Apr 1 2011
"Aerospace and automotive companies developing new products should come to Melbourne if they wish to capitalise upon advances in the design and manufacture of carbon fibre materials" said Brad Dunstan, CEO, of the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM). His comments came as he visited the recent JEC Composites Exhibition in Paris (29-31 March 2011) along with the Hon. Andre Haermeyer, Commissioner to Europe for the Government of Victoria.
The aerospace sector in Melbourne has been at the forefront of carbon fibre advances in Australia and is fast gaining international recognition for its R&D advances in the design and manufacture of carbon fibre. This reputation has been reinforced by the development of the 'Australia Future Fibres Research & Innovation Centre' (AFFRIC) - based at Deakin University, Melbourne.
Brad Dunstan (CEO of VCAMM), Richard Simpson (MD Furnace Engineering), the Hon Ahdre Haermeyer (Victorian State Govt Trade Commissioner to Europe) Patric Peyton (Chairman and CEO, Despatch Industries) and his wife (L to R).
Due for completion in 2012, the AU$100 million centre will house the world's first open access industrial-scale carbon fibre research facility and be home to more than 300 researchers and students. In particular, its planned 20 Ton per annum Carbon Fibre Production line has already begun to attract the attention of international industry experts.
Mr Dunstan expects AFFRIC to significantly advance the understanding of the manufacture and use of carbon fibre. "We hope to attract global carbon fibre manufacturers to Australia to do fundamental research on fibre properties in a fully equipped research facility", he said. "Our competitive advantage will be an on-site 'Real Industrial Carbon Fibre Line', where laboratory developments can be quickly proven on a real line." During his visit, Mr Dunstan announced that Despatch Industries, US company and global leader in thermal process technologies for carbon fibre production, has been commissioned to supply the fully integrated, pilot-scale carbon fibre manufacturing line.
AFFRIC will also undertake large-scale projects relating to composite manufacture and Mr Dunstan is hoping to attract end users who want a better understanding and an independent view of their materials and their potential. "In the past, carbon fibre material has been made in strict secrecy restricting the application of practical science", he said. "We hope to change this by conducting open access, public domain research as well as confidential industry projects."
The new facility will position Australia as an international hub for new materials industries and offer European carbon fibre manufacturers and end users in the Aviation, Wind and Automotive Industries an advanced resource in the Asia Pacific region.
The Australian Carbon Fibre Industry