Funding to help streamline manufacturing process

The University of Queensland has secured $810,000 in funding to develop technology that will help reduce power consumption, maintenance and operational costs in the manufacturing industry.

UQ scientists, in partnership with Australian Tube Mills, will help develop, test and commercialise a prototype continuous press forming machine that will eliminate defects, such as stretching and rolling, in the traditional metal rolling process.

Project leader Dr Paul Meehan of the School of Engineering said the project aimed to develop and build a full-scale prototype, as well as produce representative complex stainless steel products that are extremely difficult to make with the current technology.

“A fully working desktop-scaled demonstration prototype has already been constructed and has been fitted with a number of different die sets for different profiles,” Meehan said.

“It has been demonstrated that different die designs can not only produce different transverse profiles, but that it is also possible to produce either entirely straight or curved longitudinal shapes with traditionally extreme thickness to diameter ratios with difficult material such as stainless steel.”

UQ Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Prof David Siddle said the technology was set to benefit the advanced manufacturing sector, especially the stainless steel market of high-end construction, furniture and automotive applications.