DMTC » News

Save the Date: 2012 Participants Workshop and Technical Conference

heidigarth — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:42:34 +0000

DMTC Management is happy to announce that the 4th Participants Workshop and 3rd Technical Conference will be held on:

6-7 March 2012
Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

As with previous years we will once again have poster sessions, awards and the very popular Speed Networking. Further details regarding on the event, including presentations and posters, will be sent to you early in the New Year.

If you already have an exciting topic that you would like to present at the Conference please don’t hesitate to send an email to viktor.verijenko@dmtc.com.au with your suggestion.

DMTC Management looks forward to seeing you there.

Virtual Welding Workshop

bronwynne — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:59:48 +0000

DMTC is supporting a workshop on Virtual Welding on 24th and 25th November at the University of Wollongong. This is a hands on workshop which looks at the use of advanced virtual prototyping to provide and enhanced understanding of the welding process of metals and their behaviour during that process. The software tools VISUAL and SYSWELD from ESI Group will be used within the course.

This workshop will be conducted by lecturer Dr Lex Mulcahy from Pacific ESI. Dr Mulcahy is a long time user of virtual prototyping and is involved in several DMTC projects, as well as several CRC-ACS projects, and one ARC project with UNSW.

Please contact Damian McGuckin on 02 8571 0847 for further details.

DMTC Chairman appointed as TCF Supplier Advocate

heidigarth — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 23:58:37 +0000

Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr announced yesterday that Mr Tony Quick has been appointed as Supplier Advocate for the textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry.

Mr Quick — an expert in international business development and management will champion local textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) firms at home and abroad as part of the Government’s $8.2 million Supplier Advocate program.

“Mr Quick brings a wealth of international and local experience to the role. He currently chairs the Defence Materials Technology Centre, advises my department on defence industry innovation and is a member of the Future Manufacturing Industry Innovation Council,” Senator Carr said.

Read the full media release here.

Free Robot Training Workshops

heidigarth — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:55:30 +0000

AusAMRC in partnership with the DMTC is offering a series of free of charge robot training workshops for industry, utilising the newly established robot facility at Swinburne University of Technology.

Co-sponsored by the Office of Australian Industry Capability (OAIC) at Boeing and the Defence Material Organisation (DMO), training programs are scheduled to take place on:

September 21st–23rd – Automated Inspection & Reverse Engineering via Robotics

October 26th–28th – Automated Feature & Part Picking, Inspection & Reverse Engineering via Robotics

For further information, and to register for either of these workshops, please visit swinburne.edu.au/engineering/ausamrc/robot/

Robot Training Workshop Flyer

DMTC welcomes Jane Tisdall

heidigarth — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:47:51 +0000

DMTC is pleased to announce that Jane Tisdall has commenced with DMTC in the role of Financial Controller. Jane will be familiar to many DMTC stakeholders, having worked with DMTC through DMTC’s external accountants for a number of years providing a range of services and advice in the finance area. In recent months, Jane has been invaluable in bridging the gap during our search to fill the vacant financial controller position. The selection process was very competitive and DMTC is delighted to have someone on board who knows our business intimately and will undoubtedly make a smooth transition from external part-time to leading our internal finance and accounting functions.

Jane brings with her an extensive private client services background and post-degree public practice certifications. She has now formally commenced with DMTC in the role, so on behalf of the entire DMTC Management Team and Stakeholder community, we warmly welcome Jane to the team.

Round 15 CTD proposals announced

heidigarth — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:58:20 +0000

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, has announced the successful submissions for the Round 15 Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program.

The selected proposals are:

1. Nanoparticle-Hydrophone Development – Phoenix Engineering Systems Pty Ltd with Thales Australia

2. Active Pulse Analysis System (APAS) – Sonartech Atlas

3. Integrated Power System for Dismounted Combat – Tectonica Australia Pty Ltd with Australian National University and CSIRO.

4. Pegasus Aircraft Buoyancy System – L-3 Nautronix with AADI Defence Pty Ltd

5. Integration of EO/Laser Space Object Tracking Capability – EOS Space Systems Pty Ltd with Northrop Grumman International.

DMTC would like to congratulate Tectonica Australia on the success of their CTD proposal: Integrated Power System for Dismounted Combat. Tectonica recently pledged its support to DMTC’s new program Personnel Survivability, which will focus on other associated areas of technology development. Congratulations also go to Thales Australia, who continues to be a core participant in a number of DMTC projects. It is understood that Thales will provide Acoustic Engineering and Testing Capabilities support to the Nanoparticle-Hydrophone Development CTD project which will be led by Phoenix Engineering Systems.

DMTC Student Conference supports the next generation of defence researchers

heidigarth — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:17:26 +0000

DMTC’s inaugural Students Conference, held on the 22nd and 23rd of August, has been a huge success, with students already calling for another event to be held next year. The conference provided the opportunity for DMTC supported PhD students to present their research to industry and research organisation peers and to share their ideas and experiences with fellow students. In all, 22 students presented their research, covering the full breadth of research areas currently being undertaken by DMTC. Over 40 supervisors, peers and delegates from industry attended.

