Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala forms aircraft composites joint venture with Solvay

Abu Dhabi investment company Mubadala has formed a joint venture with Belgian chemical and advanced materials company Solvay to manufacture composite materials for the aerospace industry in the UAE.

The joint venture has already been awarded its first primary materials supply contract by US aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

Its operations will be located in the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park through Mubadala unit Strata Manufacturing.

“The joint venture will create new job demand for highly skilled Emirati engineers, alongside existing talent that are currently employed by Strata,” said Mubadala Aerospace & Engineering Services chief executive Homaid Al Shimmari.

“This is a landmark announcement from Mubadala as we continue to build an aerospace ecosystem in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

The new unit will construct ‘prepreg’ composite materials used in the carbon fibre weaves of more advanced aircraft to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.

The Boeing contract will see the firm supply advanced materials used to complete the empennage and floor beams of the new 777X aircraft line.

The joint venture is expected to be operational by 2021.

“Our commitment to purchase this prepreg material for the 777X meets several important goals for Boeing, from further advancing aerospace industry development in the UAE to expanding high-quality materials in our supply chain,” said Boeing Commercial Airlines president and chief executive Ray Conner.

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala, owned by the emirate’s sovereign wealth fund, aims to be among the world’s top three manufacturers of composite and metal parts for aeroplanes by 2020.

The firm recently appointed a new chairman and deputy CEO at Strata, which has existing partnerships with Airbus and Boeing as well as suppliers like Alenia Aermacchi, FACC AG and SAAB

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala appoints new chairman, deputy CEO at Strata