A new ‘technology demonstrator’ has been launched at the University of Wollongong will allow New South Wales industry to assess the latest manufacturing technology for adoption in the Defence supply chain.
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 partners, 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 partners 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.
Featured: Ms Jan Jarratt MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Employment & Economic Development in Queensland at the launch of both the Queensland node of the DMTC and Millatec Engineering’s new Brisbane facilities.
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
