More defence work for Queensland manufacturers was previewed during the opening of a new research centre and manufacturing facilities in Brisbane today.
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.”
More defence work for Queensland manufacturers was previewed during the opening of a new research centre and manufacturing facilities in Brisbane today.
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.”
Note: High resolution photos of the launch and Millatec facilities are available on request.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jasmine Smith, DMTC Communications Manager, E. jasmine.smith@dmtc.com.au or P. 0439 034 562
Sue Keay, CAST Communication Manager E. s.keay@cast.org.au or P. 0408 778 667
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. Visit www.dmtc.com.au
ABOUT CAST CRC:
CAST is a collaboration between industry, researchers and the government conducting industry-driven research in metals technology and manufacturing. It is funded under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres program. Visit www.cast.org.au
ABOUT MILLATEC ENGINEERING:
Millatec is a Queensland-based precision machining company. Providing services to a range of industry sectors such as defence, telecommunications, avionics, automotive suppliers, tool making and medical instrumentation. The company is equipped for prototyping and small run production and also has the facilities to undertake selected high volume machining. Visit www.millatec.com.au
The Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) will celebrate two official launch events in March.
DMTC’s Queensland partners will host a launch of the DMTC’s Queensland node and Millatec Engineering’s new Brisbane facilities, while NSW partners 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.
The Fourth Australian JSF Advanced Technology & Innovation Conference will be held from the 3rd to the 5th of May 2010.
The conference will interest members from industry and research sectors who have a generic interest in the potential development and exploitation of new and advanced Australian technology that may have potential application to JSF. It is also a forum for industry and researchers to identify shortcomings and new capabilities required to present a more competitive package of opportunities.
The Conference is to be formally opened by The Hon. Greg Combet AM MP, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science.
The first two days will be held at Hilton On The Park, Melbourne, in a formal conference format focused on advanced technology relevant to JSF.
The third day, Wednesday 5 May, will be sponsored by the Victoria Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development, and will be in the form of Industry Technology Workshops that address specialist industry areas and how best to provide a focus for JSF activities at the national level.
In an invitation to interested parties, Air Vice-Marshal J.P.Harvey, Program Manager for New Air Combat Capability, said the Conference aimed to build on the success of the three earlier Conferences and the strong ongoing support from Australian industry and R&D organisations.
“This year we plan to build on our theme of ‘Advanced technology for a future JSF’ to extend to ‘From ore in the Ground to Parts on the Aeroplane’.
“A key objective of the Australian Government in joining the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Project is to achieve a significant involvement by Australian industry and research organisations throughout the production life of the JSF Program.
“To that end, and with the objective of better positioning Australian industry and research organisations to be able to engage in the JSF Follow-On Development and Sustainment programs, the New Air Combat Capability (NACC) Project has been working to identify a national R&D base which we believe will be needed to support long term involvement in future JSF development activities.
“The Australian JSF Advanced Technology and Innovation Conference is a key part of this initiative.” The Conference will encompass national and international perspectives and include advanced technology presentations from Australian industry, universities and other R&D organisations.
