Mohammad Bin Zayed hails aerospace sector
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince tours Strata’s production unit in Al Ain
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has confirmed that the UAE, led by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is working to strengthen its position as a regional and global hub for the aviation industry.
Visiting Strata Manufacturing, the composite aero structures manufacturing facility based in the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed reinforced that the company is an essential component of the UAE’s aviation and manufacturing strategy.
During the visit he noted that Strata’s continued efforts to support the nation’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside other UAE companies and institutions, confirms the country’s ability to continue implementing its ambitious strategy even when faced with today’s current challenges.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed toured Strata’s facilities, where he was briefed on the company’s products, including the aircraft structures manufactured at the plant for major international aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed also heard about the various technologies and innovations incorporated into the company’s production methods, in line with trends associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as the recent addition of the N95 respirator production line at the facility.
The tour began with an address on Strata’s progress since its establishment in 2009, including the establishment of the industrial facilities, production of aerostructures and the new expansion project known as “Strata Plus”, launched in July last year to cater for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner vertical fins work package.
Aerostructures
Shaikh Mohammad was also briefed on the various aerostructures that Strata supplies to major global aircraft manufacturers, in line with world class industrial capabilities, including the production of the glass fibre Airbus A330 flap track fairings, the carbon fibre Airbus A350 flap support fairings and the Airbus A380 flap track farings which are the largest aircraft fairings in the world.
In addition, Shaikh Mohammad
Bin Zayed was briefed on other products manufactured at Strata, such as the Airbus A330 spoiler, which is used aerodynamically to help reduce the plane’s speed, as well as the Airbus A330 ailerons, which support the aircraft rolling capabilities. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed was also briefed on the Airbus A350-900 inboard flaps, which enable the aircraft to secure greater lift during the most critical part of take-off and landing. During the tour, the Pilatus PC-24 business jet belly fairing was presented, this component covers gaps and spaces between parts of an aircraft to reduce drag.
Vertical fin assembly line
Also showcased during the tour was Strata’s latest addition, the vertical fin assembly line for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the largest and most advanced part manufactured in Strata.
Also presented during the tour was the architectural model of the Strata Solvay Advanced Materials Factory in Al Ain. This joint venture with Solvay, the Belgian specialised manufacturer makes Strata the first supplier of aerospace grade composite materials in the Mena region, and the fourth supplier globally.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed also met the team behind the N95 respirator production line at Strata, which the company launched in cooperation with Honeywell, as part of Mubadala’s efforts to limit the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic locally.