Boeing Co.’s Russian titanium- producing joint venture began operating on 7 July 2009, giving the commercial-aircraft maker a bigger supply of a metal used increasingly for lightweight components. The partnership with OAO VSMPO-Avisma is part of a USD 27 billion investment program Boeing has planned in Russia over the next 30 years. The Ural Boeing Manufacturing venture will provide titanium forgings for Boeing’s planned 787 Dreamliner model. Almost 20% of the 250- seat Dreamliner will be composed of the metal. Ural Boeing Manufacturing will perform preliminary machining of 800 forgings a year provided by VSMPO’s titanium mill, according to that contract. Final processing will be completed at a Boeing plant in Portland, Oregon, US.