UniSA to open Industry 4.0 Testlab
The University of South Australia (UniSA) will open a new $2million high-tech Industry 4.0 Testlab to support industry innovation across the defence, space, mining, ag-tech, electronics and automotive sectors in the coming months.
Businesses and researchers will be able to trial, explore and showcase new technologies together in the purpose-built lab, which focuses on advanced digitisation of manufacturing as part of a national network of Testlabs established in partnership with the Federal Government.
With three key capabilities – 3D printing facilities, multiplayer virtual reality spaces for human-centred design, and an industrial scale manufacturing demonstrator, the UniSA Testlab will be a boon for small to medium enterprises by supporting the creation and testing of new, advanced technologies.
UniSA Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Enterprise, Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington, says there has never been a better time for the University to welcome a Testlab of this type on campus.
“Industry 4.0 is actually a disruption around creativity, and it has fundamentally changed the way we make things, how those things relate to us and how they help us relate to others.
The Testlab will give local businesses access to this new age of digital technologies and allow them to work some of the best international and local experts to create new ways of doing business.”
Director of the Testlab, Professor Nikki Stanford, says it provides physical spaces for businesses and researchers to trial, explore and showcase Industry 4.0 technologies and processes.
“Post the COVID-19 lockdown, as we move back towards less restricted operations, our goal for the Testlab is to give small businesses insights into what they can potentially do in their industries, without them having to take out a loan to fund their innovations,” Prof Stanford says. The lab will allow them to try out our technologies, see how they work and if they can be implemented to advantage their business operations and competitiveness.”