Geelong Composites Project Gets New Funding

The Australian Government will invest $250,000 through the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre to develop an internationally recognised advanced manufacturing hub to accelerate the growth of the carbon fibre industry in Geelong.

The funding has been allocated to the Advanced Fibre Cluster Geelong and will support joint projects by businesses and researchers on carbon fibre, advanced fibre and composite manufacturing.

It’s hoped the new funding will raise the region’s technology leadership resulting in new products and processes making the region more globally competitive. Examples of project outcomes will include: reduction in energy consumption; new products for automotive and defence industries; other new industrial applications for carbon fibre; and improved carbon fibre recycling.

Federal Member for Corangamite, Sarah Henderson MP, said the $14 million Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre is an incredibly important initiative for our region.

The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre sends a very strong signal to our nation that Geelong and Corangamite are at the forefront of advanced manufacturing.

Members of the Advanced Fibre Cluster include carbon fibre wheel manufacturer Carbon Revolution, CSIRO, Austeng and Quickstep. The cluster is supported by the Geelong Manufacturing Council. Geelong is also the location of the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s National Carbon Fibre Manufacturing Collaboration Hub, created with Deakin University and CSIRO Fibres of the Future Laboratory.

The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre is part of the Government’s $250 million Industry Growth Centres Initiative, an industry-led approach to driving innovation, productivity and competitiveness through investing in key industry sectors.