Introducing TitAelium: Next Gen Titanium Trapeze Cleat
TitAelium is the new trapeze cleat by Gottifredi Maffioli, designed to meet the demands of today’s highest-performing dinghies. Developed through a close collaboration between Gottifredi Maffioli, Olympic Champion Ruggero Tita, and ProM Facility, Trentino Sviluppo’s mechatronic prototyping and product development centre.
This product comes pre-equipped with a Dyneema® Gottifredi Maffioli line and is ready to use. It will be marketed exclusively by the Novara-based company.
This groundbreaking cleat is designed to reduce both weight and aerodynamic drag in a manoeuvre constantly subjected to the ever-increasing speeds of new high-performance dinghies. Its titanium construction ensures unmatched durability and contributes to an extremely compact, lightweight and robust system.
TitAelium is manufactured from aerospace-grade titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) using a cutting-edge 3D printing process based on L-PBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) technology. This enables exceptional precision and a single-block structure with no moving parts. The result is maximum corrosion resistance, zero maintenance and minimal aerodynamic resistance.
Weighing just 18 grams and measuring 55 x 12.5 x 27 mm, it features an ergonomic surface texture for a safe and comfortable grip in all conditions. The kit includes two differently sized washers and rope-locking bushings, both 3D-printed in nylon, underlining the technical and functional consistency of the system.
The project took over nine months of development, including three major design iterations, hundreds of hours of prototyping and simulation, and extensive field testing. From the outset, the entire component was conceived to take full advantage of additive manufacturing, striking a perfect balance between advanced technology and performance application.
TitAelium comes with a high-performance Dyneema line: Gottifredi Maffioli and Ruggero Tita have worked together since 2015 to develop solutions for Olympic classes. In this case, the line is a Novabraid 78 mm 2.5, with a 1x1x24 M Dyneema cover. The rope is finished with a covered spliced eye for cow hitch for personal trapeze ring use.
This marks the first time a component developed by ProM Facility for Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti’s Olympic campaign is made available to the public, thanks to Gottifredi Maffioli.
TitAelium will be officially presented on June 26th during the 2025 edition of Foiling Week in Malcesine, Lake Garda, and will be available from mid-July 2025 at https://titaelium.gottifredimaffioli.com/.
The meaning behind the name TitAelium
The name TitAelium combines Aeolus, the Greek god of the winds, with Titanium, a symbol of strength and lightness. It evokes speed, agility and motion while expressing both power and precision. The visual ligature Æ fuses wind and metal, and its phonetic similarity to Helios, the sun god, anchors the product to its natural marine habitat.
The name also pays tribute to Ruggero Tita, who inspired the project: “Ever since I was a child racing Optimists, I’ve had a passion for dismantling boats to understand how they worked and how to improve each part. When I started my Olympic campaign with Caterina Banti, it became a necessity: identifying every detail to ensure each component was perfect.
After many years in Olympic classes, we needed a cleat that was lighter, more efficient and more aerodynamic. We started from a standard cleat and, with ProM Facility’s support, developed numerous prototypes and tested various materials. Titanium emerged as the ideal solution: it drastically reduces aerodynamic resistance thanks to its lightness, strength, durability and compact size.
I’ve worked with Gottifredi Maffioli for years: they’re like family. Their products have always been excellent, but what I’ve appreciated most is the collaborative technical development of the lines. TitAelium is a step further: a solution born from a real regatta need, developed with ProM Facility, and now entering the market through an outstanding team effort. I’m proud to launch a product that can truly make a difference in our sport.”
Rossella Maffioli, Commercial Director of Gottifredi Maffioli, adds:
“TitAelium perfectly embodies one of our core values: lightness. Not only in our textile and now metallic products, but in our mindset: a light, open and flexible approach to challenges, free from unnecessary burden. It’s a value that drives innovation and fosters a positive work environment where creativity and strong relationships can thrive.
This vision made possible a unique partnership between our company, Ruggero and ProM Facility. Once again, Gottifredi Maffioli has become a meeting ground for innovators, a research lab that transforms material innovation into performance.”
Paolo Gregori, Director of ProM Facility, explains: “We began working with Ruggero Tita during the Tokyo Olympics campaign, where he won his first gold medal, using ProM Facility’s expertise and technologies to improve sailing components through 3D printing. One of these projects led to a broader use case, which caught the attention of Gottifredi Maffioli. Together we formed a partnership to bring this innovation to the market.”
This project marks a major milestone for ProM Facility, our first product to reach commercial production and distribution. Even more significant is that an Olympic athlete like Ruggero Tita is choosing to share a winning solution with the public.
The product’s key technical specifications are as follows:
· Material: Aerospace-grade titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V)
· Manufacturing process: 3D printing
· Technology: L-PBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion)
· Weight: 18 grams
· Dimensions: 55 x 12.5 x 27 mm
· Performance: Monobloc design with no moving parts, corrosion resistant, zero maintenance. Minimal aerodynamic drag. Integrated grip-enhancing texture for all conditions.
· Accessories: 3D-printed nylon washers and rope-locking bushings