Two developments in two days have strengthened Geelong’s carbon fibre industries showing the coastal Victorian city is more than capable of giving itself a future after the closure of the city’s Ford stamping and engine plants.

CSIRO and Deakin University have patented a new method for making carbon fibre which should be both stronger and with more consistent quality across its length than existing methods.

A wet spinning line was launched at Waurn Ponds just outside Geelong.

Carbon fibre combines high rigidity, tensile strength and chemical resistance with low weight and is used in aerospace, civil engineering, the military, cars, and also in competitive sports.

Only a handful of companies around the world can create carbon fibre, each using their own secret recipe.”

Also this week the Australian Manufacturing Growth Centre announced $250,000 project funding for Geelong-based carbon fibre composites manufacturer, Quickstep Holdings.

Quickstep has its own fast curing process for composites, makes vertical tail parts for the F-35 fighter jet, and manufactures rocket fairings for European customers.

The investment will help the company develop a carbon fire fender for the European market. AMGC claims that the project has the potential to generate $25 million in revenue and increase in-demand jobs in the region.
The funding comes on top of $250,000 in project funds the AMGC granted to the Advanced Fiber Cluster Geelong. This funding will directly support the Geelong Manufacturing Council in collaboration with Carbon Nexus, a Deakin University research centre.

Picture – CSIRO’s carbon fibre spinner.Show less