Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi investment and development company, has joined hands with Belgium’s Solvay to set up a joint venture company that will manufacture ‘prepreg’ composite materials critical to the aerospace industry for the first time in the UAE.

The joint venture, to be located in the centre of Abu Dhabi’s growing aerospace hub, the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park (Nibras), is likely to be operational by 2021.

It will be established through Strata Manufacturing, Mubadala’s advanced aero structures manufacturing business.

According to Mubadala, the joint venture has been awarded its first primary materials supply contract by Boeing, reinforcing the UAE firm and Solvay’s longstanding relationship with the world’s largest aerospace company.

Commenting on the joint venture, Homaid Al Shimmari, CEO of aerospace and engineering services at Mubadala, said: "The announcement with Solvay Group, a leading international chemical and advanced materials company, fortifies our status as a driver for creating an advanced manufacturing and aerospace cluster in the UAE."

“The joint venture will create new jobs demand for highly skilled Emirati engineers, alongside existing talent that are currently employed by Strata,” he said.

“This is a landmark announcement from us as we continue to build an aerospace ecosystem in Abu Dhabi,” he added.

As part of the agreement, the new JV firm will supply the primary structure prepreg composite content, delivered via a unique thermos heating process.

Next-generation aircraft use of these materials continues to grow as manufacturers of large commercial transport programmes, like Boeing with its 777X, seek to reduce the weight of an airliner, thus improving fuel efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions, it stated.

Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay, said: “Our teaming up with Mubadala in this essential project in support of Boeing’s growth plans showcases our capabilities in advanced aerospace composite technologies, including primary structure applications.”

“We are proud to be part of the innovative 777X aircraft,” he said.

The joint venture will supply Boeing with advanced prepreg materials to complete the empennage and floor beams of its new 777X programme, it said.

Ray Conner, president and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: “After close collaboration with Mubadala and Solvay to expand the supply of aerospace composites, we are pleased to be the first customer for their new joint venture in the UAE.”

“Our commitment to purchase this prepreg material for the 777X meets several important goals for our company, from further advancing aerospace industry development in the UAE to expanding high-quality materials in our supply chain,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service