Monash plays leading role in materials network

Small to medium businesses faced with tricky materials technology problems can now turn to the new Australian Materials Technology Network (AMTN) for access to world-class diagnostic analysis and solutions.

The new technology network aims to link industry to advanced materials capabilities within universities and research organisations. Monash University, one of five Australian universities involved, is home to the Victorian node of the network.

Materials technology encompasses all aspects of the production, characterisation and troubleshooting of materials such as plastics, glasses, metals, ceramics and composites used in modern manufactured products.

In launching the network in Sydney yesterday, Senator Marise Payne said its establishment marked the 'coming of age' of materials technology in Australia. The network has been set up with $2.6 million under the Federal Government's $3 billion innovation statement, Backing Australia's Ability. "Materials technology is part of the platform on which Australia's manufacturing industry has been built," Senator Payne said. "Many diverse aspects of our Australian way of life also depend on materials technology and it is clear this will continue into the future."

The vision of the network is to bring together Australia's vast materials technology resources and infrastructure to enhance Australia's global competitiveness and export markets by providing industry with greater access to expertise, technology, and services available within research institutions. The manager of the Victorian node, Dr Astrid Nordmann, from Monash University's School of Physics and Materials Engineering, said the network would be an enormous boost to small to medium enterprises. "The network will provide an invaluable resource for businesses which invariably don't have the service in-house or cannot afford to bring in the expertise," Dr Nordmann said. "So now businesses that are having problems regarding the processing and testing of materials or who require assistance with materials selection or characterisation can seek advice and practical assistance from the network." Other nodes will be based at the ANU, the University of NSW, the University of South Australia, the University of Queensland, and the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Centre in Western Australia. The nodes will work closely with the Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia (IMEA) and Australia's Industry Capability Network (ICN).