DMTC congratulates the CAST Cooperative Research Centre (CAST CRC) on winning two prestigious awards for innovation and technology transfer at the CRC Association Awards for Excellence in Innovation Gala Dinner held in Alice Springs on Friday evening.
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.
Posted by DMTC on May 31st, 2010 DMTC congratulates one of its partners, Ryan Middleton of Vipac Engineers & Scientists, for winning the Best Paper award at the Australian Joint Strike Fighter Advanced Technology and Innovation Conference.
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 partners presented around 16 papers at the conference and provided three session Chairs – Professor John Norrish, Professor Milan Brandt and Dr Mark Hodge.
Posted by DMTC on May 7th, 2010 A seminar on Nanostructures via Thermal Spray: Processing, Properties and Modelling will be held on 12 May at DSTO by the Defence Materials Technology Centre and AVD DSTO.
Professor Chris Berndt, Professor of Surface Science and Interface Engineering, will present the seminar from 11.00am to 12.00pm at David Warren Auditorium, Building 22, DSTO, Fishermans Bend.
Prof Berndt is an active DMTC contributor and an internationally recognised authority in his field.
“The concept of producing nanostructured materials via thermal spray processes, although intuitive, is neither routine nor reliable. There are many technical challenges necessary to transition the science to an engineering reality,” Prof Berndt said.
“Some strategies to overcome these barriers will be presented from the viewpoint of integrating more fully the materials science into the materials engineering so that manufacturing processes can be consistent and of statistical relevancy.”
Posted by DMTC on May 7th, 2010 Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Materiel and Science, today opened the fourth Australian JSF Technology & Innovation Conference in Melbourne.
“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.
Posted by DMTC on May 3rd, 2010