Airbus, the leading aircraft manufacturer, Goodrich Corporation, the global supplier of systems and services to the aerospace and defence markets and VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, the Russian titanium manufacturer, have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of titanium forgings used for the manufacturing of the A350-1000’s main landing gears. The contract will cover supply until 2020.

Goodrich is to develop and provide the main landing gear, based on its experience in incorporating the latest technologies and materials, especially VSMPO’s high-strength titanium alloy. VSMPO has been awarded 100% share in the titanium forgings supplies.

VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation will potentially also machine the related titanium forging in the future in order to develop a vertically integrated titanium supply chain, starting from raw materials to finished products.

“This signature is the result of VSMPO’s long-term and stable activity with EADS/Airbus and Goodrich, including supplies of titanium products and research and development. It brings our relationship to the next level,” said Mikhail Voevodin, General Director of VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation. “Supply of the value added products for the А350 XWB aircraft will open more opportunities for our companies in the future.”

“This agreement represents a continuation of VSMPO’s and Goodrich’s growing relationship with EADS/Airbus as key suppliers of titanium and landing gears respectively. Building upon their successful experience on the A380 programme, we are confident that this agreement will allow the Goodrich-VSMPO alliance to continue its success on A350 XWB programme,” explained Christopher Buckley, Airbus’ Executive Vice President, Europe, Asia and Pacific.

Since the 1990s, VSMPO-AVISMA has become a major supplier for Airbus and its parent company EADS and today covers 60% of the group’s titanium needs in semi-finished products or titanium forgings. Based on the strategic and increasing importance of titanium use in every new aircraft programme and in the aeronautic industry as a whole, in April 2009, EADS/Airbus and VSMPO-AVISMA signed the biggest and longest-term frame contract for the supply of titanium for Airbus and other EADS divisions until 2020. In the scope of this 2009 agreement, Airbus manages the distribution to the whole EADS supply chain.

The A350 XWB Family consists of three passenger versions with true long-range capability. Offering three different sizes, airlines can best match their A350 XWB fleets to route capacity demands, guaranteeing optimum revenue potential. Airbus forecasts a demand over the next 20 years for around 5,800 new twin-aisle mid-size passenger aircraft.

Notes to editors:
About VSMPO-AVISMA

VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation is the world’s largest Titanium producer. Corporation is deeply integrated into the world aerospace industry and for many companies is the basic strategic supplier of products from the titanium. Production facilities comprising the Corporation are united by a single process flow and employ approximately 25,000 people globally. AVISMA’s sponge titanium is used at VSMPO in production of higher value-added products, such as billet, bar, plate, sheet, section, forging, etc. Up to 70% of such titanium products are exported. In addition to finished products sales, Corporation can also provide with some conversion and production services: cutting, heat-treatment, machining, etc.

About Goodrich

Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities.

Source and image: EADS