SoMAC CRC becomes ACM CRC

The Sovereign Manufacturing Automation for Composites CRC is quite a mouthful. Plus, it didn’t really capture the impressive breadth of targets this cooperative research centre has set out to achieve. Introducing the Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC. This, here, is what it’s all about.

In late 2023, SoMAC CRC rebranded to become ACM CRC, to better reflect the depth and significance this consortium will bring to Australia’s composite manufacturing industry.

With the $100 billion international composites industry undergoing a major automation transition, Australia needs to reposition its manufacturing and sovereign engineering capability to capture emergent markets. This perfectly summarises the main goal of ACM CRC.

This consortium of industry, research and government Partners aims to transition Australia’s established composite technologies capability into a world-class, highly automated, digitally enabled network of designers, manufacturers and service providers, leading transformations in:

• Green Energy and EV Economies
• Supply Chain Security
• Industry 4.0 Transition
• Workforce Transformation
• Digital Production and Export
• Sovereign Manufacturing

“Our 10-year program seeks to build a digital-export-ready composites industry with cost-competitive, high-quality platform capability,“ said Dr Steve Gower, the CRC’s CEO.

“We’re creating this capability via intelligent automation, technology innovation and new product demonstration, while qualifying Australia’s next generation of composites engineers.”

Key to de-risking investment in hydrogen economy and electric vehicle (EV) production industries, while simultaneously strengthening the infrastructure, space, defence, circular economy, and consumer industries, are the Four research programs: Composite Materials; Manufacturing Processes; Simulation, Performance Prediction; and Design, Integration.

The initiative will also introduce some exciting education opportunities for HDR students.

“Our consortium operates with over 30 Partners, all of whom are focused on transforming the transport, energy, advanced manufacturing, and Industry 4.0. sectors. In short, and as the new name suggests, we’re collaboratively leading the way to position Australia as a global leader in automated composites manufacturing,” concluded Steve.

Keen to know more?

Read up on ACM CRC’s research programs and proposed impact, or reach out if you’d like to be involved.

“...we’re collaboratively leading the way to position Australia as a global leader in automated composites manufacturing,"

Dr Steve Gower

CEO, ACM CRC