Graduates from The University of Western Australia are working with staff and students to engineer composite solutions to repair critical assets in complex environments including offshore.
In 2021, Jason LeCoultre (BE '10) established FUZE, a company backed by Byrnecut Group, as a leading provider of engineered composite solutions.
In 2023, FUZE became part of the Australian Composites Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (ACM CRC), a 10-year collaboration funded by the Federal Government.
The research centre aims to transform the way Australia designs, manufactures and applies advanced composite materials to bridge the gap between research and industry by accelerating automation, digitalisation, and scale-up of Australia’s composites manufacturing capabilities.
Image: Jason LeCoultre.
The initiative reconnected the FUZE team with UWA through an opportunity to work with materials and structures expert Associate Professor Farhad Aslani.
Composite materials allow a repair or replacement component to be manufactured in-situ, minimising operational downtime and extending the lifespan of critical assets.
Through the ACM CRC collaboration, FUZE aims to develop robust scientific data on the safety and utility of their methods, to drive wider industry adoption.
Associate Professor Aslani has been working closely with FUZE technology manager Peter Butt (BE '05) to lead the first project focused on structural health monitoring for tubular joints.
FUZE has had access UWA's sophisticated testing equipment and engaged with research students to achieve key milestones.
“The collaboration with FUZE has provided an ideal platform to apply advanced research to real-world engineering challenges,” Associate Professor Aslani said.
“By combining UWA’s structural testing and material characterisation capabilities with FUZE’s innovative repair technologies, we are generating valuable data that can support standardisation and build industry confidence in composite solutions.”
FUZE team member Dr Laurie Walker (BE '96, PhD '03) joined the collaboration for the second project on standardising in-field manufacture of composite repairs.
The project includes the University of Queensland and was launched this year at a gathering hosted by Professor Anna Nowak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, at UWA's EZONE Precinct.
Industry guests had the opportunity to view scientific posters and equipment involved in industry collaboration in UWA's Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis and Structural Engineering lab.
Dr Steve Gower, CEO of ACM CRC, said there were many opportunities in the WA economy to grow advanced manufacturing.
“Western Australia is home to some of the nation’s most dynamic and globally connected industries — from resources and energy to defence and marine,” Dr Gower said.
“By bringing advanced composites automation into these sectors, we can help local businesses lift productivity, reduce costs and unlock new export opportunities.
“The CRC is committed to working with WA industry partners to build sovereign capability and ensure Australia remains competitive in the next wave of manufacturing innovation.”
The FUZE team also recently celebrated the opening of its new warehouse in Kewdale for a large audience across mining, energy, defence and other complex industries.
The event featured live demonstrations of composite repairs and a UWA motorsport race car that was linked to FUZE’s company history.
Mr LeCoultre said the UWA collaboration was helping to drive the adoption of structural composite repairs and manufacture in the field.
“The process of innovation verification, adoption and implementation is a process where the human factors, not the technical advantages, determine success,” Mr LeCoultre said.
“UWA plays a critical role in this process due to its influence across industries, which is required for the successful adoption of new technology.
“The University provides a focal point for verification projects and the education of industry leaders and the engineering workforce.
“It also helps create international guidelines and codes and educates students to deliver advanced composite technologies to the WA economy, across a range of industries.”
Materials engineering expert Professor Tim Sercombe, Head of UWA School of Engineering, sees the multi-disciplinary potential for engineers, data scientists and other disciplines to build automation, process optimisation and other skills that can accelerate composites.
“By working together, we can solve challenges in maintenance, manufacturing and other industry critical domains,’’ Professor Sercombe said.