Universities and the CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, are partnering up to share their unique capabilities in precision manufacturing through a $45 million partnership, made possible thanks to the Australian Government's $370 million Trailblazer Universities Program.
Assistant Minister for Education, Anthony Chisholm will visit the CSIRO's Lab22 in Melbourne today to speak with the experts who have spearheaded the creation of the lab's specialist equipment and highlight the importance of university and industry partnerships.
Technology at the Clayton laboratory includes:
• The Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer's PX100 Digital Metal Binder Jet System which will provide cost competitive alternatives to conventional metal manufacturing and support high volume metal production.
• The Innovative Launch, Automation, Novel Materials, Communications and Hypersonics (ILAuNCH)'s Nikon SLM-280 2MA (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) which can create lighter, faster and more robust space components making space missions more affordable and efficient.
• The Defence Trailblazer's Robotic Additive Manufacturing Cell which is a flexible and highly adaptive system supporting large format 3-D printing and prototyping for defence and many other industries, including space applications.
Assistant Minister Chisholm will also meet with the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) who are working with the CSIRO Biofoundry and pilot plants to offer a suite of technologies for food and beverage manufacturers including protein extraction and purification.
The Trailblazer Universities Program supports domestic manufacturing in six national priority areas of critical minerals, defence, food, space, renewables and waste recycling. Industry identifies research and development problems and then works with university researchers on commercialising that research under the guidance of business leaders.
The Program aims to attract around $648 million in co-investment from industry and deliver a net economic benefit worth billions.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Education, Anthony Chisholm:
"Developing Australia's sovereign capability will make our manufacturing more sustainable and will create new job opportunities for the industries of tomorrow.
"The cutting-edge equipment at this lab enables researchers and businesses to build complex metal parts quickly and at scale and save production costs, while also building on Australia's natural advantages in having top-ranking reserves of metal ores.
"The Trailblazer Program forms part of the Albanese Government's key focus area of investing in manufacturing - because we want to see our local economies strengthened, increased innovation from our universities and an uptick in jobs for those with the skills to make things here in Australia."
Quotes attributable to CSIRO Manufacturing Research Unit Director, Dr Marcus Zipper:
"The new equipment at CSIRO's Centre for Additive Manufacturing Innovation Lab22 provides us with an exciting opportunity to collaborate with industry and researchers through the Trailblazer Universities Program.
"We are looking forward to working together to advance Australia's industrial research capability."
Quotes attributable to SpiroPak Lead Researcher, Tejas Bhatelia:
"The PX100 Binder Jetting System represents a step change in the reduction of 3D printing costs, a core element of SpiroPak's production processes. The technology is the first of its kind in Australia.
"By reducing these costs, we can now investigate a wider range of applications for SpiroPak's structured packaging technology, thereby increasing the value and impact of this ground-breaking research."
Quotes attributable to Director of Australia's Food and Beverage Accelerator, Dr Chris Downs:
"Alongside Australia's Food and Beverage Accelerator, CSIRO plays an important role in the nation's food and beverage innovation ecosystem.
"Access to equipment through CSIRO represents an important opportunity to support companies as they scale up the development of new food and beverage products."
Quotes attributable to iLAuNCH Trailblazer Chief Technology Officer, Dr Joni Sytsma:
"This capability is the first of its kind as a production machine in Australia, in fact the southern hemisphere, and iLAuNCH is pleased to open up new manufacturing possibilities for locally made products.
"Australian companies manufacturing satellites and rockets now have a real advantage to optimise their designs and improve performance, all made with a reduced lead time right here in Melbourne."
Quotes attributable to Defence Trailblazer Executive Director, Dr Sanjay Mazumdar:
"We are excited to support defence industry through our Proto-Lab Network. Together, the newly acquired CSIRO equipment and extensive facilities available brings increased capability to the forefront of technological innovation, offering specialised capabilities for proto-typing and production across various industries."
