ResTech, a collaboration between Ampcontrol and the University of Newcastle, marked a significant milestone on Thursday by welcoming Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic for the official inauguration of its state-of-the-art facility at the Callaghan Campus.
Located at the industrially-oriented Callaghan Campus, ResTech represents a collaborative venture between Ampcontrol and the University of Newcastle aiming to expedite the advancement and commercialisation of state-of-the-art technology and solutions tailored for the energy, infrastructure, and resources sectors.
ResTech, a certified Research Service Provider, also provides opportunities for engineering students to collaborate with industry on real-world difficulties in order to graduate as community-minded, resilient, and job-ready graduates.
Rod Henderson, Ampcontrol’s managing director and CEO, expressed the significance of ResTech, saying, “ResTech unites two entities, Ampcontrol and the University of Newcastle, driven by a common mission to usher in energy solutions that propel the world closer to achieving net-zero emissions.”
He added, “Ampcontrol’s engineering prowess and advanced manufacturing capabilities, channelled through ResTech, hold immense potential in pioneering innovative decarbonisation solutions.”
At ResTech, an integral aspect of its mission is to provide undergraduate engineers with Final Year Project opportunities, allowing them to acquire hands-on experience while engaging in complex research ventures in collaboration with industry partners.
During a recent visit, Minister Husic had the privilege of meeting with ResTech students who are actively crafting real-world solutions to advance the global journey toward achieving net-zero emissions.
Among these enterprising students is Tiana Leck, a Research and Development engineer at ResTech, pursuing a Bachelor of Medical and Mechatronics Engineering in her final year.
Tiana is dedicated to the project focused on “Inverter Design & Control of Wind Turbines,” which aims to create critical technology for home Wind Energy Collection, a significant stride toward enabling households to install their own affordable and portable renewable energy systems.
Another participant, Finlay Barnett, an Industrial Experience Placement student at ResTech in the third year of his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering program, is working on the “Arcing Earth Fault Apparatus” project.
This apparatus simulates arcing earth faults and calculates the energy dissipated by these arcs. Finlay’s work plays a crucial role in enhancing safety in hazardous environments, particularly in assessing the risk of methane ignition in underground coal mines.
Lastly, Finn Lawrie, an Industrial Experience Placement student and Final Year Project participant, is pursuing a Bachelor of Renewable Energy Engineering in his final year.
Finn’s project, “Lithium Titanate Battery Cells (LTO Cells),” involves intensive research into managing battery cells within underground electric vehicles, a pivotal endeavour to bolster safety in hazardous settings.
