excellence plus it means we have the opportunity to work with the U.S. naval supply chain.
NNS builds some of the most complex and mission-critical vessels, including U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and submarines. All of these platforms rely heavily on copper-nickel alloys for seawater systems, corrosion-resistant components, and high-reliability castings. Due to the extreme performance requirements, NNS has a tightly controlled Approved Supplier List for each main material category.
Being an approved supplier means we have demonstrated:
- Consistent compliance with NNS engineering and quality standards:These standards include chemical composition, mechanical properties, and casting integrity requirements that exceed typical commercial specifications
- Robust quality management systems: Copper Alloys also holds certifications including ISO9001, AS9100 and ISO45001.
- Successful submission of technical data and test results: All NNS suppliers must provide detailed metallurgical and mechanical test reports for review.
- Compliance with NNS engineering and quality standards: This means exceeding typical commercial specifications for chemical consumption, mechanical properties and casting integrity requirements.
- Control of sub-tier suppliers: NNS requires ‘flow-down’ of quality requirements from approved suppliers to ensure every link in the supply chain meets the same high standards.
How NNS Approval is different from other industry standards
It’s important to know that NNS approval is different from broader industry standards. Here are some distinctions:
- UNS numbers define alloy chemistry only; they do not certify a supplier.
- ISO/AS9100 certifications validate quality systems but don’t grant permission to supply NNS.
- NNS approval is bespoke to each customer and tied to naval-grade performance specifications.
Speak to innovative alloys specialists
Here at Copper Alloys, we have over 25 years’ experience supplying NNS-approved elite alloys to the U.S. submarine supply chain. Get in touch now or use our Alloy Selector to search specific properties for your technical metal requirements.
