Titomic has been awarded a $2.325 million Federal Government Modern Manufacturing Initiative grant to manufacture and commercialise low carbon emission “green” titanium space vehicle demonstrator parts for the Australian space sector and export markets.
This grant will be part of a planned total eligible project expenditure of $4.65m that will allow Titomic to use its unique Kinetic Fusion cold spray additive manufacturing technology to build and commercialise space vehicle parts using green titanium, heterogeneous material blends, and high-performance coatings for radiation shielding and hypersonic protection.
Titomic, Swinburne University of Technology and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), will conduct extensive testing and validation of demonstrator parts produced within an Industry 4.0 additive manufacturing platform embedded within its Titomic Kinetic Fusion technology. Titomic is teaming with commercial partners, such as Inovor Technologies, Australia’s only sovereign commercial satellite manufacturer, to provide specific application use cases and establish performance, testing and acceptance requirements for the technologies.
This additive manufacturing capability will drive high-value technological and material developments, accelerate Space and Manufacturing sector growth, create high-value jobs, and attract investment.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology The Hon Christian Porter MP said:
“Australia has unique opportunities when it comes to space manufacturing. These grants will help bolster Australia’s reputation in the growing global civil space industry and build on the important work being led by our Australian Space Agency. From satellites, to componentry in sensors and even rocket engines, Australian manufacturers are drawing on our existing advanced manufacturing expertise to launch into new exciting local and global markets. This funding is about creating more opportunities to grow our local space industry, unlocking further investment and delivering the skilled jobs we need now and for the future.”
CEO of Titomic, Mr. Herbert Koeck, stated:
“This $2.325 million Federal Government MMI grant awarded to
Titomic showcases our ability to seamlessly integrate our custom Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing
(CSAM) technology systems into partner supply chains, and Joint Venture partners in aerospace with shared
risk and reward. This project allows us to show our unique capability to use industrial scale additive
manufacturing to create world leading “low carbon footprint” green titanium and high-performance
coatings for satellites and space vehicles. Our supply of a TKF1000 System to Swinburne University of
Technology with its Industry 4.0 additive manufacturing platform to drive high-value technological and
material developments, will also accelerate space and manufacturing sector growth in Australia, creating
high-value jobs, and attracting local investment.
Professor Alan Duffy, Director of the Institute for Space Technology and Industry at Swinburne University
of Technology stated:
“This MMI space-based applications grant is a huge step forward for Australia’s
manufacturing sector. This takes the longstanding collaboration between Titomic and Swinburne University
of Technology to a new level, building Australia’s reputation as an innovative and high-value space
manufacturing nation and we welcome companies and researchers to access this national space
manufacturing facility in Victoria. We can build lighter, stronger and more capable structures of incredible
complexity that will allow Australian companies to leapfrog ahead of the competition in building for space.”
Professor Pascale Quester, Vice-Chancellor and President Swinburne University of Technology stated:
“We welcome this MMI space-based applications grant and hail both its educational potential and the
economic value to Australia. Having the TKF1000 additive manufacturing system in the heart of Swinburne’s
Hawthorn campus offers our students direct access to a world-leading technology facility in the growing
advanced manufacturing and space sector – it’s a learning experience you cannot find anywhere else in
Australia. We’re proud to be partnering with Titomic on this exciting new facility, and grateful to the
Commonwealth Government for their foresight in funding a collaboration that will help shape our future
economy.”
