Australia manufacturing

Curtin University is set to play a pivotal role in Australia’s $271 million Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC), a national initiative aimed at transforming the country’s manufacturing landscape through next-generation 3D printing technologies. Launched with $58 million in federal funding, the AMCRC will unite 14 research institutions and over 50 industry partners in a bid to build a connected, sovereign additive manufacturing ecosystem. This initiative targets advancements in sectors including defence, aerospace, healthcare, automotive, mining, and construction. Additive manufacturing—or industrial 3D printing—enables the creation of lighter, stronger, and more intricate components by building products layer by layer from digital designs, significantly reducing material waste. Curtin’s contribution will be driven by researchers from the John de Laeter Centre and the Curtin Corrosion Centre, who will collaborate with industry leaders such as Austal, Australia’s premier shipbuilder. Curtin’s strengths in materials science, corrosion research, and manufacturing will be key to developing innovative, sustainable solutions for industry. Curtin Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Professor Melinda Fitzgerald, hailed the initiative as a milestone for Australian manufacturing. “Curtin is proud to contribute to this national collaboration, using world-class research to support Australia’s sovereign capabilities and create new economic opportunities,” she said. Dr Karl Davidson and Associate Professor Zakaria Quadir, along with Associate Professor Kod Pojtanabuntoeng and Professor Vladimir Golovanevskiy, will spearhead Curtin’s involvement in AMCRC projects. Dr Davidson noted the transformative potential of additive manufacturing: “This opens new doors for materials innovation, improving supply chain resilience, efficiency, and sustainability.” The AMCRC will support research and commercialisation projects over the next seven years, also focusing on additive technologies in marine engineering, mining, and agriculture—strengthening Australia’s position in advanced manufacturing and industrial innovation. Source: Hindustan