About us
Welcome to the AMAC Centre at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç â€“ a hub of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in advanced composite manufacturing.
Since its inception in 2017, the Automated Manufacture of Advanced Composites (AMAC) has played a transformative role in reshaping Australia's composites industry. As a centre funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and hosted within ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼǒs School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, AMAC has continually harnessed cutting-edge automation technologies to empower Australian manufacturers with world-class capabilities in producing high-value, advanced composite structures.
Under my leadership, AMAC has grown from strength to strength. Over our foundational five-year phase (2017–2022), we extended our reach far beyond our original 12 industry members, building a robust and dynamic network of industrial partners. Our commitment to real-world impact and close industry collaboration remains a cornerstone of our success.
At the heart of our capabilities lies our state-of-the-art Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) facility, the most advanced of its kind in the southern hemisphere. This facility, along with our custom multi-axial test bed, suite of test machines for uniaxial to multi-axial loading scenarios and advanced smart sensing systems, supports the development of tailored composite solutions that are both high-performing and cost-effective. Through our focus on embedded sensor technologies, smart monitoring, and digital manufacturing, we continuously push the boundaries of quality, efficiency, and sustainability. Our research laboratory has developed an innovative dental composite with enhanced durability and aesthetics, tailored to meet clinical performance standards, which is now commercially manufactured and distributed internationally, demonstrating Lab-to-Market initiatives.
In 2022, AMAC became a springboard for the Sovereign Manufacturing Automation for Composites Cooperative Research Centre (SoMAC CRC), now renamed as the Australian Composites Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (ACM CRC) - a $250 million, 10-year initiative uniting 7 academic and 26 industry partners. We are proud to serve as the operational node for the ACMCRC at ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ. Current flagship projects include digital twin development for Omni Tanker, hydrogen tank solutions for Rux Energy, marine innovation with Ocius, and advanced sports technology with the Smart Surfboard project for Gowing Bros.
Our mission extends beyond research and innovation. We are deeply committed to training the next generation of engineers and higher degree researchers, ensuring Australia retains its global edge in the field of composite manufacturing.
As we look to the future, AMAC remains focused on bridging the gap between academia and industry, translating visionary ideas into practical, impactful outcomes. We welcome you to engage with us whether as a collaborator, student, or industry partner and be part of this exciting journey.
Scientia Professor Gangadhara Prusty
Founding Director, AMAC, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney
The Centre
Specifically the AMAC will:
- promote integrated innovation in automated composite manufacture: from material design to product realisation.
- incorporate key Australian composites innovations into the automated manufacturing process chain.
- train a generation of composite manufacturing innovators at the frontier of industry-focused research.
- foster strong collaborations between Australian universities and a host of global organisations which vertically span the composites sector from national research providers to large OEMs.
- drive growth and productivity in the sector by strategically targeting the translation of commercialisable IP.
- achieve criticality in advanced composite manufacturing research for a long-term shift in Australia’s R&D capability in the field.