UNSW

Research by the UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre has found a way that could start a new “green aluminium” manufacturing revolution and bolster government 2020 Budget and industry efforts to advance Australian manufacturing, and be more sustainable and create new jobs. The new technique to recover aluminium from complex, multilayered packaging is … Continue reading Breakthrough can help drive manufacturing prosperity →

An invention similar to an elephant’s trunk has potential benefits for many industries where handling delicate objects is essential, say researchers from the University of New South Wales’a Medical Robotic Lab. Nature has inspired engineers at UNSW Sydney to develop a soft fabric robotic gripper, which behaves like an elephant’s trunk to grasp, pick up … Continue reading UNSW research team seeks industry partner for new device →

Strategic Elements subsidiary Australian Advanced Materials (AAM) will develop a self-charging battery technology through a collaboration with the University of New South Wales and CSIRO. The battery cells create electricity from humidity in the air or skin surface to self-charge themselves within minutes. No manual charging or wired power is required. They are created with … Continue reading Australian Advanced Materials to create self-charging batteries →

Novel solutions for biofilm infections are the focus of a collaborative research agreement between the University of Sydney, Whiteley Corporation and the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) which started in 2018. UNSW Sydney joined the project in 2020, significantly increasing the academic manpower available to the project. Over four years, more than $5 million … Continue reading Manufacturing research partnership to tackle harmful biofilms →

The new quantum engineering major by the varsity will train the next generation of engineers to help build a $4 billion Australian quantum industry. UNSW Sydney has introduced the world’s first undergraduate degree in quantum engineering, in response to a growing need for a workforce that can help Australia share in a multi-billion dollar industry. … Continue reading UNSW to offer world first bachelor’s degree in quantum engineering →

Researchers from UNSW Sydney have secured more than $4.9 million in Australian Research Council (ARC) funding for development of the ARC Training Centre for The Global Hydrogen Economy. The UNSW project, which was awarded funding over five years, will engage Australia’s best researchers to develop hydrogen technologies and innovations to aid the world’s transition to … Continue reading UNSW receives $4.9m funding for new ARC Training Centre for hydrogen tech →

In a breakthrough for quantum computing, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have created artificial atoms in silicon chips that offer improved stability for quantum computing, but could also be used in medicines and for reducing energy consumption. “By using silicon CMOS technology (the technology used to manufacture all modern-day computer chips) … Continue reading UNSW team creates artificial atoms for quantum computing →

Australian Research Council (ARC) grants have been awarded to Australian researchers working towards producing better energy storage devices, utilising green hydrogen, and developing technology to accurately assess the performance of various materials. University of News South Wales’ associate professor Dewei Chu is developing better performing cathode coating materials in order to manufacture more durable and … Continue reading Green hydrogen, better cathode coating materials among latest ARC grants →

Recipients of $5 million from the NSW Physical Sciences Fund range from next-generation drones to new methods of turning waste into high value products. The five recipients will utilise the funding to commercialise their prototypes and bring their products to market, said NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Hugh Durrant-Whyte. “In addition to giving financial support, … Continue reading NSW prototypes awarded funding for commercialisation →

A joint project by Australian scientists has found a way to produce hydrogen using iron and nickel as catalysts, potentially speeding up the hydrogen manufacturing process while significantly cutting costs. The team, from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Swinburne University of Technology, and Griffith University set out to demonstrate how to split hydrogen … Continue reading Iron and nickel used as catalysts for hydrogen →

Naval Group has announced that the company has conducted a successful demonstration of a carbon composite embedded with fibre optics, developed by engineers at the ARC Training Centre for Automated Manufacture of Advanced Composites (AMAC) at UNSW. By including composites in the structure of a marine vessel, the weight of masts, and the overall vessel, … Continue reading Carbon composites tested for naval vessels →

Food packaging could be made from the by-products of fresh fruit, through research conducted by chemists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Professors Jayashree Arcot and Martina Stenzel have been experimenting with the pseudostems of banana plants, and turning this discarded by-products of the banana harvest into a material suitable for food packaging. … Continue reading Food waste turned into fresh packaging →

A new form of 3D printing, a where the object can transform under certain conditions, has been use to create “living” plastics or polymers. The research, conducted by scientists from UNSW and the University of Auckland, could enable the creation of a new class of materials. The materials respond to light or water and can … Continue reading Researchers print “living” polymers →

Getting the mix right between industry and academia can be tricky, but one collaboration between dental manufacturer SDI and UNSW proves it is by no means impossible. Connor Pearce reports. Partnerships between industry and researchers can often be seen as the holy grail of product development. Combining the minds of academics with the directed knowledge … Continue reading Taking two bites of the research pie →

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge kicked off on October 13, for the 15th time travelling down the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Adelaide. With cars only allowed 5kw of stored energy, all other propulsion must come from either the sun or the kinetic energy of the vehicle. Known for spurring innovation in the field of … Continue reading Solar race kicks off →

The NSW Circular network was launched on October 9 by Planning and Public Space Minister, Rob Stokes. Housed at UNSW, the Circular Economy Innovation Network aims to grow manufacturing jobs in the re-use of materials. “With China no longer accepting our recycled waste, our manufacturing industry must evolve. This is our chance to bring more … Continue reading Circular economy network to spur growth in local manufacturing →

The Federal government has awarded a partnership between a consortium of universities and dental manufacturer SDI with $3 million in funding to develop a dental composite without using mercury. Dental amalgams, made from mercury and a mixture of metal alloys, are commonly used to fill cavities caused by tooth decay. Although mercury is widely known … Continue reading Industry, researchers, pursue dentistry without mercury →

A new research hub, led by UNSW professor Veena Sahajwalla, will investigate the recycling of battery and consumer wastes to create useful materials for manufacturers. The Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for Microrecycling of Battery and Consumer Wastes will take metallic allows, oxides, and carbon and divert these elements from landfill and turn them … Continue reading Hub to transform battery waste into valuable materials →

An augmented reality (AR) system that could help workers to safely shut down dangerous machinery has won UNSW’s Maker Games. The award was the product of an industry challenge from construction materials manufacturer Boral. The company required students to find a safe solution for workers to not be electrocuted when turning off heavy machinery. Using … Continue reading AR safety system wins student award →

The potential of products made from recycled materials was on display at the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s (AMGC) “The Path to a Circular Economy” event. In focus were materials such as plastics and textiles, which through advanced manufacturing processes are being re-used or recycled to create new products. Single-use plastics, which would otherwise end up … Continue reading Circular economy: closing the loop →