The University is part of an industry cluster - Light Alloys Manufacturing Group New Zealand (LAM-NZ)
To help grow this manufacturing sector by increasing export value, Companies within the cluster include Ullrich Aluminium, ION Automotive, Diemetrics, Titanbond, and HERA. New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Investment New Zealand have taken an interest in the group since its formation in 2003, and have been assisting the cluster to grow its membership and develop a comprehensive export strategy.
In May 2003, a number of key NZ Light Alloy manufacturing companies in collaboration with 3 Universities successfully bid for RFI funding from FRST in the following areas:
- Alloys for new products
- Surface treatment for finish or protection
- Tool design and new processing technologies
- Product development for titanium materials
- Sector development initiative
Research has commenced and good progress has been made on all targets during the first twelve months of the programme.During this time a "Who's who" of the NZ industry has been developed, and feedback and analysis of the business situation has been completed.
The research will be undertaken within the associated factories, using the companies' own equipments to ensure outcomes can be quickly adopted by industry. Factories in Hamilton, Christchurch, Auckland and Manukau are already being targeted for the research work. An underlying benefit of this strategy is the upskilling of the manufacturing businesses, and the researchers as well. Staff from across the University's faculties of science and engineering are involved in the research project.
That collaboration between different areas of the University, and from Waikato and AUT, is one of the strengths of the project. Many of the most innovative advances in light metals and other materials occur at the cross-disciplinary boundaries between surface science, dynamic thermal processing of materials and alloy or composite behaviour.
For Light Alloy Manufacturing New Zealand Brochure, please click here
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