OREANDA-NEWS. September 7, 2012. Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Verkhnaya Salda Metallurgical Production Association (VSMPO-AVISMA) Joint Venture, Ural Boeing Manufacturing (UBM) delivered its first 787-9 lower chord on the day of UBM’s 5th anniversary. The lower chord is part of the wing structure that attaches the wing to the fuselage.

“These five years of working shoulder to shoulder with our great partners from VSMPO were the important years of new projects, experience and opportunities. The start of 787-9 chord production at UBM is one more proof of our successful cooperation,” said Gary Koessler, chief executive officer and general director of Ural Boeing Manufacturing. “We will work together to increase the production volume of our joint venture and its manufacturing capabilities to support increasing Boeing production rates.“

VSMPO-AVISMA has been a Boeing partner and supplier of raw material and titanium parts through a series of long-term purchasing agreements dating back to 1997, when Boeing awarded its first contract to the Russian titanium producer. On July 26, 2007, Boeing and VSMPO-AVISMA founded a 50/50 equity joint venture, Ural Boeing Manufacturing (UBM), based in Verkhnyaya Salda, Russia.

“We are proud to commemorate fifth UBM anniversary with the delivery of such an important part for 787-9,” said Michael Voevodin, general director of VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation. “We will continue to partner with Boeing to maintain a strong alliance and work jointly to increase productivity and create high-quality products.”

These companies already have the experience of successfully working together in this area. Several titanium parts for the innovative 787 Dreamliner are already being manufactured using the alloy developed and integrated jointly by Boeing and VSMPO-AVISMA specialists.

UBM is a new, state-of-the-art facility that machines titanium forgings for the world’s most technologically advanced airplane – the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Boeing forecasts that over the next 30 years it will spend as much as USD 18 billion on the production of Russian titanium products.