Minister announces major expansion for revolutionary circular design project

In November 2023, ACM CRC launched a project with partners HERA, The University of Sydney and ANSTO, which will lead the way in digital transformation for Circular Design 4.0. Specifically, the project is monitoring and leveraging AI in Circular Design 4.0 to empower designers, manufacturers, and policymakers to make more informed decisions, optimise resource utilisation, reduce waste, and create products that align with the principles of the circular economy.

Specifically, the project is monitoring and leveraging AI in Circular Design 4.0 to empower designers, manufacturers, and policymakers to make more informed decisions, optimise resource utilisation, reduce waste, and create products that align with the principles of the circular economy.

Following the project launch, in March 2024, Dr Troy Coyle, HERA's CEO, was joined in Australia by New Zealand’s Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, the Hon Andrew Bayly, where it was announced that the scope of, and investment in, this project would increase.

The announcement came as part of the Minister’s goal to “prioritise opportunities for Australia and New Zealand to work more closely together, to deepen their Single Economic Market”. And it included the launch of two further ‘multi-party’ CRC projects.

The first of these supporting projects will address the scientific and technical barriers for robotics and automation in composite manufacturing, seeking to review current state of the art practices across research and industry.

It aims to identify the highest value opportunities for process automation where scientific barriers are the limiting factor preventing the development industrial systems – namely, manufacturing pain points that are universal or common. The project hopes to lower the barrier to entry for smaller Partners to invest while simultaneously enabling them to develop a considerable competitive advantage with their international peers.

“I want to see our sector at the cutting edge of Industry 4.0 developments, which is why HERA is focused on developing our facilities and supporting research and services to help our manufacturing sector understand the potential for its uptake".

Dr Troy Coyle

Chief Executive Officer at HERA

The second supporting project looks at sustainable waste management in the composite industry. It will conduct a comprehensive market analysis of the recycling potential of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) composite materials in Australia, addressing the pressing issue of sustainable waste management in the composites industry.

It is hoped this research will pave the way for viable FRP composite recycling solutions, and benefit composite manufacturers, environmental agencies, and end users by offering valuable insights into recycling processes, circular design and reuse, waste reduction, and fostering the shift toward environmentally responsible practices and contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

“Artificial intelligence is playing an increasing role behind the scenes,“ said Dr Steve Gower, CEO of the ACM CRC.

“These projects will combine AI with non-destructive testing and inspection to deliver new tools to support composite manufacturing.”

“I want to see our sector at the cutting edge of Industry 4.0 developments, which is why HERA is focused on developing our facilities and supporting research and services to help our manufacturing sector understand the potential for its uptake,” added Dr Coyle.

“HERA has long advocated for the need for a Minister of Manufacturing to represent industry more broadly across all building materials to improve outcomes not just for those directly in the manufacturing sector, but also those downstream who rely on its products and services. Having the Minister on this trip with us has been a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate Aotearoa New Zealand’s potential in this area.” 

“The extension of our original project, together with the additional two multi-party projects, is clear recognition of the importance of the CRC’s work in attempting to break down barriers, and reposition and expand the collaboration between Australia and New Zealand’s manufacturing and sovereign engineering capability with next-generation cost and technology competitiveness,” concluded Dr Gower.

For more information on the project, please view the Project Summary.

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