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Boeing to use carbon fibre prepeg in 777X with UAE firm

13 Jul '16

2 min read

Boeing, a leading aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defence, space, and security systems, has announced that it will source carbon fibre pre-impregnated (prepreg) composite material for the Boeing 777X from a new joint venture formed by Mubadala Development Company and Solvay.

Boeing is the first customer for the Mubadala-Solvay joint venture, which will produce primary structure composite material for use in manufacturing the 777X empennage and floor beams. Mubadala and Solvay are planning for the joint venture to be operational by 2021 in a new facility built in Al Ain, UAE.

The 777 was the first commercial airplane to contain structurally significant composite parts. Composites account for 50 per cent of structural weight of the 787 Dreamliner, and the 777X will have the world's largest composite wing. Production of the 777X will begin in 2017, with its first delivery in 2020.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner said, “After close collaboration with Mubadala and Solvay to expand the supply of aerospace composites, Boeing is pleased to be the first customer for their new joint venture in the UAE. Our commitment to purchase this prepreg material for the 777X meets several important goals for Boeing, from further advancing aerospace industry development in the UAE to expanding high-quality materials in our supply chain.”

Homaid Al Shimmari, CEO of aerospace & engineering services, Mubadala said, “Boeing has been a key global partner of ours for years. Together with Solvay, we will further develop our capabilities in advanced composite materials production in order to expand the supply chain and create a materials ecosystem. The creation of a new manufacturing facility at the Nibras Al Ain aerospace park supports our efforts of delivering on Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030 by developing a regional aerospace hub for Abu Dhabi.” (GK)

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