GE Additive signs metal Additive Manufacturing MoU with University of Sydney
From left to right: Debbra Rogers, Chief Commercial Officer, GE Additive; Professor Laurent Rivory, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Sydney; Christine Furstoss, CTO, GE Additive; Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney (Courtesy GE Additive)
GE Additive has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Sydney, Australia. Under the terms of the agreement, GE Additive will invest a maximum of $1 million annually over the next ten years in research and development, to accelerate the adoption of metal AM in Australia and the region. “This MoU builds on the University’s world-class expertise in the disciplines essential to advanced manufacturing such as materials engineering and integrated digital systems,” said the university’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Michael Spence.
“By partnering with GE Additive, an industry leader in Additive Manufacturing, we can set the agenda for this disruptive technology and ensure that Australia is primed to both participate in, and contribute to, this exciting next phase of the industrial revolution,” he continued. “The collaboration will drive the R&D needed to learn how this disruption to manufacturing can be harnessed for economic benefit. We are especially delighted that this initiative aligns with our plan to establish a new campus at Parramatta/ Westmead, where advanced manufacturing will be a key focus.”
Debbra Rogers, Chief Commercial Officer, GE Additive, commented, “We were immediately impressed by the University of Sydney’s vision for Additive Manufacturing – not just at an academic level, but also because they understand the positive impact this technology can have on Australia’s economy and its workforce in the very near future. Additive requires a completely different way of engineering and thinking. Educating and training current workforces with new skills and also getting more engineers into additive takes time and programmes need to be developed over a number of years.”
The MoU reinforces the University’s commitment to establish a new 1,000 m2 Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Processing research facility that will serve as a focal point for the partnership. “This addition to the university’s core research facilities will allow our researchers and research partners to conduct trail-blazing fundamental research, and will directly benefit Australian industry, particularly our aerospace, transport, biomedical and defence sectors,” added Professor Simon Ringer, Director of Core Research Facilities at the University of Sydney.
The master research agreement included within the terms of this MoU covers three areas:
- Materials and powder technologies, including; alloy design, alloy modification, powder characterisation and powder characteristic-process response identification, post-processing optimisation and materials gaps in repairs
- Sensing technologies and advanced materials characterisation – building on the University’s experience with electron microscopy and GE Additive’s Arcam EBM – electron beam melting technology
- Image processing and data analytics