Attendees at the DMTC Students Conference

DMTC’s recently retired founding Chairman, Dr Peter Preston, gave an inspirational presentation to the students, with a message to not limit their field of expertise in the rapidly changing environment, and to aim high in their research goals.

The Best Presentation Award was given to Cameron Barr from the University of Melbourne for his presentation on ‘Severe Plastic Deformation of Aluminium Bronzes for Marine Applications’. Cameron has been involved with DMTC’s Education Program since inception, and continues to contribute to the pool of knowledge being generated through the program. Cameron started his involvement in DMTC projects when he was an undergraduate student, and with the support of DMTC, has continued through to undertake a PhD. He is an outstanding example of how ongoing support can lead to the development of indigenous expertise.

Viktor Verijenko, Christine Scala and Peter Preston

DMTC is most grateful to DSTO for kindly hosting the event and providing the students with a tour of the facilities. Dr Christine Scala, Research Leader – Advanced Materials & Sensor Systems was given special recognition for her ongoing contribution and support of DMTC’s research programs.

Plane safety climbs with smart inspection system

heidigarth — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:20:45 +0000

The great work being undertaken in the “Rapid and Reliable Detection and Analysis of Composite Defects” project has captured the interest of Swinburne Magazine who have published an article on the project in the July issue of their magazine. Well done to all involved!

Read the article at the Swinburne Magazine website, or pick up a copy of The Age this Wednesday.

For more information on the project, please contact DMTC at information@dmtc.com.au.

6:30 with George Negus runs story on Personnel Survivability

heidigarth — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:35:20 +0000

The 6:30 with George Negus program has televised a short story about the new Personnel Survivability program.

It includes a compilation of footage and a number of interviews from familiar faces.

To watch this segment via the Network Ten website, please click here.

DMTC to enhance Personnel Survivability

heidigarth — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 04:07:59 +0000

Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) has been successful in its proposal to the Federal Government to undertake a new program focusing on Personnel Survivability. Minister for Defence the Hon Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel the Hon Jason Clare today announced that the Government has approved the Personnel Survivability program, which is now expected to commence later this year.

Personnel Survivability is a new 5 year program which will deliver a range of improved materials, manufacturing processes and technology solutions to enhance the operational effectiveness and survivability of Australian Defence personnel. The program aims to reduce the burden to personnel by decreasing the weight, bulk and cognitive awareness of the equipment being worn while maintaining or increasing the level of protection enabling them to perform their duties with minimal hindrance.

Focusing on improving the mobility, survivability and sustainability factors that affect personnel, Personnel Survivability will contribute to saving lives and increasing operational effectiveness of Australian Defence personnel. Areas of research will include:

- Ballistic, Blast and Flash Protection
- Signature Reducing Activities
- Environmental Threats
- Utility, Fit and Comfort
- Human Systems and Injury Modelling
- Integration with Mounted Operations

This research will further enhance the work being undertaken by the Integrated Solider Systems group (also known as Diggerworks) within the Defence Materiel Organisation.

In addition to the benefits to Defence personnel, this Program will contribute to the further development of Australia’s defence industry and the enhancing of indigenous industrial, commercial and academic defence capabilities.

The federal Government will provide in excess of $9 million towards the program through the Defence Materiel Organisation and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, with the sector already committing in excess of $11 million.

DMTC CEO, Dr Mark Hodge is delighted with the news: “this represents a significant outcome for the broader defence sector, including of course the companies and research sector organisations that committed their support to the bid. We’re most grateful for the support and commitment of our partner organisations, and of course that of Defence, which was the final piece of the puzzle, allowing each party to leverage contributions from the others through DMTC’s collaborative business model.”

Personnel Survivability will be managed by DMTC using the successful collaborative model currently used for existing DMTC programs.

Established by the Federal Government as the first Defence Future Capability Technology Centre (DFCTC), DMTC focuses on delivering new materials technologies and manufacturing processes to Australia’s defence industry which will in turn enhance industry’s ability to supply high priority products and services to Defence. By acting as the link to industry in developing capabilities that are relevant to Defence requirements the DMTC model enables Defence and industry to work together to address critical capability issues while preserving Defence’s need to remain objective in procurement and tendering processes.

The addition of Personnel Survivability to the programs already being run by the DMTC confirms the relevance of DMTC in linking Defence requirements to the development of indigenous commercial opportunities. DMTC has become a resource for industry to understand how its ideas and capabilities can fit with Defence requirements and for the transitioning of these capabilities to commercial reality.

Tony Quick commented that “DMTC is demonstrating the delivery of research and development to meet defence needs across a number of program areas and we all look forward to making a real impact in this critical area.”

DMTC invites further interest from the sector to participate in the program. The Program will be operated in a similar manner to DMTCs existing programs, and requires co-investment from participants. Exact funding will be decided on a case by case basis.

For further information please email personnelsurvivability@dmtc.com.au or phone: (03) 9214 4447.

To view the joint media release from Minister for Defence the Hon Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel the Hon Jason Clare click here.

View a pdf version of the DMTC media release: DMTC to enhance Personnel Survivability