Swinburne AIR Hub: Aerospace future

Planes, rockets, drones and flying taxis: Swinburne’s AIR Hub to drive future of aerospace

Swinburne University of Technology is launching an Australian-first Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) with the support of $12m in funding from the Victorian Government’s Higher Education State Investment Fund.

Led by Swinburne, AIR Hub will bring together the best of Victoria’s aerospace research, design and manufacturing leaders to work with industry on real world design and manufacturing problems for the next generation of air mobility. Swinburne’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pascale Quester said that Swinburne was delighted to launch the AIR Hub. “This initiative perfectly encapsulates Swinburne’s vision of bringing people and technology together to build a better world,” she said. “I am very excited by what our experts, working closely with our valued partners, will be able to achieve for the aerospace sector. Working closely with the aerospace industry, AIR Hub will create innovative materials and manufacturing processes for passenger planes, air cargo, as well as the space industry. It will also accelerate electric clean energy vertical take-off and landing air vehicles – or eVTOL– more widely known as ‘flying cars’ or electric helicopters.” AIR Hub is a truly global technology, research and manufacturing collaboration, with industry partners Boeing, Quickstep, CableX, Furnace Engineering, Shoal and Marand Precision Engineering, plus research partners CSIRO, Monash University and Germany’s University of Stuttgart and ARENA 2036 combining with Swinburne’s research teams. AIR Hub is working on lightweighting and automating the production of space systems like the rockets used to launch satellites. Lightweighting, the manufacturing of parts to achieve better fuel efficiency and handling, and faster production could save thousands of dollars per launch, opening up business opportunities in the lucrative global space industry for Australian companies. Unmanned aerial vehicles or drones could travel further to deliver supplies to remote places, and eVTOL could become the future in a ‘flying Uber’ concept of transportation. As part of the design and manufacturing process, AIR Hub will use artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, machine learning and collaborative robots to support Australia’s worldleading capabilities to manufacture aerostructures. “AIR Hub will bring researchers and industry together to collaborate on real-world problems,” said Dr Adriano Di Pietro, Swinburne’s AIR Hub Director. “By using the latest technologies in digitalisation, automation and advanced materials, we will reinforce our industry partners’ position in the global aerospace industry and accelerate innovative technology development. This contribution to air mobility is vital to Australia’s future, connecting our people and communities.” The AIR Hub will foster new talent and upskill the existing workforce to increase job opportunities in the aerospace and space sectors for Victorians in the post COVID-19 period. Facilities across Victoria, including the Swinburne-CSIRO Industry 4.0 Testlab for Composite Additive Manufacturing in Clayton and the manufacturing sites of key industry partners, will support AIR Hub’s research & development activities. “AIR Hub will also work closely with Swinburne’s Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2) to research and develop capacity for hydrogen storage on aircraft and eVTOL air vehicles, enabling them to make use of green fuels of the future to help meet global zero-emission targets,” Professor Quester added. www.swinburne.edu.au

LAND 8116 program to deliver defence manufacturing jobs for Geelong

Australian military systems will be built and maintained in Victoria, after Hanwha Defense Australia plans to establish its advanced manufacturing facility – the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence.

Hanwha Defense Australia was successful in its bid to deliver the Commonwealth’s LAND 8116 program in Victoria, creating 300 highly skilled local jobs in design, engineering and manufacturing. The $1bn LAND 8116 program, announced by the Federal Government on 13 December 2021, will establish a fleet of locally built and maintained self-propelled howitzers. Supply chain businesses will directly benefit from working with Hanwha and their global partners, generating more local jobs, investment and export opportunities. Hanwha Corporation is South Korea’s largest defence company and also operates in aerospace, fintech, mining and clean energy. Hanwha Defense Australia was established in 2019 and is headquartered in Melbourne. The Victorian Government in January 2021 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hanwha to formalise a long-term partnership to support the establishment of Hanwha’s defence manufacturing operations in the state. Hanwha is also one of the final two bidders to deliver the Commonwealth Government’s Land 400 Phase 3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle program in Victoria. A PWC report commissioned by Hanwha estimated that the program’s manufacturing effort will generate $5.7bn in total economic impacts in the state. Richard Cho, Managing Director of Hanwha Defense Australia, commented: “We thank the Victorian Government for its continued support as we grow our Australian workforce in Victoria for these important national security projects.” Victoria is already home to word-leading defence companies including SYPAQ Systems, Moog Australia and Segula Technologies. The Victorian defence sector contributes $8.4bn to the economy each year, employing around 24,000 people in 6,300 businesses. The sector provides services and manufactures defence equipment across military vehicle production, maritime design, aerospace components, digital and cyber security, and munitions. Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula congratulated Hanwha Defense Australia on its successful bid. “Victoria is the manufacturing state and this project will further boost our capabilities, creating hundreds of jobs and delivering benefits across the supply chain,” said Pakula. “This decision reinforces the strength of Victorian advanced manufacturing and the skills of our workers.”