3D-printing specialist Titomic has been awarded a $2.325 million Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant to develop space vehicle manufacturing capability for the Australian space sector and export markets.
The 4.65 million, co-funded project will see Titomic utilise its Kinetic Fusion cold spray additive manufacturing process to build and commercialise space vehicle parts using green titanium, heterogeneous material blends, and high-performance coatings for radiation shielding and hypersonic protection.
The grant project runs until December 2022 and includes the supply of a Titomic TKF1000 additive manufacturing system to Swinburne University of Technology with 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.
CEO Herbert Koeck the project would demonstrate the company’s ability to seamlessly integrate its custom cold spray additive manufacturing 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,” Mr Koeck stated.
“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, said the MMI space-based applications grant awarded to Titomic was 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,” Mr Duffy continued.
“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.”
