Vladimir Putin has visited Russia’s largest titanium producer and inspected the facilities and the modernisation plan. The prime minister was shown the entire technical process: from the production of titanium sponges and bars to pressed products. In the press shop Putin watched the world’s most powerful machine press operate with a force of 75,000 tonnes. Putin then went to an adjacent shop to see the modern metal pressing equipment installed over the past year.

VSMPO-AVISMA Director Mikhail Voyevodin said that about 700 million dollars had been invested in updating the plant and that about 500 million dollars would be spent on modernisation through 2014. In one of the shops, the prime minister was shown some of the end products made by the plant, including parts for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Vladimir Putin also visited Ural Boeing Manufacturing, a joint venture set up by VSMPO-AVISMA and the Boeing Company. There, stamped titanium parts from the nearby titanium giant are preprocessed. In 2010, Ural Boeing Manufacturing began the production of lower chords for large wing parts for the Boeing 787. At present the plant is developping the technology to produce specific smaller parts for the Dreamliner’s wings.

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The prime minister also talked to plant workers.

Transcript of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Hello! How is your work going?

Remark: Very well, thank you.

Vladimir Putin: We are thinking of establishing a free economic zone here. This would help the plant develop a new technology base to make more refined products, which would attract our partners with new technology and result in expanded production.

I reviewed the plant’s operations: it is stable, and it invests much in modernisation. It invested almost 700 million dollars in the last three years and plans to invest about 700 million dollars more in the next three years. Another 1.2–1.3 billion dollars have been invested in these few years in modernisation, meaning that the next step – supporting the plant – is needed. We are supporting it, as you know, but support for modernisation is still needed, to help develop new competence.

In the next two weeks we will issue a government resolution to establish a special economic zone here which comes with certain benefits, primarily customs benefits. But I think we won’t be able to do it next year. Next year the governor promised to attend to creating the necessary infrastructure, as new production requires access ways, roads and communications. We will set aside funds in the 2012 budget and will assist with the constructions of new roads, communication facilities and other things here, around this site.

Remark: We hope to get new roads.

Vladimir Putin: Yes. So the plans for the future are very positive.

Remark: We hope our company will become strong again.

Vladimir Putin: It is working toward that end now. You can’t but see it already.

Remark: Yes, we see it.

Vladimir Putin:  Everything takes its normal course: your products are in demand on the world market.

Remark: Mr Putin, will the town be improved as well?

Vladimir Putin: Town improvement is connected with the improvement of the plant itself.

Remark: We lack housing. Young specialists eager to work come here, but have to move to Yekaterinburg. The newly built housing is very expensive and unaffordable for us. We managed to get a flat in the past but now must help our grown-up children with the housing.

Vladimir Putin: I have just discussed this problem with the governor. Housing construction will be improved. We will discuss this here and in other places that we are going to visit today.

Remark: Our stadium has been rebuilt.

Vladimir Putin: Yes, I saw it.

Remark: But the indoor ice rink is still closed, though many boys here are eager to use it.

Vladimir Putin: Oh, really? When I passed it, I asked, “This must be an ice rink.” I was answered, “Yes.” “What about it?” I asked. “The ice rink is functioning.”

Remark: When will it be opened?

Vladimir Putin: When will it be opened?

Answer: In March.

Remark: That would be great.

Vladimir Putin: Did you hear? In March!

Remark: We believe you. It will be a gift for us on March 8.

Remark: Our boys, our grandchildren, will play hockey there, even if it is not for free.

Vladimir Putin: We must learn to skate and then we’ll skate together.

Remark: I can skate. I skate with my grandson.

Vladimir Putin: You’re lucky. I can still only skate with a chair.

Remark: But still you can do it – and you are much better in other sports!

Vladimir Putin: That’s true, I am doing my best. Best wishes to you.

Remark: Thank you very much. Come see us again.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you, I certainly will. Good bye.