The Process Engineering and Light Metals, PELM Centre at CQU’s Gladstone Marina Campus is to be part of the new CAST CRC, recently announced by Minister Brendan Nelson.

Australia’s manufacturing industry has received a significant boost with the creation of the CRC which will provide competitive advantage to Australia’s light metals industry.

Over the next seven years the new CAST CRC will receive $33.5 million from the Australian Government to conduct world-class research and innovation under the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program.

“This is great news for the local light metals manufacturing industry,” says Professor David St John, CEO designate of the new CAST CRC.

“Australia currently leads the world in light metals research and development and this grant ensures that we will continue to dominate the field, with clear economic benefits to the Australian manufacturing industry.”.

Professor Warren Thorpe, PELM Centre Director, said that PELM researchers would be involved in projects on smelter cast house materials, ingot casting and the service properties of cast aluminium and magnesium components.

“CAST is a wonderful opportunity for PELM staff to collaborate with Australian industry and top-class researchers from other universities and CSIRO,” explained Professor Thorpe.

Industries that will directly benefit from the new CRC include base metal and specialist alloy producers, component and systems manufacturers, the automotive and aerospace industries, defence contractors and a broad range of SMEs.

The CAST CRC is the recipient of one of 16 grants, totalling $407 million, announced by the Australian Government recently. The grants are aimed at helping the nation remain competitive by focusing resources on areas relevant to Australia’s needs.