UAE. STRATA, the composites aerostructures company, wholly owned by Mubadala Development Company, recently celebrated the release of its first product to be fully constructed in its facility – marking its debut as a supplier to the global aerospace manufacturing industry.

This achievement comes immediately after STRATA’s plant in Al Ain was completed, and one year after the plant’s construction commenced.

The product, A330/A340 Flap Track Fairings, was delivered to FACC in Austria.

Homaid Al Shemmari, Chairman of STRATA and Executive Director Mubadala Aerospace, said: “STRATA’s intent is to become a leading Tier-one supplier of composite aerostructures for the next generation of aircraft, and less than a year ago, we promised to deliver our first product in 12 months. We are proud to announce that we have delivered on this promise, and we look forward to further expanding the business.”

Construction of STRATA’s Al Ain plant commenced in September of 2009 – transforming  desert land into a fully qualified, aerostructures facility, consisting of 21,600m­­­2 floor space, in just ten months. On September 15, 2010, STRATA delivered its first assembled aerostructure products.

Ross Bradley, CEO of STRATA, commented: “Announcing the release of our first product to be fully manufactured at our plant is a great milestone in our ambitious plans for the company. It’s a remarkable achievement to have come this far so quickly and we’re excited about the next steps in our development.”

STRATA’s business is already growing thanks to several international agreements in place with companies such as EADS/Airbus, Alenia Aeronautica and FACC,. As a result, expansion of the plant is to continue in phases over the next five years, with phase two of construction targeted to begin in early 2012, providing additional manufacturing floor space. With more than 250 members of staff already working at the plant, STRATA is now providing even more high value-added job opportunities for UAE nationals and residents of the Emirates.

In addition to the above, a dedicated training and development centre has been established close to the STRATA plant in Al Ain in association with the Airbus Business Academy and Al Ain International Aviation Academy.

The company aims to provide job opportunities for over 1000 employees by 2015, ranging from technical and engineering roles to managerial positions, making STRATA an employer of choice for young and talented UAE Nationals.

Homaid Al Shemmari, added; “Establishing an aerospace industry in the UAE capital is an important part of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Our investments are helping to diversify the Emirate’s economy away from the hydro-carbon sector and in doing so we’re providing world-class and high-skill career opportunities for the people of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. STRATA’s latest milestone is further evidence that Mubadala is delivering against it mission.”
 
STRATA is a private sector composites aerostructures company based in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates – which is wholly owned by Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development company and is part of Mubadala Aerospace, the organisation’s business unit responsible for establishing Abu Dhabi as an integrated global aerospace hub.

The business is designed to meet the demands of the 21st Century aerospace industry by forming partnerships with major aircraft manufacturers and becoming a tier-one supplier; designing, developing and manufacturing aircraft major units, such as wings and empennages for the next generation of commercial aircrafts.
The aerospace sector is a key part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Plan that aims at achieving economic diversification by creating a high-tech, knowledge-intensive economy, as well as numerous jobs for the current and future UAE workforce.

STRATA will provide career opportunities ranging from technical roles to engineering and managerial roles, rising to more than 1000 employees by 2015.
 
Mubadala Aerospace, a business unit of Mubadala Development Company, is driving the development of Abu Dhabi’s aerospace industry to establish the Emirate as a global aerospace hub.

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