In this episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, we hear from Dr Paul Falzon, General Manager at Advanced Composite Structures Australia, in a lost-then-found recording made during our Australia's 50 most innovative manufacturers campaign earlier in the year.

Falzon, whose company was part of the top 50, tells us about the ACS-A's work at the pinnacle of composites engineering and manufacturing in Australia, which has recently moved into high-temperature ceramics and filament winding for pressure vessels.

Episode guide

0:26 – A brief company history

2:38 – A brief personal history

4:40 – The skillsets present at the company, including aerospace engineering, material science, boat builders, simulation and structural analysis.

5:55 – Emphasising the “advanced” in advanced composites.

6:54 – High-temperature work and what it requires in terms of materials.

7:43 – Recent work in structures for wave energy generation with Carnegie Clean Energy

9:00 – Projects in ultra-high temperature composites over the last three years. Green body and pyrolysis processes.

10:13 – A first step into hydrogen storage. Where a new filament winder could be used.

11:20 – What innovation means at the company.

12:24 – The new Lorimer Composites program and its role in company culture and staff satisfaction.

15:20 – Supply chain issues in composites and the reliance on overseas suppliers for ultra-high temperature inputs.

16:45 – How the skills shortage is affecting ACS-A.

Relevant links

Excellence in maritime manufacturing – material gains for maritime

MoorPower wave power project gets underway

Fibres and composites transforming industry: Composite repair and sustainment

Australia’s 50 most innovative manufacturers revealed

ACS delivers composite hydro-electric turbine blade

Composite creatures developed for theme parks