EDGE companies drive precision, autonomy in aerospace and maritime manufacturing
23 May 2025 00:20
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)EDGE Group took the lead in the AI, advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 segments at this year's Make it in the Emirates forum, highlighting the UAE's commitment to local production and technology-driven industrial growth.Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the conference, Michael Deshaies, CEO of EPI - part of EDGE - said EPI stands apart as a pure manufacturing firm. "We are unique because we are purely a manufacturing company - 100% build-to-print," he said. "Around 80% of our turnover is tied to business with Airbus and Boeing. The parts we produce in Abu Dhabi go into aircraft flying around the world."EPI is the only accredited commercial airframer in the UAE and plays a key role in the global aerospace supply chain. It also serves the oil and gas and defence sectors with high-precision machined parts and maintenance, repair and overhaul services."This is the first time we are delivering a full, recognisable subsystem for a major aircraft programme, complete with jig-controlled builds and floor-mounted assemblies," Deshaies said.At the forum, EPI showcased live demonstrations of its automated production lines, including a numerically controlled turret lathe used for precision turning of circular components. "It is one of over 60 automated tools in our factory, used for precision turning of circular components," he explained.Deshaies also pointed to EPI's expansion into propulsion system development, with a new R&D lab planned to support the UAE's aerospace goals. EPI also contributed components to the UAE's HOPE Probe and is involved in Airbus's C295 fuel tank programme. "We are creating a research and development lab to support propulsion systems - key to the UAE's ambitions… We believe precision manufacturing can move a country's GDP."
100% Made-in-UAE Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), another EDGE company, used the forum's platform to spotlight its capabilities in locally designed and manufactured naval platforms."We are here to showcase what the UAE is capable of - especially in the maritime industry," Francesco Lomonaco, Technical Officer at ADSB, told Aletihad on the sidelines of the conference.He presented two UAE-designed vessels already in service: a 16-metre modular patrol boat and the FA-400, a scalable multi-mission platform that ranges from 40 to 50 metres, depending on operational needs."These vessels are not just designed locally, they're already in operation with both local and international clients," Lomonaco said. He said the defining aspect of ADSB is that the design is made locally."One of our mandates is to own the IP of our designs. That gives us control and allows us to produce not just for the UAE, but also for export markets," Lomonaco added. He explained that the FA-400 was developed entirely in-house with components from EDGE's defence ecosystem, including radar systems from Pulse and electro-optics from the Centre of Excellence."Our goal is a 100% Made-in-UAE platform," he said.Looking ahead, Lomonaco said automation and AI will shape the company's next phase.
"We want to reduce crew size, minimise human error, and ensure platforms can function in critical scenarios with advanced decision-making tools."
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