Towards 3% R&D – Training the innovation workforce by Michael Edwards of Boeing

Our editorial series Towards 3% R&D – Turbocharging Australia’s Innovation Effort – requires a trained and inspired workforce. But how to achieve that? By Michael Edwards of Boeing Research and Technology. Enhancing performance, safety and efficiency of Boeing’s products and services are at the forefront of Boeing’s innovation teams’ minds when developing technological advancements for…

From soft plastics waste to structural building panels

Australian composites manufacturer Sustainable Infrastructure Systems (SIS) has revealed innovative structural building panels made from glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) and discarded soft plastics. The lightweight, high-strength composite panels are the first in the world to be manufactured using post-consumer mixed soft plastics, which are blended with a proprietary material matrix, according to an announcement. The…

Quickstep launches engineering services business

Composites manufacturer Quickstep has launched Quickstep Engineering Solutions allowing companies to benefit from its product development and manufacturing skills. CEO and Managing Director Mark Burgess said the company was thrilled to have productised ‘our incredible engineering offering – product and process design/development, industrial automation and supporting capabilities’. Burgess said: “With over 20 years of expertise…

Project aims to transform composites repair with digital twins

A new project will see University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) Centre for Future Materials researchers, Dassault Systemes software reseller MEMKO and Boeing work together on the use of digital twins for repairing composite structures. Lead researcher Dr Tristan Shelley from UniSQ said in a statement on Thursday that the ultimate goal was increased digitalisation of…