OREANDA-NEWS. Boeing representatives visited VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation. The visit agenda included negotiations of further cooperation with VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, a shop tour and a meeting devoted to the introduction of new technologies for production of titanium.

John Byrne, Vice President of Boeing Commercial Airplane and Sergey Kravchenko, President of Boeing Russia/CIS visited main production facilities of VSMPO. Mikhail Voevodin, the Corporation CEO, showed major investment objects of VSMPO to the top managers of the U.S. aircraft manufacturer: press 4000, ring rolling line within forging complex as well as a new scull melting area which is currently being commissioned.

The visit agenda also included a 75 thousand ton press with installed new gas heating furnaces. According to John Byrne, Vice President of Boeing Commercial Airplane, development of VSMPO production base strengthened his conviction that "cooperation with the Corporation continues to be an effective partnership":

"Our relations are becoming more profound. We continue our mutual cost reduction efforts. Our near term plans include cooperation under Boeing 777-X project, which will utilize significantly larger volumes of Salda titanium", said John Byrne in his interview to VSMPO press service.

"There have been great changes in the last year and a half. Even formerly grey and gloomy industrial buildings have turned into well-lit buildings with new beautiful facades. I saw a lot of brand new and unique equipment, including 4 thousand ton press which was installed within the shortest possible time. First billets will be forged on this press this week", said Sergey Kravchenko. "I was glad to see professional managers and optimistic employees. The visit confirmed that out long-standing strategic partner VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation is actively improving and upgrading production".

As part of Boeing managers' visit to VSMPO, there was a presentation held of the joint Russian-American projects devoted to the development of new titanium technologies. It was given by Natalia Mitropolskaya, Technological Program Manager of Boeing Russia and James Cotton, Technical Fellow, Metallic Materials, Boeing.

"We're pleased that technologies we develop together with VSMPO employees are quickly implemented and incorporated in our aircrafts in the form of finished parts", noted John Byrne.

It would be appropriate to remind that a contract for supply of Salda titanium mill products to the U.S. aircraft manufacturer was extended this July until 2022.