Flinders University announces new high-tech manufacturing centre for Tonsley






Flinders has announced a proposed $50 million Australian Centre for Innovative Manufacturing – a claimed Australian first as a reconfigurable “Future Factory” and a dedicated 4,000 square metre site for Australian companies to test state-of-the-art production technology.

The university released a statement welcoming a $20 million pledge to establish such a centre by shadow industry minister Kim Carr. According to the release, the centre would be funded by $30 million from the federal and South Australian governments, $10 million from Flinders University and $10 million from industrial participants. It would be located in the Tonsley Innovation District, affiliated with the Sheffield University Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and work with University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) on shipbuidling technologies.

“Large scale ‘Factories of the Future’ are playing a key role in accelerating this transition in the UK, Europe and the United States because they bring researchers and companies together in purpose built facilties to explore innovation of existing technologies and experimentation with new technologies,” said Professor John Spoehr, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research Impact and Director of the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute.

The site would host 200 academics from Flinders, a further 20 researchers and technical staff, and up to 50 industry personnel.

“This investment will bring together leading researchers, industry, government and unions to modernise and transform South Australian manufacturing,” Carr told The Adelaide Advertiser.

Picture: Artist’s impression of the new centre (Flinders University)

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