Published Wednesday, 06 February, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Jan Jarratt fronts Fibre Composites Forum in Toowoomba
Regional Development and Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Jan Jarratt is in Toowoomba today to chair the sixth meeting of the Queensland Fibre Composites Forum.
The Forum, which is on from 12pm-2pm at Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies is an opportunity for the Parliamentary Secretary to meet key local players in an industry at the forefront of Smart State technology and innovation.
Ms Jarratt said that fibre composites are materials formed by combining at least two elements to produce a completely new product. Usually fibre composites consist of a matrix material such as a polymer or resin and a reinforcement material like carbon, glass or kevlar.
“What’s really exciting is that the manufacture of fibre composites potentially uses half the energy of the production of materials like concrete and steel and may generate less than half the emissions and wastes affecting air quality,” Ms Jarratt said.
“So fibre composites are of benefit to the environment because they reduce our reliance on resources such as native hardwoods.
“Queensland is at the forefront of global developments in fibre composite technology and I’m pleased to say the State Government has invested more than $15 million dollars in the sector in recent years,” Ms Jarratt said.
“That includes $7.5 million to the University of Southern Queensland for the Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites.
“A further $3 million from the Smart State Innovation Funds has been awarded to organisations such as Australian Aerospace and the CSIRO’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies.”
Ms Jarratt said the fibre composites industry around Toowoomba was especially vibrant.
“There are some brilliant examples of this revolutionary technology on show here today. Wagners has created a fibre composite semi-trailer and developed the world’s first fibre composite road bridge to be used in a public road network,” she said.
“Wagners won the 2005 Project of the Year award from the New York Branch of the American Public Works Association after installing one of its fibre composite road bridges near New York.
“LSM Advanced Composites has brought along some of its V8 Supercar components while Guscott has developed an electric violin.
“Buchanan Advanced Composites has taken the opportunity to promote their ‘Dambuster’ bass boat, Kimberley caravan & an Oz-Ger Foldable Building, whilst Gold Coast company FIREWIRE is showcasing two of its ‘Future shapes’ surfboards.
“It just shows that the fibre composites industry is extraordinarily broad.”
“Queensland’s fibre composites industry is making its mark in industries as diverse as aerospace, construction, defence, infrastructure, marine, mining and transport.”
Ms Jarratt said the Queensland Fibre Composites Forum was formed in June 2006 to assist the State Government implement its Fibre Composites Action Plan.
The Forum meets quarterly to discuss issues affecting the industry’s performance and prospects, identifying ways in which to further refine the action plan and support programs associated with it.
The Forum includes representatives from Toowoomba, Cairns, Caboolture, Townsville, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
“This is an industry that has enormous potential and is set to play an important role in regional development,” Ms Jarratt said.
Ends
Photo opportunity: A selection of fibre composites products will be on display at the forum.
Media contact: 3224 2007
6 February 2008
The Forum, which is on from 12pm-2pm at Wagners Composite Fibre Technologies is an opportunity for the Parliamentary Secretary to meet key local players in an industry at the forefront of Smart State technology and innovation.
Ms Jarratt said that fibre composites are materials formed by combining at least two elements to produce a completely new product. Usually fibre composites consist of a matrix material such as a polymer or resin and a reinforcement material like carbon, glass or kevlar.
“What’s really exciting is that the manufacture of fibre composites potentially uses half the energy of the production of materials like concrete and steel and may generate less than half the emissions and wastes affecting air quality,” Ms Jarratt said.
“So fibre composites are of benefit to the environment because they reduce our reliance on resources such as native hardwoods.
“Queensland is at the forefront of global developments in fibre composite technology and I’m pleased to say the State Government has invested more than $15 million dollars in the sector in recent years,” Ms Jarratt said.
“That includes $7.5 million to the University of Southern Queensland for the Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites.
“A further $3 million from the Smart State Innovation Funds has been awarded to organisations such as Australian Aerospace and the CSIRO’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies.”
Ms Jarratt said the fibre composites industry around Toowoomba was especially vibrant.
“There are some brilliant examples of this revolutionary technology on show here today. Wagners has created a fibre composite semi-trailer and developed the world’s first fibre composite road bridge to be used in a public road network,” she said.
“Wagners won the 2005 Project of the Year award from the New York Branch of the American Public Works Association after installing one of its fibre composite road bridges near New York.
“LSM Advanced Composites has brought along some of its V8 Supercar components while Guscott has developed an electric violin.
“Buchanan Advanced Composites has taken the opportunity to promote their ‘Dambuster’ bass boat, Kimberley caravan & an Oz-Ger Foldable Building, whilst Gold Coast company FIREWIRE is showcasing two of its ‘Future shapes’ surfboards.
“It just shows that the fibre composites industry is extraordinarily broad.”
“Queensland’s fibre composites industry is making its mark in industries as diverse as aerospace, construction, defence, infrastructure, marine, mining and transport.”
Ms Jarratt said the Queensland Fibre Composites Forum was formed in June 2006 to assist the State Government implement its Fibre Composites Action Plan.
The Forum meets quarterly to discuss issues affecting the industry’s performance and prospects, identifying ways in which to further refine the action plan and support programs associated with it.
The Forum includes representatives from Toowoomba, Cairns, Caboolture, Townsville, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
“This is an industry that has enormous potential and is set to play an important role in regional development,” Ms Jarratt said.
Ends
Photo opportunity: A selection of fibre composites products will be on display at the forum.
Media contact: 3224 2007
6 February 2008