A $2.7 million industry-led project will develop Australia’s manufacturing capability for certified metal components used in defence, maritime and medical applications, with the aim of reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.
Led by Stärke-AMG and Flinders University, the four-year initiative will establish manufacturing processes, qualification data and quality frameworks to support the local production of metal additive manufactured components. Adelaide University and Metal Powder Works will contribute expertise in materials development, powder characterisation and process optimisation.
The project aims to address a barrier to wider additive manufacturing adoption: moving from prototype development to qualified production that meets industry requirements.
Stärke-AMG CEO Al Jawhari said the focus was on establishing the systems needed to manufacture reliable components for regulated industries.
“The opportunity is not in printing parts, it’s in qualified production,” Mr Jawhari said.
“Defence and medical customers need suppliers that can deliver repeatable components with complete traceability and quality assurance.”
Flinders University will lead research into materials science, qualification methodologies and performance datasets for advanced alloys used in defence and medical applications.
Research Lead Professor Maziar Ramezani said further work was needed to improve understanding of process reliability, material performance and qualification requirements.
“Australia has developed significant expertise in additive manufacturing, but greater understanding of process reliability, material performance and qualification requirements is needed to support widespread industrial adoption,” Professor Ramezani said.
The project will use three Renishaw AM400 systems to develop production pathways for strategic alloys used in defence, shipbuilding and medical technologies.
AMCRC Managing Director Simon Marriott said local qualification and production capabilities were important to building sovereign manufacturing capacity.
“Australia cannot build sovereign manufacturing capability without the ability to qualify and produce critical components locally,” Mr Marriott said.
By the end of the four-year project, the consortium aims to deliver qualified manufacturing workflows, certification-ready datasets and production demonstrators to support local production and reduce reliance on imported components in strategically important sectors.
