Strata, Pilatus to manufacture hot press parts for the first time in UAE

Almost a year after securing a long-term deal with Pilatus, the leading Swiss aerospace manufacturer and UAE’s Advanced Manufacturing pioneer Strata is stepping up operations with a brand new package of far-reaching operations.

This milestone deal is set to not only be significantly mutually beneficial for both partners, but will further cement Strata’s commitment to its status as a leading Emirati manufacturer, capitalising on local talent and vision.

The newly updated agreement between Strata and Pilatus extends the Al Ain manufacturers’ cooperation with the Swiss OEM to add the production of Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet interiors.

Strata will hence manufacture hot press parts for the first time in the UAE, that will be added to its current Pilatus work packages, which include the PC-24 Belly Fairings, Flap Track Fairings, Pylon Fairings, Bullet Fairing, and Tail Cone, all of which bear the Al Ain manufacturer’s ‘Made with Pride in the UAE’ seal of quality.

With rapid turnarounds aiming for commencement in the first quarter of 2023, this collation of packages will showcase Strata’s operational excellence for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

What’s more, all signs point towards this latest announcement being part of an ongoing and expanding cooperative relationship, with Strata and Pilatus planning on expanding their collaboration considerably further.

Both parties have reported that Strata will be further integrated, not least as engineering partner for DO (Design Organisation), wherein that signature commitment to excellence will be realised to its full potential.

Strata CEO Ismail Ali Abdulla has reiterated “In Strata’s 12-year history, our name has become synonymous with quality and pride. As a champion of the UAE’s homegrown manufacturing sector, our ability to scale up production is a testament to what can be achieved in this country and how we can positively impact the global aerospace industry.”

Pilatus CEO Markus Bucher has added to this sentiment, stating that “Strata’s dedication and ability to consistently deliver innovation, excellence, and the realisation of a shared vision make the UAE manufacturing firm a solid partner that Pilatus is delighted to be working with further on a long term basis”.

In reflection of this sense of national pride, Strata has committed to a 70 per cent Emiratisation rate for the project, and will be utilising their next-gen Hot Press technology alongside a suite of Autoclave products. Coupled with an extensive application of Carbon Fiber as the principal material across numerous processes, there’s little doubt that the partnership with Pilatus is primed to be genuinely game-changing.

Meanwhile a new partnership was announced last week between Strata Manufacturing, a UAE-based Digital Factory pioneer, Hyperganic, an AI-based engineering platform company with offices in Germany and Singapore, and German industrial 3D printing company EOS to build the world’s most energy-efficient residential air conditioner (A/C) system.

The partnership is a result of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s efforts to facilitate industrial collaboration, which is in line with its strategy to create an attractive business environment for local and international investors in the industrial sector, support the growth of national industries, stimulate the adoption of innovation and advanced technology in industrial systems and solutions, and enhance the country’s status as a leading destination for the industries of the future.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is projecting that energy demand from air conditioners will triple by 2050 – which is the equivalent to adding 10 new devices every second for the next 28 years. A/C units today account for 10 per cent of all global electricity usage, which proves how crucial it is to reduce their energy consumption to satisfy environmental requirements.

The three partners signed the agreement at an official ceremony witnessed by Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, and Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO of UAE Investments at Mubadala Investment Company. The agreement was signed by Lin Kayser, CEO and Founder of Hyperganic, Dr. Hans Langer, Founder of EOS and a 3D printing pioneer, and Ismail Ali Abdullah, CEO of Strata Manufacturing.

Under the agreement, the partners will combine Hyperganic’s Algorithmic Engineering approach with the industrial metal 3D printing process pioneered by EOS, and Strata’s digital technologies, to produce a residential A/C unit that is up to 10 times more efficient than standard models – and, as such, will be highly coveted in global markets. The companies plan to show project updates at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP28 UAE to be hosted in Expo City Dubai in 2023.

WAM