Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Rostech, a state holding company that is the majority shareholder in VSMPO-Avisma Corp., agreed to terms for expanding their joint venture by establishing a second Ural Boeing Manufacturing plant at Verkhnyaya Salda, in that country’s “Titanium Valley.”
"Today we mark another important step in further expanding our partnership and our mutually beneficial cooperation," stated Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner. He added that "Rostec has been a reliable and valuable partner for Boeing for many years.”
Most details of the planned new operation were not announced, including the cost and the development schedule. Boeing simply stated the new UBM operation would make titanium parts in the Titanium Valley – a special economic zone in Sverdlosk province for manufacturers of titanium products for aircraft and automotive producers, shipbuilding, and medical and surgical parts.
VSMPO-Avisma is the world’s largest titanium producer and supplies titanium mill products and semi-finished parts (including forgings) to Boeing, as well as other aircraft OEMs.
The two partners established UBM in July 2007 to machine titanium forgings produced by VSMPO-Avisma for Boeing jets, including the 787 Dreamliner, 737, and 777. Is started operation in July 2009.
The parts produced by UBM are finish-machined by Boeing at its Gresham, Ore., plant.
Just over a year ago Boeing said it had budgeted $27 billion for Russian-sourced titanium, aerospace design-engineering services, and other services and materials over the coming 30 years.
"This agreement continues to build upon our strategic partnership with Boeing,” stated Sergey Chemezov, Rostec CEO. "We are committed to maintaining a strong alliance and working together to increase productivity and create high-quality products for Boeing airplanes.
