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Innovative SME joins DMTC composites project

Tasmanian SME Penguin Composites Pty Ltd is joining an existing DMTC project to explore the potential use of hybrid composite materials in defence manufacturing.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, made the announcement on 20 July.

“The partnership will explore the development of new compounds with unique characteristics that could, as one example, enhance the performance of military vehicles and reduce manufacturing costs,” Minister Pyne said.

The project is part of DMTC’s Enabling Technologies Program, a broad-based effort to enhance platform-independent technologies that can be applied across supply chains including in the land, maritime, aerospace and space sectors.

“DMTC is delivering the collaboration and focus on innovation that was envisaged in the 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement, in this case through exploring the potential of novel material compounds,” the Minister said.

Pictured: UQ’s Dr Martin Veidt is leading DMTC’s research into lightweight and hybrid composite materials.

Penguin Composites joins existing industry partners Thales Australia, Imagine Intelligent Materials and research partners from University of Queensland, Swinburne University of Technology, Deakin University and RMIT on the project.

“The involvement of both researchers and industry partners will allow the team to test new configurations and identify the differences in performance compared to conventional materials,” Minister Pyne said.

“With that deeper level of understanding, the team can then turn their attention to challenges in maximising efficiency and developing cost-effective manufacturing solutions for these innovative material systems.”