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NETZSCH Analyzing and Testing (Selb, Germany) and the Swinburne University of Technology (Melbourne, Australia) have announced a new research partnership in which NETZSCH’s unique in-mold cure monitoring technology will be implemented in Swinburne’s Industry 4.0 carbon-fiber composite product Testlab. The facility, to be located in Melbourne’s East is said to be the world’s first industrial-scale carbon-fiber composite manufacturing facility using a 3D printed multilayer approach.

NETZSCH says its expertise in composite materials characterization will be utilized across Swinburne’s Industry 4.0 Testlab, including pre and post-process component qualification. New technology from NETZSCH Process Analytics will reportedly be used in the Industry 4.0 Testlab with the aim of allowing full control of the carbon-fiber composite manufacturing process based on the material behavior. “High-volume manufacturing processes involving carbon-fiber, thermoplastic composites and elastomers can now be monitored, controlled and optimized during production,” says Dr. Alexander Chaloupka, business field manager Process Analytics, NETZSCH Analyzing and Testing. “Swinburne is at the forefront of Industry 4.0 development and our strategic partnership allows us to jointly develop our core competencies, whilst advancing the digitalization of manufacturing processes.”

Swinburne’s Manufacturing Futures Research Institute lead by director, Professor Bronwyn Fox is Australia’s first dedicated research institute focused on Industry 4.0 platforms.

“Germany is spearheading Industry 4.0 initiatives globally. Our partnerships with German research institutes and industry are a key part of our Industry 4.0 strategy in advanced manufacturing,” says Professor Fox.