Published Thursday, 24 May, 2007 at 02:30 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
PROJECT TO INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS OF QUEENSLAND’S MINING INDUSTRY
A new project to develop wear-resistant alloy products for Queensland’s mining industry will receive funding under Round Two of the Queensland Government Smart State Innovation Funds, Minister for State Development John Mickel announced today.
The Cooperative Research Centre for Alloying Solidification and Technology (CAST CRC) had been awarded a $720,000 Innovation Projects Fund grant that will lead to better in-field performance of components.
When all other partner funding is included, the total project involves an overall investment of $2.2 million.
“This project has the potential to deliver long-term estimated savings of $50 million per year in Queensland alone based on savings in equipment downtime, new alloys, alloy testing equipment and prediction of failure of key machines,” Mr Mickel said.
“It will also help introduce world’s best practice in environmental compliance to the foundry sector, particularly in the area of water usage.
“The project will develop a new generation of reliable wear resistant equipment to benefit the state’s booming mining and minerals processing sector which is currently responsible for 10.7 per cent of Queensland’s GDP.
“The ferrous cast metals sector boasts annual sales of $898 million, directly contributes some $10 million a year to the Queensland economy and employs close to 2000 people.
“This project will enable the sector to compete more vigorously with foreign imports and ensure it remains a vital part of our strong and expanding mining industry.
The CAST CRC will partner with the Australian Foundry Institute, Bradken Pty Ltd and Tasman Warajay Pty Ltd on the project.
Professor David St John, CEO of the CAST CRC, said the project is the start of a long-term relationship between the ferrous metals sector and the CAST CRC.
“This relationship will allow CAST to extend beyond our light metals focus to offer services to the broader metals industry,” he said.
“The proposed research program will also have a strong focus on technology transfer and high level skills development in order to address the needs of Queensland-based ferrous component manufacturers.”
The Innovation Projects Fund is part of the Queensland Government’s $200 million Smart State Innovation Funding Program, which aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.
Under Round Two of the Smart State Innovation Projects Fund, a total of $13.6 million is being provided to Queensland research organisations.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. This demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Mr Mickel said.
Contact: Dr Matthew Dargusch, CAST CRC, University of Queensland, tel: 3346 9225, mob: 0412 058 021, email: m.dargusch@cast.org.au
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
The Cooperative Research Centre for Alloying Solidification and Technology (CAST CRC) had been awarded a $720,000 Innovation Projects Fund grant that will lead to better in-field performance of components.
When all other partner funding is included, the total project involves an overall investment of $2.2 million.
“This project has the potential to deliver long-term estimated savings of $50 million per year in Queensland alone based on savings in equipment downtime, new alloys, alloy testing equipment and prediction of failure of key machines,” Mr Mickel said.
“It will also help introduce world’s best practice in environmental compliance to the foundry sector, particularly in the area of water usage.
“The project will develop a new generation of reliable wear resistant equipment to benefit the state’s booming mining and minerals processing sector which is currently responsible for 10.7 per cent of Queensland’s GDP.
“The ferrous cast metals sector boasts annual sales of $898 million, directly contributes some $10 million a year to the Queensland economy and employs close to 2000 people.
“This project will enable the sector to compete more vigorously with foreign imports and ensure it remains a vital part of our strong and expanding mining industry.
The CAST CRC will partner with the Australian Foundry Institute, Bradken Pty Ltd and Tasman Warajay Pty Ltd on the project.
Professor David St John, CEO of the CAST CRC, said the project is the start of a long-term relationship between the ferrous metals sector and the CAST CRC.
“This relationship will allow CAST to extend beyond our light metals focus to offer services to the broader metals industry,” he said.
“The proposed research program will also have a strong focus on technology transfer and high level skills development in order to address the needs of Queensland-based ferrous component manufacturers.”
The Innovation Projects Fund is part of the Queensland Government’s $200 million Smart State Innovation Funding Program, which aims to build world-class research facilities, attract top-quality scientists to Queensland and stimulate cutting-edge research projects.
Under Round Two of the Smart State Innovation Projects Fund, a total of $13.6 million is being provided to Queensland research organisations.
“The Queensland Government has invested more than $3 billion in innovation, science and research since 1998. This demonstrates our deep and ongoing commitment to maintaining Queensland’s reputation as the Smart State,” Mr Mickel said.
Contact: Dr Matthew Dargusch, CAST CRC, University of Queensland, tel: 3346 9225, mob: 0412 058 021, email: m.dargusch@cast.org.au
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.