The United Arab Emirates’ Strata, and Spain’s Aciturri Aeronáutica have signed an MoU to collaborate on strengthening supply chain capabilities.
The United Arab Emirates advanced composite aero-structures manufacturer, Strata, and Spain’s family-run Aciturri Aeronáutica – a tier 1 supplier for aeronautic industry OEMs – have signed an MoU to collaborate on strengthening supply chain capabilities.
Strata says the partnership will explore work transfer opportunities and the sub-contracting of existing work packages that align with each company’s vision based on current business capabilities and technology roadmaps.
Unlocking ideas
Strata’s CEO Badr Al-Olama said the MoU would “unlock and deliver ideas” between the two companies for new technologies and R&D services that, he said, will drive value for all.
“The collaboration also has the promise to expand our production line capacity that will help us support the work package orders that have already been placed by Strata’s global manufacturer partner network for the delivery of more complex and larger scale aero structures,” he said.
The move is the latest in a series of developments by the Abu Dhabi based company, owned by the emirate’s sovereign wealth fund, that has seen it grow dramatically since its launch seven years ago.
Factory of the Future
It is currently planning to open its second facility – a ‘Factory of the Future’ – at the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park. The facility, due to be fully operational 2020, will feature a range of smart technology solutions and equipment to support Strata’s ambition in becoming one of the top aero-structure companies globally.
The new facility will manufacture two of the most complex work packages – the Horizontal Tail Plane) for the Airbus A320 and the Vertical Fin for Boeing’s B787 airliners – which will be fully equipped, tested and delivered directly to the final assembly lines of both Airbus and Boeing.
Ismail Ali Abdulla, Strata’s Deputy CEO said: “We have identified key guiding pillars for the new factory; smart building, smart manufacturing and a smart workforce.”
The new facility will more than double Strata’s existing capacity assisting Abu Dhabi’s long-term goal of achieving economic diversification and driving global competitiveness for the UAE’s manufacturing sector. The new 60,000 square metre factory will be right next door to Strata’s existing Nibras facility. Factory construction is expected to start next year.
Abdulla said the new factory will deliver on innovative solutions that will seek to revolutionise traditional aerospace production methods by introducing Smart technologies and additive manufacturing. The result, he says will be a unique and seamless flow, combining real time visibility on operations with cognitive decision making, to drive efficiencies, eliminate waste, elevate quality and unlock greater value for the shareholder, customers and employees.
“Strata has developed an ecosystem of its own in Al Ain, and it has been built on the trust and confidence of our global partners. We are proud to have fostered an Emirati manufacturing talent base, now employing hundreds of highly-skilled male and female UAE nationals in a very dynamic setting, and they themselves will lead the introduction of Smart technologies in Strata 2.0,” said Abdulla.
