Russian alloy manufacturer says quarrel with Ukrainians will not affect shipments
Russian titanium giant VSMPO is insisting that a dispute with one of its main raw materials suppliers will not jeopardise vital shipments to Airbus and Boeing.
VSMPO-Avisma chairman and co-owner Viatcheslav Brecht has threatened “countermeasures” against Ukrainian-owned Volnogorsk GOK, which provides VSMPO with ilmenite, the most important ore from which titanium is extracted. “We want to understand the technical reasons that caused them to discontinue deliveries. Once we have understood what is going on we’ll take countermeasures,” he says.
Titanium has become increasingly important in aircraft manufacture, and Boeing has increased the use of the alloy from around 8% in the 777 to 20-22% in its new 787. It says VSMPO is a “very important partner for us because they are now the major commercial supplier to Boeing”.
Airbus says it has “no worries” about the continuity of supplies. “We note the disruption in Ukraine, but as there are a significant number of suppliers on the market we have sufficient resources elsewhere if necessary,” it says.
VSMPO and Boeing have a relationship dating to the early 1990s, when the Russian company lost all its contracts to supply titanium for submarines, weapons and ships. According to Anton Zhiganov, Boeing senior manager, co-operative programmes Russia/CIS, “they had to survive and spoke to Boeing. We spent some money certifying them…we didn’t have any choice. Either we did that or we would lose titanium.” VSMPO supplies completed titanium forgings and is considering machining forgings.
Despite his threat against Volnogorsk GOK, Brecht insists that the availability of ilmenite “is not a significant factor for us. No-one can stop VSMPO. As a last resort, it would not be a problem to find an alternative source.”
VSMPO says it has appointed two international banks in preparation for an international initial public offering next year.
JULIAN MOXON/LONDON
Source: Flight International
