$250 million-plus Additive Manufacturing CRC launched at Boeing

A new seven-year Cooperative Research Centre, the Additive Manufacturing CRC, was officially launched at an event at Boeing Aerostructures Australia’s Port Melbourne facility on Wednesday.

The successful CRC bid was awarded $58 million in federal funding in April. According to the AMCRC, funding from partner organisations – with over 70 industry, research and other participants – will see a further $200 million contributed “to build a world-class additive manufacturing ecosystem that enhances industry capacity across the country.”

“Today marks the start of seven years of  industry-led research collaboration to advance Australia's additive manufacturing capabilities,” said the AMCRC’s Managing Director Simon Marriott in a statement following the launch. 

“Additive manufacturing is no longer limited to targeted prototyping, it is transforming industrial  processes and supply chains, enabling a new era of efficient and sustainable manufacturing. Through AMCRC, we’re ensuring Australian industry not only keeps pace but leads.”

The CRC has four main themes around:

• Sustainable manufacturing; 
• Materials development; 
• New technology and certified process development; and
• Finishings and surface technologies for medical technology and defence applications.

The last theme will be unsurprising to some readers. As reported by @AuManufacturing in January 2024, the AMCRC and SMCRC (Surface Manufacturing CRC) decided to merge funding bids, following feedback from industry and research partners.

The official launch event was held in partnership with Boeing Aerostructures Australia – a major contributor to the CRC and attended by industry, government and research partners representatives, including Victorian industry minister Colin Brooks and senator Lisa Darmanin (in place of federal industry minister Tim Ayres.)

Two industry partners already set to commence projects are nuclear engineering company entX and aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business Rosebank Engineering.  

Rosebank’s General Manager Aidan Butler-Bonnice said “we are proud to be partnering with the  AMCRC to pioneer Laser Direct Energy Deposition for repair of high-value defence components.

“With over two decades of additive manufacturing experience, we look forward to working with the  AMCRC and our research partners Swinburne and RMIT University to develop robust industry ready solutions that strengthen Australia’s defence, aerospace and maritime sectors.” 

Picture: supplied 

Further reading

Albanese government commits $158 million to back three new CRCs

Ten-year CRC for manufacturing regenerative therapies awarded $65 million

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Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

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