The Australian Research Council Commits $5 million to Establish UOW Centre for Training and Research into the Future of Mining Equipment

Source: Sally Wood

The University of Wollongong (UOW) will be the headquarters of a new ARC Training Centre for Innovative Composites for the Future of Sustainable Mining Equipment. UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia Davidson said the Illawarra is the perfect setting for a centre focussed on sustainable mining. “Wollongong has deeply held roots in mining and manufacturing, and this training centre will be the perfect launch pad for global collaboration and innovation,” she said. The mining equipment, technology, and service (METS) sector is estimated to add more than $50 billion and 80,000 new jobs to the Australian economy by 2030. “Our state of the art engineering and technology hubs will offer the perfect environment to train the future minds of mining and to find solutions to revolutionise an industry that contributes 15 percent of Australian GDP,” Professor Davidson said. The transformation of the sector towards a more efficient, costeffective, innovative, sustainable and digital operations require safer machinery and equipment, which is able to operate in deeper mines and harsh environments. Over the next five years, the ARC Training Centre will train and produce engineering graduates to be highly qualified professionals that feel empowered to take on future challenges in the METS sector. Together, they will solve complex problems in the development of novel steel composites, innovative mining equipment, and sustainable mining processes. Distinguished Professor Zhengyi Jiang from UOW’s School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering, will lead the new facility. The Centre aims to train industryfocussed researchers in advanced manufacturing of new-generation mining equipment and sustainable mining technology. In addition, researchers will undertake a broad research agenda: • Developing new-generation innovative composites for mining equipment that can be applied in practical harsh working environments. These areas include usage in deep mining, with the goal of significantly reducing environmental issues and improve worker health. • Developing advanced manufacturing technology of innovative mining equipment and smart mining technology to significantly advance the Australian mining industry with enhanced safety, reliability, and efficiency of operations. • Improving Australia's international standing for developing the innovative mining equipment materials, manufacturing processes, and facilitating the mining automation and safety in mining processing technology. • Strengthening the engagement of research, manufacturing and mining industries and enhancing the international competitiveness of the Australian mining industry. Professor Jiang said the Centre will bring together a team of world-class researchers and industry leaders to train a workforce to meet the future skills demand. “This Centre, by working with industry, will improve and streamline the research and development process, building a solid national network to address the needs of the mining equipment manufacturing, enhancing sustainability, and making a safer mining environment.” “The Centre will support Australian industry to maintain its position as a world leading innovator in the METS sector,” Professor Jiang said. The Centre’s program of industry integrated research will focus on innovative steel composites, coupled with work integrated learning, and will empower graduates to develop unique solutions to complex problems. Above all, it will incorporate value-added technologies and products into the Australian METS sector. Professor Jiang is the Head of the Advanced Micro Manufacturing Research Centre, and the Coordinator for the Rolling Mechanics Team at UOW. In both roles, he brings a suite of experience and knowledge to educate and inspire the next generation of researchers.