Furnace Engineering installs world-first technology in Clayton
A Monash company is part of the new industrial age with its work to install world-first 3D multi-layer composite printing technology at a test laboratory in Clayton.
Furnace Engineering, which has been designing and manufacturing heat processing systems for more than 50 years, was contracted to commission the technology after COVID-19 restrictions prevented Austrian equipment developers Fill from travelling to Australia for the installation.
The technology is part of the National Industry 4.0 Testlab, a fully automated, lights-out factory being developed by Swinburne University of Technology in partnership with Fill, Langzauner and Arena 2036.
Swinburne says the facility will place Australia at the heart of a global partnership to advance the digitalisation of manufacturing.
It is the world’s first high-speed, industrial-scale, tape layer for progressive 3D manufacturing of carbon fibre composites.
Furnace Engineering’s Matt Anderson said it was exciting to be involved in bringing the Testlab’s cutting-edge technology to life.
He said it had been a fast learning curve for the local team, which had to undergo in-depth online training to understand the equipment and processes to bring it online, using real-time remote access and communication with the Fill team in Austria.
“Commissioning equipment is normally a very hands-on business, but COVID-19 meant we had to rapidly adapt our processes,” Mr Anderson said.
“Despite lockdown restrictions, the Fill/Furnace team has been able to complete the Testlab installation.
“This process was helped by our concurrent experience remotely commissioning another complex heat-processing plant from our office for a South Australian-based customer while local borders were closed.
“The success of these projects is testament to our technical team’s efforts, clever thinking and great communication skills.”
The Industry 4.0 Testlab and multilayer tape-laying process will be used to prototype commercial parts from carbon fibre composite. The new process is cheaper and more versatile than traditional lay-up manufacturing, minimising waste and improving production capability.
For more information, visit www.furnace.com.au