In most turbine engines, the compressor stage contains a bladed, rotating disk that is a very expensive component to manufacture. The Blisk or IBR is a design which eliminates the mechanical assembly method of producing this component.  Another option is to machine a large forging, but this process has significant labor cost and large material yield loss. The LFW joining technology results in raw material savings in excess of 30%, as well as significant savings in labor costs.  The new techniques used to produce Blisks or IBR are the machining of the rotating disk (a small forging), combined with joining blades by Linear Friction Welding on to the disk.  Subsequent heat treatment and machining finish the final component.

For blades over 100 mm height, LFW blisks are more economical due to :

• Lower material cost,
• Faster process,
• Possibility of joining different Ti alloys : disk material may be different of blades material,
• Possibility of producing blisks with hollow blades (for example produced by DB/SPF),
• LFW is the only technique which could become a repairing solution of damaged blades.