Russia's United Aircraft Corporation Launches Commercial Airliner Production with MAG Profilers and Composites Processing Systems

MAG Industrial Automation Systems will supply the first automated composites processing system ordered by the Russian aerospace industry as part of a new sale to Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). The purchase of three machines – a MAG VIPER Fiber Placement System and two HyperMachTM Vertical profilers, valued at more than $9 million – is the first made to support production of UAC's MS-21 series of commercial, medium-range airliners. The machines, all featuring patented technologies, will be delivered in the first quarter of 2011.

The sale broadens MAG's footprint in Russia, which was established with recent sales of 26 large machine tools to Ural Boeing Manufacturing and VSMPO-Avisma. Both companies produce titanium components in Russia for Boeing and Airbus commercial planes. "Our newly created Aerospace Industry Team was a key enabler for us in this sale," said Chip Storie, MAG Executive Vice President, Aerospace. "It brings into focus our strength as the only globally capable company integrating core aerospace manufacturing technologies – metalworking and automated composites processing – engineered, built and backed by a single source with local sales and service in Russia. The team consulted in depth with UAC, even hosting three aerospace manufacturing workshops in Russia that included a design and review of an entire wing factory."

In addition to MAG's composites leadership in aerospace, the company has recently introduced systems to support automated production of wind turbine blades more efficiently – faster, higher quality – and less expensively than conventional methods.