New research Training Centre for mining alloys

8 November 2017

New research Training Centre for mining alloys 

A new Australian Research Council (ARC) research Training Centre that aims to bolster Australian manufacturing by improving efficiency and lowering production costs for the mining industry has been launched today. 

Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, officially opened the ARC Training Centre in Alloy Innovation for Mining Efficiency, which will be based at Deakin University. 

The new Training Centre is receiving $4.88 million over five years through the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres scheme and will be dedicated to alloy innovation for improved mining efficiency, with the aim of training scientists and engineers to transform Australia into a producer of world-class equipment and wear-resistant components. 

ARC Chief Executive Officer, Professor Sue Thomas, said the Training Centre will conduct world-leading research, exploiting recent developments in steel technology and emerging manufacturing methods (3D printing) to develop innovative alloy compositions for wear resistant components. It will also use new modelling, sensing and advanced testing methods to predict the behaviour of the equipment under tough working conditions.

“Working with industry partnering organisations, the ARC Training Centre in Alloy Innovation for Mining Efficiency will aim to make Australian manufacturers dominant in the multi-billion dollar mining equipment sector by training innovators to design the world’s best highly customized long-life, wear resistant components,” said Professor Thomas. 

“This new ARC Training Centre will also train the next generation of researchers in this field, by embedding researchers within industry. The students will work on projects proposed by the industry partners and under the supervision of senior academics at the universities. 

Researchers based at Deakin University will work closely with The University of Queensland and Monash University, and participating organisations Keech Castings Australia Pty Limited; Gekko Systems Pty Ltd; Weir Minerals Australia Ltd; Ixl Metal Castings Pty Ltd; and Cast Bonding Australia Pty Ltd. They will also collaborate with Hycast Metals Pty Ltd; Trelleborg Engineered Products Australia Pty Ltd; Newcrest Mining Limited; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; Central Institute Of Technology; Austmine Limited; Mets Ignited Australia Ltd; Materials Solutions Pty Ltd; and Australian Foundry Institute. 

The Industrial Transformation Research Training Centres scheme fosters close partnerships between university-based researchers and other research end-users to provide innovative Higher Degree by Research (HDR) and postdoctoral training in research industries that are vital to Australia's future. 

For more information about this research Training Centre, please visit the ARC Training Centre in Alloy Innovation for Mining Efficiency website. For more information about the ARC and its grant schemes, visit the ARC website. 
 
Media contact:
ARC Stakeholder Relations
0412 623 056 or communications@arc.gov.au