Strata, SailGP to manufacture F50 components in Abu Dhabi

SailGP, the world’s most exciting race on water, has announced a new production-based partnership with Strata Manufacturing, a composite aero-structures manufacturing facility wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, that will see the UAE based firm supply and manufacture key elements of SailGP’s F50 catamarans.

This new partnership between SailGP and Strata expands Mubadala’s existing relationship with SailGP, where it is already a Global Series Partner of the league and is aligned to delivering one of its three partnership pillars; connecting responsible investment with cutting-edge technology and innovation to drive forward new ideas. Mubadala is also the title partner for the upcoming Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on 22nd-23rd June, 2024.

Since commencing production for the first time in 2010, Strata has produced thousands of composite aircraft parts and components for global manufacturers. Strata will manufacture and supply key components for SailGP’s cutting-edge, identical fleet of F50 hydrofoiling catamarans including wing sails, T-rudders and the newly designed T-foils that will be introduced in Season 5.

They will work alongside SailGP Technologies, SailGP’s main manufacturing facility based on the South Coast of England, which will empower the global league to expand the number of international events in its Season 5 calendar and beyond.

The F50s used by the 10 current teams that compete in the SailGP league are identical and boast cutting-edge technology, culminating 10 years of development in high-performance, foiling and multi-hull racing. The F50s are capable of speeds up to 100 km/h (54 knots / 62 mph).

The new partnership was announced at the Make it in the Emirates Forum (MIITE) in the UAE, an annual event that showcases investment opportunities in manufacturing and technology within the region.

Ismail Ali Abdulla, Head of UAE Clusters at Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform and Managing Director of Strata, said, “We are delighted to have Strata support events such as SailGP and demonstrate its expertise in composite aerostructures to foster innovation, technological advancement, and economic diversification in the region. Through this partnership with SailGP we will leverage the manufacturing expertise of one of our key portfolio companies to support this leading global race. We are proud to see the F50 components being produced in the UAE, showcasing our advanced manufacturing capabilities and contributing to the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative.” SailGP managing director Andrew Thompson said, “We are excited to extend our partnership with Mubadala to include Strata as our new production partner. This new partnership complements our existing manufacturing facility - SailGP Technologies - that is now based on the South Coast of England. Our fleet of F50s is an innovative one-design fleet and by extending our manufacturing capabilities in the Middle East, it will allow us to continually innovate as well as fully service our existing and new fleet of F50s, especially as we start and end Season 5 in the region.”

Strata, LTME collaborate: Strata Manufacturing (Strata), wholly owned by the Mubadala Investment Company, along with Lufthansa Technik Middle East (LTME), a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik, and global provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, have successfully conducted precise repair operations on several aircraft parts manufactured from composite materials. This accomplishment was made possible through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and strategic partnership between Strata and LTME.

Strata and LTME have successfully collaborated on the repair and final assembly of aircraft radomes, showcasing the power of partnership in the aerospace industry. By leveraging their combined resources and expertise, LTME has shared their knowledge and experience in repairs, along with Strata’s manufacturing resources to jointly repair the damaged areas within the radomes in a more efficient joint process.

This collaborative effort aims to enhance the efficiency of the aerospace industry by creating synergies and utilising the collective resources of both companies, so customer parts are returned to service in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The joint effort will initially prioritise radome repairs, leveraging LTME’s specialised expertise, paving the way for further collaborations in the future.

In a statement, Ismail Ali Abdulla, Head of UAE Clusters, Mubadala Investment Company, and Managing Director of Strata, said, “Our partnership with Lufthansa Technik Middle East embodies the great and growing confidence that Strata has globally in the aerospace industry, especially in its remarkable ability to conduct precise repair solutions for composite materials of a global standard.” He added, “This strategic partnership opens the door for more qualitative aspirations and global partnerships in the field of manufacturing, repair, and development in the aerospace world in general, based on the highest standards of quality and safety that Strata commits to and excels in.” Ziad Al Hazmi, Chief Executive Officer at Lufthansa Technik Middle East, confirmed, “We are confident that our partnership with Strata will accelerate repair and delivery to our customers, fostering trust, and creating new opportunities for both companies. Our commitment to implementing more initiatives and projects to enhance the overall value within the aviation industry is unwavering and serves our vision of leadership in maintenance and repair.”