New Metal Digital Manufacturing Joint Research Unit connects Australia and Europe

New Metal Digital Manufacturing Joint Research Unit connects Australia and Europe

RMIT and Eurecat, the Technology Centre of Catalonia, have announced the establishment of a Metal Digital Manufacturing Joint Research Unit (JRU) to drive industrial innovation for companies in the aerospace, automotive and health sectors in Europe and Australia.

The Metal Digital Manufacturing Joint Research Unit (JRU) provides access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and technical expertise to increase global competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in Europe and Australia, help develop new products and processes while also training new talent.  

Launched at the Advanced Factories Expo and Congress in Barcelona on 29 March, the new JRU covers the entire value chain, from the design and advanced manufacturing of metal components to the development of alloys and new materials that enable the customisation of innovative design solutions for different industrial sectors and applications. 

It brings together the expertise, facilities and experience of RMIT’s Advanced Manufacturing Precinct and the Centre for Additive Manufacturing along with Eurecat’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence. 

Alt Text is not present for this image, Taking dc:title 'Advanced Factories Barcelona' Launch of the JRU at the Advanced Factories Expo and Congress in Barcelona on 29 March 2022.

The JRU’s directors are RMIT's Professor Mark Easton and Eurecat’s Xavier Plantà. 

Professor Mark Easton, Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct at RMIT, said that the joining of two leaders in advanced manufacturing provides a unique solution for industry in Europe and Australia to access the necessary capabilities and the global networks needed to innovate. 

"By combining RMIT’s and Eurecat’s joint expertise and facilities with this new JRU, we believe we can unlock boundless future opportunities for industry," he said.  

RMIT’s Advanced Manufacturing Precinct, which is now in its 11th year of operation, is widely recognised as Australia’s leading institution for research and skills development in advanced manufacturing. 

Alt Text is not present for this image, Taking dc:title 'RMIT AMP' RMIT’s Advanced Manufacturing Precinct.

Eurecat’s Xavier Plantà, Director of Industrial Technology at Eurecat, said that the new joint research unit will deliver innovative knowledge in metal digital manufacturing technologies with a focus on sustainability. 

"We’ll draw on our expertise in manufacturing technologies and production processes for advanced and clean manufacturing enabling industry to improve their productivity as well as waste management," he said.  

Eurecat’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence is highly regarded for its specialisation and experience in digital advanced manufacturing and leads the ACCIÓ advanced manufacturing community within Catalonia’s research and innovation ecosystem.  

The launch of the new JRU is an extension of RMIT’s and Eurecat’s existing partnership to support technology transfer and innovation for industries in Europe. 

For media enquiries:

Montserrat Mascaró, Press Officer, Eurecat, premsa@eurecat.org

Karen Matthews, Senior Manager Corporate Relations and Communications, RMIT Europe, karen.matthews@rmit.edu.au 

28 March 2022

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28 March 2022

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