• Our focus
• Industry partners

The Advanced Engineered Components Theme delivers advanced technologies, devices and components for commercialisation in:

• transport
• power generation
• mineral processing
• defence
• aerospace
• engineering manufacturing.

We aim to reduce Australia's carbon footprint and grow segments of Australia's manufacturing devices industry.

Our focus

Research in the Advanced Engineered Components Theme focuses on:

• sustainable transport
• intelligent processes for efficient manufacturing
• high performance, lightweight materials
• scientific devices
• advancing human performance.

Sustainable transport

We develop sustainable vehicles for personal transportation, with a focus on advanced electric drives for hybrid and electric vehicles, and highly-efficient electric motors, power and control electronics and generators.

Some of our work in sustainable engineering includes:

Charging ahead: CSIRO battery and energy storage research capabilities: CSIRO is developing clean, affordable energy and transport technologies. We are working to halve greenhouse gas emissions through the efficient use and generation of energy.

Hybrid family car uses CSIRO technology: Holden's ECOmmodore is a family-sized petrol-electric car. Developed using unique technologies from across CSIRO, it is much less expensive than previous hybrid vehicles.

Energy efficient rubber tyre recycling: transforming old rubber into new: CSIRO is working with an Australian company VR TEK Operations Pty Ltd to develop a complete process aimed at addressing the problem caused by waste tyres. 

Energy-efficient electric machines: CSIRO exploits the most advanced concepts in magnetic materials, electromagnetics applied magnetics and drives. We are reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by designing and developing energy-efficient electric machines and drives.

 

Intelligent processes

We use diagnostics, predictive algorithms and simulations to bring about radical innovations in product design or enhanced processes.

Some of our work in intelligent processes includes:

Industrial mixer creates a stir: An industrial mixer that doesn’t use beaters, blades or stirrers? Find out how CSIRO created the ultimate mixing machine.

Improving manufacturing systems: CSIRO is helping manufacturers compete globally by improving the flexibility and efficiency of their management, operations and manufacturing processes.

Automated detection of road cracks: CSIRO’s automated road sensing system, RoadCrack, is able to find cracks in road paving down to a width of one millimetre at high speeds, reducing the cost and increasing the accuracy of road crack detection.

Safe-T-Cam: keeping an eye on the road: CSIRO-developed automated imaging technology is finding many uses, including helping traffic authorities monitor heavy vehicles on the highway.

High-performance, lightweight materials

We develop novel metallic or ceramic-based composite materials to give our national manufacturing industries a competitive edge.

Some of our work in competitive materials includes:

Cold spray technology: Cold gas-dynamic spray technology, or Cold Spray technology, is a rapidly emerging industrial coatings technology.

Beijing bike gives the pack the slip: Australia’s track cyclists will soon benefit from CSIRO coating technology that reduces friction and improves durability.

Hard coatings for automotive applications: CSIRO is coating engine components with a tough, low friction coating to increase engine efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.

Scientific devices

We make instruments for use in extreme science applications, for example advanced optics, superconducting systems, radar and other detection systems.

Some of our scientific devices include:

Superconducting devices and systems: CSIRO has one of the world’s biggest groups of superconductivity scientists working on detectors for applications in geophysics, physical security, food safety and oceanography and in the frontier science of quantum engineering.
 

Needling problem solved: CSIRO is developing a highly sensitive metal detector for the food, pharmaceutical and security industries. The device finds fragments of stainless steel even when they're wrapped in aluminium foil.

Creating precision optics: CSIRO’s staff at the Australian Centre for Precision Optics make objects that are almost perfectly round, flat or smooth.

Advancing human performance

Science to move 'in the groove' CSIRO, with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), is developing wearable body mapping garments for assessing and improving sports performance.

Industry partners

We work closely with industry partners, such as:

• General Motors (GM)
• Australian Defence Apparel (ADA)
• Nissan
• TRU Energy
• Boeing
• NASA
• BHP
• Road Transport Authority (RTA) 
• Bluescope
• Marand Precision Engineering.

We also engage with industry partners through CRCs and R&D networks, such as:

• Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Automotive Technology (Auto CRC)
• Cooperative Research Centre for Cast Metals Manufacturing (CAST CRC)
• Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials Manufacturing (VCAMM)
• Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC)
• Australian Space Research Program.

Find out more about the Future Manufacturing Flagship.