Abu Dhabi Cluster Lures Foreign Investment
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By Elyse Moody/AviationWeek.com
PARIS--Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has gained several investors this week in its multi-purpose aerospace cluster in the UAE. Here at Le Bourget, the group inked firm agreements with two British suppliers and distributors to set up facilities at the Al Ain cluster, in Abu Dhabi. It also formed MoUs this week with three well-known German aerospace firms and a Swiss aircraft engine manufacturer that will see research, development and manufacturing activities come to the site.
British firms Beagle Aerospace and Generation Metals International Ltd committed June 16 to add bases at Al Ain. Beagle aims to support AOG situations by adding local spares warehousing for aircraft components, including flaps, spoilers, engine cowls and thrust reversers; it also says it has future plans to add a specialist composite repair facility there. Meanwhile, Generation Metals signed a binding agreement to provide aerospace metallics and supply chain management services from ADAC's aerospace cluster.
ADAC's new German partners are Aerotech Peissenberg GmbH & Co., Aircraft Electronic Engineering GmbH and MT Aerospace. The three companies have distinctive specialties in specific areas. Aerotech Peissenberg's expertise is in manufacturing highly stressed components for aero engines and industrial gas turbines. MT Aerospace is well-versed in the aerostructures field, and Aircraft Electronic Engineering will set up a production center for electronics and electrical solutions for avionics systems. Among other product lines, MT Aerospace manufactures 10% of the Ariane 5 launcher, making it the largest German supplier to that program.
An aircraft engine manufacturer also is slated to take up residence at the Abu Dhabi site. Swiss-based MISTRAL Engines formed an MoU June 16 with ADAC to expand its production and development capacity to Al Ain, including flight test programs and anticipated research and production centers. Philippe Durr, CEO of MISTRAL Engines, says it's important for MISTRAL to expand its manufacturing, sales and support organization as its G-300 engine nears certification in the U.S. and later in Europe.
The Al Ain aerospace cluster will be part of a "twin cluster" development, per an agreement ADAC already signed with the BavAIRian Aerospace Cluster. This collaboration is part of ADAC's overall plan to diversify its revenue base and invest in the UAE's growing aerospace industry.
