Strata Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, will deliver its first shipset of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner vertical fin ribs to Boeing Fabrication facilities in Washington State during the first week of December.

The announcement coincides with celebrations organised by the company in Al Ain, UAE, on the occasion of the 43rd UAE National Day.

The 787-9 vertical fin ribs support the aircraft’s vertical fin and help ensure that weight is evenly distributed.  The manufacture of aerospace composites requires sophisticated industrial capabilities and a highly qualified workforce, which Strata has been developing over the past decade.

Emirati nationals make up over 60 per cent of the 787-9 vertical fin components production and assembly line at Strata’s manufacturing facilities in Al Ain, the company said.
 
“The appointment of Strata as a direct supplier of the ribs is a new milestone for our company in its efforts to solidify its position as one of the three largest advanced composite aerostructures manufacturers globally by 2020,”said Badr Al-Olama, CEO of Strata.

“It is also further evidence of the company's commitment to our partnership with Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, as we provide airplane structural components in accordance with the highest international quality standards within preapproved schedules. This announcement also showcases the success of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in strengthening its position as a global hub for the aviation industry."  

This achievement is of particular importance as composite materials make up 50 per cent of the primary structure of the 787, it said.

In April 2012, Boeing and Mubadala announced a strategic agreement that positioned Strata to be a future supplier of the vertical fin for the 787, a major composite assembly for Boeing's most advanced airplane program. Strata is already supplying empennage ribs for the 777, delivering the first shipset to Boeing in February this year.

Jeff Johnson, president, Boeing Middle East, stated: “This delivery is a key step forward for Boeing, Strata and the UAE. We are fully committed to investing in the development of capabilities through partnerships such as this that benefit both the UAE and Boeing. We are focused on working with our partners to advance the UAE’s aerospace capabilities around the world. Boeing’s nearly four-decade presence in the UAE is important to us and we are delighted to be able to celebrate this significant development alongside the country’s 43rd National Day.” - TradeArabia News Service