ASM International, a US-based society established in 1913 represents 36,000 members in the materials science field worldwide.

Berndt will take on the role of Vice President of the organisation for twelve months in October this year when his appointment is ratified at the 2010 Annual General Meeting.

He will then go on to become President of ASM International in 2011-2012.

Berndt is the Director of the Industrial Research Institute Swinburne (IRIS) and was an ASM trustee from 2005-2008.

“This nomination is a great honour for Professor Berndt,” said Professor John Beynon, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences at Swinburne. “This is only the second time in the history of ASM International that a non US-based member has been nominated for the position of Vice-President.”

According to ASM International’s constitution, after a one year term, the Vice President automatically becomes President of the organisation.

Berndt has more than 30 years experience in the materials engineering field, specialising in the area of thermal spray coatings.

“This honour is a shared one because of the strong support of many colleagues around the globe and especially that of Swinburne University,” he said.

Berndt has undertaken several fellowships in the USA, including a two year stint at NASA-Lewis Research Centre, and was appointed professor at Stony Brook University in New York in 1995, where he remains an Adjunct Professor.

In early 2005, he returned to Australia as the founding Professor of Surface and Interface Engineering at James Cook University in Queensland. He was appointed the founding Professor of Surface Science and Interface Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology in late 2007 and became Director of IRIS in March 2008.

Berndt is a member of 13 professional societies in the materials, mechanical, manufacturing and biomedical fields. He was inducted into the Thermal Spray Hall of Fame in 2007.

The Defence Materials Technology Centre extends sincere congratulations to Prof. Berndt, who was instrumental in the inception of the Defence Materials Technology Centre and formerly the Program Manager of DMTC’s Maritime Program. The Swinburne University of Technology is a Core Participant of DMTC.

ASM International is a society dedicated to serving the materials science and engineering profession. Through its worldwide network, ASM provides authoritative information and knowledge on materials and processes, from the structural to the nanoscale.

The awards recognised CAST’s work in the metals manufacturing sector and were bestowed at the Cooperative Research Centres Association’s Pathfinders 2010 Challenge and Change Conference.

For technologies to make better aluminium, CAST was presented with an Award for Excellence in Innovation by The Hon Warren Snowdon MP, Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery and Member for Lingiari.  The award recognises outstanding success in innovative research being implemented by end users to the benefit of Australia.

CAST’s work building capacity in Australia in titanium machining to help local companies win aerospace and defence contracts was also honoured with the CRC Star Award.  The award, also presented by Minister Snowdon, is from the federal government’s CRC Program and acknowledges high level achievement in engaging with and helping to build success in small to medium enterprises (SMEs) through the transfer of CRC innovation.

On receiving the awards CAST CEO George Collins said, “these awards recognise the productive relationships that we have built up over many years between research providers and industry.  These relationships are at the heart of cooperative research.”

“These fantastic achievements are due to the exceptional people who work with CAST, our researchers, who are willing to spend time in industry to gain a real understanding of industry needs and our industry partners, who are willing to sacrifice production time to trial new technologies.”

CAST’s Excellence in Innovation award was for technologies producing high quality aluminium more cheaply, efficiently and safely.  The work was achieved thanks to CSIRO researchers, such as project leader, Dr Vu Nguyen, working closely with end-users in the aluminium industry.  CAST technologies are being implemented in four of Australia’s six aluminium smelters including Boyne Smelter Limited (BSL)’s aluminium smelter cast house in central Queensland.

According to Joe Rea, metals production manager at BSL, “We’ve seen an improvement in quality and also an improvement in throughput.  A lot of innovations that come along either give us one or the other.  The great thing about this is that we’ve got both.”

As an added benefit to the Australian economy, CAST’s technologies are all manufactured, under license, by a family-owned Victorian equipment manufacturer, o.d.t. Engineering, helping them win significant export deals.

Kurt Oswald, Managing Director, o.d.t. Engineering, describes working with CAST as, “like Einstein meets Bob The Builder – and it equates to fantastic research results.”

The Star Award recognises CAST’s ongoing work with Queensland SME Ferra Engineering on developing techniques for titanium machining to manufacture components for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), a new air force jet that is being developed by the USA, Australia and eight other partner nations. CAST’s work with Ferra demonstrates that it is possible for Australian industry to engage in the global JSF supply chain.

