Rostec created a center for the production of organic glass parts for glazing for Russian aviation
Ulan-Ude / September 02, 2019
Russian Helicopters Holding Company (a part of RostecState Corporation) has established a specialized center for production of organic glass parts for glazing at the premises of Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. In the future, the entire range of glazing parts for the country's aviation industry will potentially be manufactured there.
The decision to create this center of competence was made as part of development strategy for the integrated structure of Russian helicopter engineering for the period until 2025.
"We are creating a unique center for the production of aircraft glazing parts at the premises of Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. To ensure reliable strength characteristics and high quality of our products we are going to use new materials and modern technologies. It is planned that the center will reach its full production capacity in 2021," reported Aviation Cluster of Rostec.
To reduce brittleness and likelihood of cracking, the glass produced at U-UAP undergoes stretching in the heated state and then cooling under load. This process is called "orientation". The stretched organic glass is afterwards used for production of parts by combined molding (for blisters and windows) or by cold molding (80% of helicopter glass components and 100% of aircraft glass components).
The next stage of the project assumes installation of new equipment for forming organic glass parts, cutting thin glass sheets into blanks and manufacturing double glazing frames for the Ansat helicopter, which will make it possible to develop plastic molding methods.
"The cockpit glazing parts form the eye of the helicopter Thequality of cockpit glass and its optical properties determine how well the pilot will be able to see the surroundings. This specialized center shall concentrate on solving that task in the most optimal way", says Leonid Belykh, Managing Director of JSC U-UAP. "The center will be able to provide glass components to companies not only within the holding but also in United Engine Corporation."
An agreement has already been signed with the Kazan Aircraft Production Association, a branch of PJSC Tupolev, for manufacture of an experimental batch of windows for civil aviation during the fourth quarter of 2019, as well as an agreement with JSC Aviastar-SP. The organic glass product range was also worked out for PJSC Voronezh Aircraft Production Association (VASO) and JSC RAC MiG.
In April 2019 United Aircraft Corporation underwent a technological audit. It evaluated the technological capabilities of the plant, procurement management and warehousing, organization of production sites and workplaces, staff training levels, as well as the process of organizing and performing technological preparation. A lot of attention was paid to production planning and the quality management system (QMS).
The audit results revealed a high degree of readiness of JSC “U-UAP” for implementing production of glazing parts for enterprises of PJSC UAC. It is planned to include JSC “U-UAP” into the list of suppliers of organic glass parts to UAC companies in the near future.
JSC “Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant” is one of the production enterprises of Russian Helicopters Holding Company. The modern production and technological potential of the plant enables quick organization of manufacturing new aircraft types and combination of prototype creation with serial equipment production. During eighty years of its existence, the plant built over 8500 aircraft. Today, the plant specializes in production of Mi-8AMT (Mi-171E), Mi-171 and Mi-8AMTSh (Mi-171Sh) helicopters.
JSC “Russian Helicopters”, a part of Rostec State Corporation, is a leading player in the global helicopter industry, the sole Russian designer and manufacturer of helicopters. The Holding Company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. We operate five helicopter assembly plants, two design bureaus, component production and maintenance enterprises, aircraft repair plants and one helicopter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The customers of the Holding Company are the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazpromavia, UTair Aviation company, large Russian and foreign companies.
State Corporation Rostec is one of the largest industrial companies in Russia. It unites more than 800 scientific and industrial organizations in 60 regions of the country. Its key areas of activity are transport engineering, electronics, medical technology, chemistry and innovative materials. Rostec holdings form three clusters: electronics, weapons and aviation. The corporation’s portfolio includes such well-known brands as AvtoVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, Uralvagonzavod and others. Rostec is active in the implementation of all 12 national projects. The company is a key provider of Smart City technology, it is engaged in the digitalization of public administration, industry and social sectors, and it is developing plans for the development of 5G wireless technologies, an Industrial Internet of Things, big data and blockchain systems. Rostec partners with leading world manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, Daimler, Pirelli and Renault. The corporation’s products are delivered to more than 100 countries worldwide. Almost a third of the company's revenue comes from the export of high-tech products.