UAE-based Strata Manufacturing, a composite aero structures manufacturing facility owned by Mubadala, has announced its key business highlights for 2015 and its plans for further development of local and global supply chains and the expansion of its client base.

Strata’s revenue for 2015 crossed Dh400 million ($108.9 million), up 27 per cent on 2014 figures. During the year, Strata delivered over 433 shipsets, consisting of more than 7,511 parts – representing 29 per cent growth in the total number of parts manufactured in 2014.

Strata also embarked on an expansion project to increase the shop floor area to 31,500 sq m, adding a new extension of 10,000 sq m of usable production space to accommodate new work packages.     

Badr Al Olama, CEO of Strata, said: “For the last five years we’ve focused on developing the company’s capabilities in order to become a globally competitive aero structures manufacturer in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, and we are extremely proud of our achievements to date.”

“In 2016, we will embark on a year of transformation. This year we will accelerate into the next stage of growth – driven by innovation, digitisation and the further development of global value chains,” he added.

During 2015, Strata signed a number of deals that further drove the company’s global competitiveness and supply chain capabilities. Strata also placed a strong emphasis on growing its local supplier network in 2015, and now more than 50 per cent of its suppliers are based in the UAE and have developed extensive knowledge and experience of the aerospace industry.

The company also increased spending on local procurement to almost 40 per cent, an increase of 10 per cent from 2014.

The deals included the first international outsourcing agreement, valued at $120 million to subcontract its ATR vertical fin and rudder programs to GSE Industria Aeronautica srl in Italy.

The sole supplier contract to provide aileron assemblies to Airbus for the A330 and A330neo, making the company the single source supplier of ailerons assemblies to Airbus for its A330 programmes in a contract worth more than $250 million.

Additionally, a multimillion US dollar contract to manufacture Airbus A350-1000 Flap Support Fairings (FSFs) from Swedish company Saab Aerostructures through 2023.

With the focus firmly on future growth, Strata also announced the creation of a new Research & Development (R&D) unit to support its growing portfolio of products and capabilities to develop manufacturing technologies for current and future work packages.

The R&D initiatives will be run in collaboration with Strata’s international partners and local research facilities established within leading UAE academic institutions.

Strata continues to invest in building a leading Emirati workforce in the aerospace industry, it celebrated the growth of its national capabilities within one of the most complex industries worldwide, it currently has 19 Emirati female team leaders from a group of 40 team leaders and two Emirati females within a group of eight team supervisors. The company also celebrated in 2015 the graduation of 41 UAE nationals from the eighth and ninth classes of its Aerostructures Technician Training Programme.

Created in partnership with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and Lockheed Martin in 2010, the programme was established to develop the knowledge base and skill set of young Emirati technicians in a hands-on and engaging environment.

Strengthening the programme further, The Ministry of Social Affairs and Strata signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to partner in the advancement and skill development of UAE Nationals. The partnership aims to build a leading Emirati workforce in the aerospace industry, and strives to enhance the standard of living for people receiving social support, by providing them with professional career opportunities, it added. – TradeArabia News Service