Omni Tanker and SOMAC CRC Partner to Revolutionise Composites Manufacturing in Australia

The Sovereign Manufacturing Automation for Composites CRC (SOMAC CRC) is proud to announce a collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) and Omni Tanker to spearhead a digital transformation in composites manufacturing.

Omni Tanker is set to create a "digital twin" of its pilot production plant, a move that marks a significant leap towards optimising composites manufacturing. This digital twin, working alongside physical production facilities, is poised to enhance production processes, improve efficiency and accelerate innovation to meet the surging global demand.

Omni Tanker's CEO Daniel Rodgers, expresses enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, "Omni Tanker expects the outputs of this project to deliver exceptional returns as we build our production capacity to service multiple international markets. Our focus is on achieving high efficiency and profitability through automation in our operations, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the composites industry."

This project is a testament to Omni Tanker's commitment to innovation and excellence. "The use of the digital twins and associated scenario analysis through UNSW will inform choices on physical experiments within Omni Tanker, delivering rapid gains to the Omni Tanker production efficiency," says Omni Tanker's Chief Technical Officer, Dr Luke Djukic.

Omni Tanker recognises the significance of this project. The global demand for their tanks outpaces their current production capacity and their expansion into aerospace and energy sectors, particularly in hydrogen transport applications, further underscores the company's commitment to meet evolving market demands.

UNSW is delighted to be part of this transformative project. Dr Shiva Abdoli, Chief Investigator at UNSW explains, "UNSW is excited to start its first SOMAC CRC project with Omni Tanker. UNSW, as a founding research partner, is delighted to contribute to the SOMAC CRC vision to bring new paradigms to composites manufacturing, strengthening the Australian supply chain and opening up new export markets. With this Industry 4.0 technology, we can virtually assess alternative production strategies through simulation and validate their performance."

She further adds, "A digital twin of their production facility offers Omni Tanker a test bed for performance analyses and improvement at both operational and strategic levels. The tool will allow them to optimise production through improved process design, layout planning and targeted investment in automation, and further spearhead Omni Tanker's export activities."

This collaboration is not just about the present but also about preparing for the future. Abdoli highlights, "As Omni Tanker production grows, we can adapt the simulations to forecast and alleviate bottlenecks before they arise."

"Omni Tanker and UNSW have a long-standing research partnership, and we are excited to come together with SOMAC CRC to continue to deliver high-value and high-impact research translation projects," further adds Rodgers.

This project marks the beginning of a digital revolution in composites manufacturing in Australia with the potential to inspire progress across the composites industry.

Prof Nicholas Fisk, UNSW's Deputy Vice Chancellor Research & Enterprise, who attended a tour at the Omni Tanker factory in Smeaton Grange, added, "This first of many collaborative R&D projects augments sovereign manufacturing by a progressive local SME scoring runs in the high-end composite export market, with state-of-the-art digital twin design. The ability to test and validate process improvements, both incremental and end-to-end, in seconds rather than years, provides a real springboard to Industry 4.0 advanced manufacturing here in Sydney."

The Head of the School of Mechanical Engineering at UNSW, Prof Chun Wang, was also present at the tour and signing ceremony, further adds, "Since 2014, our school has forged an enduring partnership with Omni Tanker. Together we have created advanced materials, innovative designs and computational capabilities that have resulted in new products. Building on these successes, this new project will undoubtedly further enhance Omni Tanker's world-leading position and generate more societal benefits for Australia".

Steve Gower, CEO of SOMAC CRC, says, "This collaboration between Omni Tanker and UNSW is a milestone project in the composites industry. Together, they are poised to elevate Australia's cross-sectoral manufacturing capabilities, especially in Transport and Energy, as Omni Tanker's international exports expand, notably in the US and Europe."

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Please contact:

Prof Gangadhara Prusty
Director of Research
SOMAC CRC
Ainsworth Building
Level 1, Engineering Road
UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052 AUSTRALIA

Phone: +61 2 9385 5939
Email: g.prusty@somac-crc.com

Dr Luke Djukic
Chief Technical Officer
Omni Tanker

Phone: +612 4647 7557
Email: luke.djukic@omnitanker.com

About the Sovereign Manufacturing Automation for Composites Cooperative Research Centre (SOMAC CRC)

SOMAC CRC commenced operations in January 2023. Australia is entering a decade of transformation with the arrival of intelligent manufacturing automation and the emergence of new high-value industries. Bringing together 33 partners under a $250 million program, SOMAC CRC will address these opportunities and strengthen current industry with digital-export-ready, cost-competitive, high-quality platform capability. Its vision is to transform Australia's established composite technologies capability into sovereign leadership, creating a world-class, highly automated, digitally enabled, network of designers, manufacturers, and service providers. In doing so, the CRC will underpin a next generation of manufacturing industry, supporting a forward-looking Australia, including the hydrogen economy, EV cars and buses, space and low-earth-orbit vehicles, onshore and offshore infrastructure, aircraft and the future defence industry, consumer goods including sporting and solar, and the recycling industry.

https://somaccrc.com/

About Omni Tanker

Omni Tanker is an advanced manufacturing company with specialist expertise on carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites and thermoplastics. The company's core business is the design, prototyping, certification and manufacture of specialised road tankers, tank containers, high pressure gas tanks, and cryogenic tanks for the safe and efficient transport of liquids and gases, in a range of sizes, for the Australian and International transport and aerospace markets.

Omni Tanks contain an advanced seamless thermoplastic corrosion barrier technology made from polyethylene or fluoropolymer, providing broad chemical resistance and low permeation, for long term use in harsh environments including aggressive corrosive and oxidising chemical service. The technology allows a high strength and durable connection to the surrounding CFRP structure, making it particularly well suited to hydrogen transport applications. The use of CFRP composites in the tanks results in considerable weight savings which translate to increased payload in target markets.

The result is an exceptional combination of high chemical resistance and enhanced payloads, for a wide range of liquid and gas cargoes.

https://omnitanker.com/
About University of New South Wales (UNSW)
UNSW School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering is internationally recognised for its excellence in research and teaching. Our mission is to nurture students to become industry leaders who will generate societal, economic and environmental benefits.
Since the school's foundation in 1949, the engineering industry has been revolutionised by changes in manufacturing such as automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence. This new technology has created demand for a new breed of engineers.
Our school has over 90 staff and more than 2,500 students, across undergraduate, postgraduate, masters by coursework and PhD research study. We offer four-degree plans for undergraduate study in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and Mechatronic Engineering. We also offer double degrees. The ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings for 2020* ranked us as the top school in Australia for Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/our-schools/mechanical-and-manufacturing-engineering
About the CRC Program

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program is an Australian Government initiative that was established in 1990 and funds industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers, and end users. The Program links researchers with industry and government with a focus towards research application. Innovation and Science Australia and its CRC Advisory Committee provide strategic oversight of the CRC Program.

https://cooperativeresearch.org.au/cooperative-research/crc-program-australian-government/

This release was published on openPR.