About

Additive manufacturing is a disruptive technology that will transform global manufacturing over the next decade. The Industrial Transformation Research Hub (ITRH) for Additive Manufacturing, will establish Australia as a global leader in knowledge of additive manufacturing for metallic components. It endeavours to facilitate successful adoption of the technology in Australia and enable local companies to secure markets in high value sectors, such as aerospace.

The Hub studies real components with immediate industry impact, and strives to equip a new generation of researchers with the skills and expertise to ensure Australia leads the way in this growing industry.

Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as ‘3D-printing’, builds components from metal alloy powders or wires by selective laser or electron beam melting. It produces near-final-shape components directly from computer design files without the need for traditional tooling techniques. This approach leads to material savings of up to 90%, production cost savings of up to 50% and reductions in lead-time from design to final component of up to 90%.

AM is a key disruptive technology that will transform global manufacturing supply chains over the next decade. With its characteristics of high-value, high-knowledge-content, low-volume and high-yield production, AM is well suited to the evolving Australian manufacturing scene.

The effective adoption of AM could revitalise Australian manufacturing and connect our businesses to an international array of innovation driven sectors that require high-performance, complex-engineered components, including aerospace, automotive, biomedical, space and defence. In addition, 3D metal printing, has the potential to position upstream Australian producers of metals and downstream engineering firms directly into the supply-chains of these high-value sectors.

ITRH endeavours to establish a world class, industry-integrated Research Hub, focused on product design and development and optimising manufacturing techniques.

The Hub aims to connect with current global industry leaders, to drive the adoption and development of AM technology in Australia. With an emphasis on product design and development, and optimisation of manufacturing techniques, ITRH will establish Australia as a global pioneer in additive manufacturing for metallic components.

The ITRH is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Program funding scheme, and is a partnership between Monash University, Deakin University and University of Queensland, along with collaborating organisations in Australia and overseas.