The new joint venture facility will supply Boeing with carbon fiber prepreg for primary structure applications in its new 777X program.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM /DUBAI, UAE: Solvay SA and Strata Manufacturing, a wholly owned business of Mubadala Aerospace have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement, to supply Boeing with advanced composite materials from a high-tech facility to be built in Al Ain, UAE.
The 50:50 joint venture will be the UAE’s first supplier of pre-impregnated carbon fibres, also referred to as “prepreg”. This durable advanced material is used to manufacture composite structures for aviation applications, including Boeing’s latest generation aircraft, the 777X.
The new approximately 8,500 square meter facility will supply Boeing with carbon fibre prepreg for primary structure applications in its new 777X program. Solvay’s prepreg technology consists of fibre reinforcements pre-impregnated with a resin matrix to manufacture composite parts, providing exceptional performance at lower weight compared to metal structures.
“This agreement with Solvay fits perfectly with our growth strategy, focusing as it does on high-tech manufacturing capabilities, and demonstrates our commitment to providing competitive offerings to the world’s leading OEMs,” said Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi, CEO, aerospace, renewables and information communications technology (ICT), Mubadala.
“This joint venture showcases Solvay’s capabilities in advanced aerospace composite technologies, including for aircraft primary structures as a growth pillar for our materials business,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay.
“This is another ‘made in the UAE’ success story for Strata and its shareholder, Mubadala. We are incredibly proud to be an integral part of the global aerospace supply chain, and to expand on our partnership with Boeing through this exciting entry into advanced materials manufacturing,” added Badr Al-Olama, chairman of Strata manufacturing and director of aerospace.
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