Mark Scherrer, CEO of Ferra said, “Light metals technology developed with CAST helped Ferra to recently secure seven out of the 21 contracts let in Australia for Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Project.”

“CAST’s processing technology knowledge and research skills are both high quality and relevant to our business.”

The CAST CRC conducts industry-driven research in metal technology.  CAST is one of 48 Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) established and supported under the Australian government’s CRC Program.

Held from 3 to 5 May 2010 in Melbourne, the conference brought together more than 200 of Australia’s leading academic, technical and industry innovators to explore opportunities for involvement in the F-35 JSF Program.

Ryan collaborated on the paper, entitled “Advanced Process Monitoring for Optimised Titanium Machining”, with Elizabeth Pham and Matthew Moyle (DMTC/BAE Systems Australia), Suresh Palanisamy and Matt Dargusch (DMTC/CAST CRC).

DMTC participants presented around 16 papers at the conference and provided three session Chairs – Professor John Norrish, Professor Milan Brandt and Dr Mark Hodge.

“The conference will allow over 200 of Australia’s leading academic, technical and industry innovators to explore opportunities to be involved in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program, now and into the future,” said Mr Combet.

“The JSF Program offers immense opportunities for Australian industry potentially creating several thousand long-term jobs, whether it is through the development of new markets or the chance to enter into global supply chains.”

“For Australia to be successful in this future environment we must drive innovation in defence technology by pooling the expertise and resources of government, industry and R&D organisations,” Mr Combet said.

“Today’s conference is one small step in that process.  The connections made here today between research organisations, industry and government may well lead to new capabilities in the JSF in 10 years time.”

Mr Combet highlighted the establishment of the Defence Materials Technology Centre as a successful Government initiative, noting that the Centre had expanded the relationship between DSTO, universities and industry. 

“I’m glad to see there are representatives from the DMTC here today,” he said.

The potential for Australia to become a global supplier of titanium and titanium components for the aerospace sector is one area being considered by the conference.

“Opportunities for Australian Small to Medium Enterprises to win work in global supply chains of large primes and their second and third tier suppliers are also being explored.

“These opportunities do often present challenges for local industry as the upfront investment is significant to improve capability and increase capacity.

 ”To help overcome these challenges the Government is working with the JSF prime contractors to develop long-term agreements with Australian companies so that the industry has the confidence to make the necessary investments to win this work.”

Mr Combet announced that $8.5 million of funding had been approved by the Government to help industry overcome early investment challenges.

“This support will be targeted at technological developments that will enhance Australian involvement in the program, investments that will increase the opportunities for small Australian companies to become involved and also encourage innovation by Australian industry which has applications for JSF follow-on development.

“This targeted support, along with support from other government programs – is particularly important as the focus shifts to greater engagement in JSF production, sustainment and follow-on development.”

Mr Combet also congratulated the 28 Australian companies that have already won work in the face of stiff international competition on the JSF Program.

The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr and Victoria’s Minister of Industry and Trade, the Hon Jacinta Allan, officially opened the company’s new engineering centre at Richmond on Tuesday.

The building, on River Boulevard, will give teams from BAE Systems’ Aerospace and Autonomous Systems Development (AASD), and Weapon Systems (WS), access to modern laboratories to support a range of advanced design and test activities.

It will accommodate more than 300 BAE Systems employees.

Jim McDowell, Managing Director of BAE Systems Australia, said the company was at the forefront of research into autonomy and guided weapon systems.

“Our AASD group in Melbourne leads our global company’s engineering development and design capability across BAE Systems Australia’s Aerospace business unit, including design and development of autonomous enabling technologies, P-3, F/A -18 and Hawk Mission Systems support and Aircraft Integration activities for Blackhawk, Chinook and Seahawk” Mr McDowell said.

“Our Weapon Systems group is also involved in the cutting edge design, integration and support of ship air defence systems and guided weapons, including the highly successful Nulka active missile decoys and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM),” he said.

BAE Systems will initially lease approximately 3000 square metres and three floors of the new complex with capacity available to expand its presence if required.

ABOUT BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services.  BAE Systems Australia is a Core Participant of the Defence Materials Technology Centre.

