Ampcontrol celebrates 20 years of collaborative research

Electrical engineering company Ampcontrol has celebrated 20 years of research collaboration with the University of Newcastle through their ResTech R&D collaboration.

ResTech held a public open day yesterday at which Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic officially opening the new ResTech Living Labs facility.

Located at the industrial-focused Callaghan Campus, NSW, Living Lab aims to accelerate the development and commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies and solutions in the energy, infrastructure and resource sectors.

Founded by Ampcontrol co-founder Peter Cockbain, in 20 years ResTech has brought numerous innovations to fruition including:

• Gilghi, an off-grid water purifying system for remote and Indigenous communities
• EnviroBot, a computer vision-based precision herbicide applicator robot
• GPS Cable Tracker for large surface mines
• Intrinsically Safe LED Machine lighting solution for hazardous environments
• And iron Ore mining electrification enablers.

Ampcontrol managing Director and CEO Rod Henderson said: “At Ampcontrol, we recognise that working with the best will help us deliver innovations that can transform the world.

“We’re dedicated to leading the global energy revolution but understand that this ambitious goal can’t be achieved alone.

“The vital work coming out of ResTech is providing real-world solutions to support the energy transition—both here in the Hunter and beyond.”

ResTech employs over 30 people, including 24 dedicated research and development team members with power systems, electronics, design, and hardware disciplines.

The ResTech venture assisted the University School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in maintaining excellence in its core disciplines through support for undergraduate programmes, post-graduate funded projects, and a professorial academic chair in power engineering.

University of Nwcastle Vice Chancellop Professor Alex Zelinsky said: “Our university has a really important role to play in the community through our partnerships with industry, and we’re proud to have been partnering with Ampcontrol for more than 20 years.

“ResTech is shaped by industry and allows our students to gain experience working with industry leaders on challenging research projects that are directly relevant to their degrees.

“It is this kind of experience that can really help to set our students apart when they graduate and we are so passionate about giving them that opportunity.”

Picture: left to right: Rod Henderson and Professor Alex Zelinsky at the University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus.