Annual Report

2006

2006 was another high growth year for the Centre, which now comprises 35 staff and postgraduate students. Thanks to their efforts, and those of the participating Academic staff within University Departments, the Centre has delivered some important results in 2006.  After being ahead of plan financially in 2005, the Centre's financial performance in 2006 was also strong – with revenue of $3.77m and a surplus of $524,169.  Highlights of Centre's educational contributions in 2006:

A highlight of the year were the Centre's educational contributions

• A Post Graduate Certificate and Industry Training Course in Light Metals Reduction Technology were run in the second semester, 2006 – with the three-week residential part of the Certificate run in Dubai in collaboration with Dubai Aluminium Company. This will further contribute to UoA's strategic linkages the Gulf region in 2007.
• A number of Centre's researchers were asked to present keynote addresses internationally at leading conferences.  Publications were accepted into a number of professional journals/conferences.  TMS papers and other publications are listed below. These are important communication vehicles for disclosure of light metals and materials technologies.  In addition, a number of our researchers also presented papers at the CHEMCA Conference hosted by The University of Auckland 2006.
• Another educational contribution was a series of staff and industry training seminars in Smelter Operation and Control, run at the Light Metals Research Centre.  These seminars included staff, industry clients and visiting researchers throughout the period of February to July 2006.

There are several Research and Development highlights summarised below:

• A number of technologies have gone through the industrial trials stage  with promising results and important insights were gained.  In particular, the Centre conducted plant trials of the University's heat recovery technology and Cell Composition Control System in Australia.  
• Three patent applications have been in process for heat exchanger, process control and alumina manufacturing technologies, one of which has obtained PCT patent.  Further feasibility study for its commercialisation is underway.
• Novel electrowinning processes have been developed and tested in the laboratories of LMRC in 2006.  One such technology is more environmentally sustainable for aluminium production, and may prove to be a viable alternative to current energy intensive industrial processes in the long term. This research will continue over 2007.
• Casting, extrusion and surface finishing technologies were still under development through the FRST grant which commenced in 2004.  New processes for surface finishing, control of surface structure and composition are emerging from researches in Objectives 1 and 2.  The Centre has further capitalised these research work into commercial applications and has been working closely with NZ manufacturers in this area. 
• Fundamental research of alumina structure and processing, and intelligent control of complex processes have been advanced in 2006 as well as the IP application. The research outcomes have attracted interests from major international companies. Funding for both areas are expected to increase in 2007.
• Magnesium related projects have increasingly become important for LMRC in 2006.  Although the research work was mainly in their primary production, however, the Centre is planning to work towards downstream processing and properties in the next phase of grant application.
• New support contracts for companies in Germany, Holland, Finland, USA, Brazil, Russia, Australia and China along with additional contracts with Dubal and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) in UAE have all been commenced in 2006.
• There were many enquiries from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai Jebel Ali Free Zone etc. for education and technical support.  It indicates that there is a growing importance of research and education in this region.  The Centre will continue to explore this potential development opportunity. There is a possibility for collaboration with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to set up an off-shore office in this region.

For more details, please refer to Light Metals 2006 Annual Report