Dr Mark Callaghan will receive the WTIA Chris Smallbone International Award 2009 to promote technology innovation in Australia through involvement in the outcomes of the WTIA and the International Institute of Welding (IIW).

He will receive a prize trip to attend the IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference being held from 10 to 17 July 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Nathan Larkin will receive the WTIA Sir William Hudson Memorial Award Research Support Category 2009.

The Awards will be presented at the WTIA Annual Awards Dinner on 12 May 2010 during National Manufacturing Week at the Novotel Hotel, Sydney Olympic Park.

Dr Callaghan and Mr Larkin are both Research Fellows of UOW’s Engineering Faculty and are involved in DMTC’s Armour Applications program. UOW is a Core Participant of DMTC.

DMTC’s CEO Dr Mark Hodge congratulates both men on their respective Awards, which are a richly deserved acknowledgement for the excellence of their work.

Award recipients Nathan Larkin (left) and Dr Mark Callaghan (right) in the laser-hybrid welding rig in the Manufacturing Research Laboratory. Photograph by Mark Newsham.

The NSW node of the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) was officially launched by the CEO of the DMTC, Dr Mark Hodge.

DMTC is a joint venture between Defence, industry, universities and government research agencies whose NSW node is supported by the NSW Government. NSW Government funding has enabled a technology demonstrator – the Lean Automation and Fabrication Facility – to be built at UOW for use by DMTC’s participants, including the University of Wollongong, BlueScope Steel, ANSTO, Bisalloy and several NSW Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Dr Hodge said the NSW node would assist NSW SMEs to participate in global defence supply chains in partnership with, or independently of, the leading prime contractors to the Australian Defence Force.

Professor John Norrish, Professor of Materials Welding and Joining at UOW and a Director of DMTC said the new technology demonstrator went a long way to furthering this goal.

“Many of the capabilities of the Lean Automation and Fabrication Facility involve advanced equipment which is not available elsewhere in NSW,” he said.

As part of their involvement in major research programs in Armour Applications and Maritime Platforms, DMTC’s NSW researchers are investigating more productive manufacturing processes for land-based vehicles and marine platforms.

This includes research into how the protective aspects of armoured personnel carriers made by Thales Australia can be maintained or improved while ensuring manufacturing processes are cost effective and competitive with potential imports.

“While the existing vehicle has been very successful in preventing injury and fatalities in the field, DMTC is committed to working with Thales, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and its other participants to ensure this safety record is maintained and Australian Defence personnel are adequately protected,” Professor Norrish said.

“It is also important to maximise Australian content in defence platforms to support employment and capability. In this case, the supply chain for these vehicles includes materials supplied by BlueScope Steel and Bisalloy in the Illawarra region.”

UOW’s role is to investigate potential armour material improvements and production process such as welding which play an important role in vehicle manufacture. ANSTO is contributing valuable expertise in modelling of armour damage to improve material performance characterisation.

DMTC’s NSW node is also undertaking a practical assessment of the impact of improved body armour on Defence personnel performance.

“UOW has a long association with defence industry in the assessment of the physiological demands on Defence personnel and in particular the effects of wearing body armour,” Professor Norrish said.

Facilities of the new technology demonstrator include:

• Three state-of-the-art, multi-purpose robots (one mounted on a linear track)

• Rapid tool changers (to convert the robot from component positioning to welding and machining operations)

• Advanced welding process capabilities including: Tandem Gas Metal Arc Welding, Cold Metal Transfer and Laser Hybrid Gas Metal Arc Welding

• Industry standard safety systems

About DMTC:

The Defence Materials Technology Centre is a technology development joint venture that develops new materials and manufacturing technologies for the Australian defence sector. It has activities in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia. DMTC is the Australian Government’s first Defence Future Capability Technology Centre.

Ms Jan Jarratt MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Employment & Economic Development in Queensland officiated at the launch of the Queensland node of the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) held at Millatec Engineering’s new facilities at Sherwood.

“Queensland is at the leading edge of Defence research in materials science,” says Dr Mark Hodge, CEO of DMTC. “Our Queensland researchers are working with local manufacturers to break down the barriers preventing them from taking part in the global defence supply chain.”

The DMTC is a joint venture between defence, industry, universities and government research agencies whose Queensland node is supported by the Queensland Government’s Smart Futures fund and managed by the CAST Cooperative Research Centre.

