BAE Systems Hunter Class Frigate

3D metal printer wins prototyping contract for BAE Systems Hunter Frigates

AML3D has announced a purchase contract with BAE Systems to investigate the feasibility and prototyping of metal 3D printed components as part of the design and construction of nine Hunter class frigates in Adelaide. AML3D said the prototype components aim to provide higher strength properties than typical materials while also providing an alternative to traditionally…

BAE Systems and EPE go autonomous

BAE Systems Australia and EPE have today announced a partnership to demonstrate advanced autonomous capabilities in Australia. Announcing the partnership on the eve of Land Forces 2022 in Brisbane, the two organisations will collaborate on the development autonomous technologies through BAE Systems’ Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) program, which began this year. BAE Systems has converted…

Defence invests $27 million in innovation

The Defence Innovation Hub has awarded contracts worth $27 million to ten Australian businesses, including a Tasmanian research organisation. Defence industry minister Pat Conroy said: “Investing in Australian innovation is critical to building our national defence capability. “The contracts being announced reflect the ingenuity of Australia’s defence industry, and the Albanese Government’s commitment to building…

Climb another Summit to high value manufacturing and innovation – by Professor John Spoehr

This week @AuManufacturing will feature a series of experts responding and looking forward from the Jobs and Skills Summit. Here leading innovation and manufacturing academic, Professor John Spoehr, gives his perspective. It was dubbed the hottest ticket in town – I was one of around 140 people to get one and enthusiastically attended last week’s…

Keogh outlines support for innovation, defence industry

Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel minister Matt Keogh has outlined the federal government’s approach to making science, technology, innovation and industry capability central to defending Australia in a major speech in Perth. Speaking at the 2022 Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference today, Keogh said the new government saw defence industry as a priority, and…

VR trialled in shipbuilding by BAE Systems

Virtual Reality (VR) and cobot technologies have been successfully utilised during the prototype phase of construction of nine Hunter class frigates at the Osborne naval shipyard in Adelaide. BAE Systems trialled the advanced technologies in simple assembly and inspection work following trials at the Line Zero facility at Adelaide’s Tonsley innovation precinct which is a…

Moving from idea to innovation with R&D

A recently-completed 12-month R&D project provides an example of how applied research between industry and academia can proceed successfully. By the Innovative Manufacturing CRC. Deakin University and Geelong-based manufacturing start-up FormFlow have forged a symbiotic business relationship, arguably not seen enough between research institutions and industry in Australia. It began in 2016 when Dr Matt…

Frontiers in additive manufacturing: the challenges of design, innovation and commercialisation

In the final day of our Frontiers in additive manufacturing series, Glenn Rees, Head of Engineering at Conflux, discusses the many challenges that come with design freedom, the commercial sweet spots for metal AM, and more. You’ve come from a Motorsport background – can you tell me a bit about the differences and similarities in…