Downer, UTS and IMCRC form research alliance
19 June 2018
Downer: Agreement
kicks off research project to revolutionise the way composite
polymers
are used to
manufacture precision-engineered mineral separation and
mining equipment.
Through its Mineral Technologies business, Downer has formed an alliance
with
University of Technology
Sydney (UTS) and Innovative Manufacturing CRC (IMCRC) to
cooperatively research solutions that will revolutionise the way
additive manufacturing can be used to improve the production of mineral
separation equipment and create new manufacturing
technologies.
Additive manufacturing (AM), or
3D printing as it is also referred to,
is the fastest-growing manufacturing sector worldwide. This is due to
the many benefits it offers companies in terms of new product
development, time to market, reduced waste and lower product cost. AM
enables the rapid design and production of complex products and
associated advanced business models such as customer-led design
processes and just-in-time production.
Anticipated to run over a three-year period, the research alliance
covers the first phase of the project. UTS will house all project work
at a new additive manufacturing facility at its Broadway campus to
network and brainstorm various conceptual ideas.
Located in the Faculty of Engineering and IT, this project will be
undertaken with Rapido, a unique rapid prototyping unit established by
UTS in 2016 to help industry, government and community partners
translate innovative ideas and complex problems into viable products and
solutions.
Herve Harvard, Director of Rapido, says the unit seeks research
partnerships to engage staff and students in innovative projects which
help to bridge the gap between industry and universities. Two PhD
students will be allocated to the Downer/IMCRC project and mentored
throughout its lifecycle.
“Partnering with Rapido harnesses a unique capability in terms of the
breadth and depth of expertise, and advanced facilities we have at UTS.
We can assemble multi-skilled teams to leverage the expertise of high
performing engineers who have extensive experience in commercial
research and development together with researchers who bring world class
academic expertise in key technology domains. This project demonstrates
how UTS is becoming a leading university in additive manufacturing and,
in this particular context, leading in the capability to develop bespoke
3D printing technologies suitable for manufacturing functional parts,”
Herve said.
Mineral Technologies Global Manager - Sales, Equipment and Technology,
Alex de Andrade, is an associate professor with UTS and will provide
industry partner leadership to the project. Alex said the project is
aligned with Mineral Technologies’ strategic
technology roadmap as it focuses on delivering AM products with
embedded Internet of Things (IoT) connected sensors. These sensors will
direct operators to optimal set point recommendations in real time.
“This project will define an accelerated deposition and curing technique
for AM which will hasten the way in which composite polymers are
deposited to manufacture our mineral separation equipment, in
particular, gravity spirals. We expect to see positive environmental
impacts, such as decreasing the need for chemicals and reducing air
contamination, which will significantly improve the operational
environment for our manufacturing workforce,” Alex said.
It is anticipated that the new AM manufacturing methods will attract the
next generation of engineers and workforce who will become skilled at
setting up 3D printers as well as profile programming and CAD meshing
development.
David Chuter, IMCRC’s CEO and Managing Director, pointed out that
applying AM technologies will not only revolutionise the manufacturing
process of mineral separation equipment but the associated supply chain
operations, especially when the equipment is fitted with IoT sensors.
“Mineral separation equipment is often operated in a remote and hostile
environment. Deploying gravity spirals fitted with IoT sensors will
offer Mineral Technologies a clear picture of the product performance.
We also see that this innovative manufacturing approach and research
could yield benefits for other sectors, such as vertical agriculture and
other applications.”
--ENDS--
Source: Downer - www.downergroup.com
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