Along with major research programs in air platforms and propulsion systems, DMTC’s Queensland researchers are looking into so-called “enabling” technologies required for local fabrication of components based on new materials such as titanium. 

One area of significant interest is precision machining, the speciality of Brisbane-based company Millatec Engineering.

“As a participant in the DMTC our company has already benefited from a collaborative research project that has reduced the machining time of some components and boosted our productivity,” says James Johnson, managing director of Millatec. “We are looking forward to applying the same principles to titanium, stainless steel and tool steel machining activities.”

The improved capability within Millatec will increase turnover and create employment opportunities for a further three to six people. 

Millatec is one of the Queensland companies benefiting from the DMTC’s technology transfer program, which allows businesses to access DMTC technologies while working closely with the defence supply chain.

“Queensland SMEs will now be able to bid into global defence supply chains in partnership with or independently of the leading prime contractors to the Australian Defence Force,” says DMTC CEO Mark Hodge. 

In one example of the close R&D relationship between SMEs and defence contractors, Millatec is working with BAE Systems’ research team in Adelaide on benchmarking and other titanium machining activities.

The host of the launch, George Collins, CAST CEO predicts the node will benefit small and large Queensland manufacturers, “DMTC brings together Australia’s top experts and innovative companies to develop new materials and manufacturing technologies for defence applications.  These technologies can also be used in non-defence applications and will help companies maintain and win new manufacturing business from both Australia and overseas.”

DMTC’s Queensland participants will host a launch of the DMTC’s Queensland node and Millatec Engineering’s new Brisbane facilities, while NSW participants will host a launch of the DMTC’s NSW node and the Lean Automation Technology Demonstrator.

The Queensland event will be held on 9 March at Millatec’s Sherwood premises.

DMTC’s Queensland node hosts research programs in Air Platforms and Propulsion Systems.  In addition to these major research programs, the node also conducts research into enabling technologies (e.g. for machining, joining coatings, robotics and lean automation) that will be required for economical fabrication and maintenance of components based on new materials. 

The work on machining is of particular interest to local machining specialist and DMTC participant, Millatec Engineering.  The launch of the Queensland node coincided with Millatec moving into new premises so there will be two reasons to celebrate at the Queensland event.

 The NSW node of the Defence Materials Technology Centre and the Lean Automation Technology Demonstrator will be launched at the University of Wollongong on 24 March.

The NSW Technology Demonstrator includes several state-of-the-art robotic and welding facilities in an integrated cell which allows the latest manufacturing technology to be explored by industry partners. Many of the systems involved are unique within Australia.

The technology demonstrator was funded through the NSW Science Leverage Fund in support of DMTC. The University of Wollongong, ANSTO and Bluescope Steel are Core Participants of DMTC centre and Supporting Participants include a range of NSW SMEs. The research being carried out by UOW and ANSTO is mainly directed at improvements in Armour protection for land platforms and new materials and production technology for maritime platforms.

DMTC develops new materials and manufacturing technologies across air platforms, maritime platforms, propulsion systems and armour applications to enhance the future operations, readiness and sustainment of the Australian Defence Force.

The annual ADM Congress has evolved into a pivotal event in the Defence calendar, bringing together senior officials from all areas of the Australian Defence Force, Defence Materiel Organisation and defence industry.

Dr Hodge was part of a Panel of experts that included representatives from Rapid Prototyping, Development and Evaluation (RPDE), the Defence Industry Innovation Centre (DIIC) and Australian Defence Apparel (ADA).  

Dr Hodge and other Panel members highlighted the opportunities for industry to utilise DMTC and DIIC to leverage their R&D activities and provide a mechanism for linking up a range of Defence policy initiatives including cooperative research centre activities, Defence Science & Technology Organisation’s (DSTO’s) Corporate Enabling Research Program (CERP) and the Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program. 

Using a new armour development activity as a case study, ADA commented that its involvement with DMTC and DIIC has allowed it to leverage its activities by a factor of four or higher, further noting it would have had great difficulty pursuing its corporate technology development objectives without its interactions through DMTC and DIIC.

Attracting over 250 delegates each year, ADM2010 will once more provide a valuable channel for communication between the players shaping the future of Australia’s defence and industry environment. The Australian Defence Magazine Congress was held at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra from 23 to 24 February 2010.