New additive manufacturing centre at Uni Sydney opens

A $25 million facility focussed on additive manufacturing R&D by companies and researchers, and located at University of Sydney’s Darlington campus, was officially opened on Monday.

The Sydney Manufacturing Hub would enable “concept-to-production demonstration capabilities” for faculty and students, as well as private businesses. It hosts equipment and software for design and topological optimisation of parts; AM in metals, ceramics and polymers; heat treatment; and advanced characterisation, according to the university.

Professor Simon Ringer, Director of the university’s Core Research Facilities, said the use of advanced manufacturing could soon create “Australian designed and built space rocket engines, hypersonic vehicles, satellites, eco-active building and construction,” and fast-track electrified propulsion. 

“It will even be transformative for areas like health – our team have recently leveraged additive manufacturing in the production of custom orthopaedic implants to help with patient-specific needs.”

The newly-opened facility includes metal AM machines from GE Additive, which signed a five-year partnership with the University of Sydney last year. The Hub will be used as a technology demo centre for GE for ANZ, hosting workshops, training and collaboration sessions with industry.

It was, according to GE Australia’s Sam Maresh, “set to become a commercialisation hub for new products and innovations across a range of advanced manufacturing industries.”

The facility would also serve as a foundational node for complementary NSW government projects at Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Western Sydney parklands. 

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