vNew applications of advanced technologies in the shipyard will be the focus of a major partnership between Naval Group and Flinders University in Adelaide.
In support of Naval Group’s Digital Shipyard vision, Flinders will conduct a range of research trials including applications of mobile machining robots and exoskeleton technologies, providing assistive manufacturing capabilities in shipbuilding for improved quality, safety and productivity.
Francois Romanet, CEO of Naval Group Pacific and Professor Colin Stirling, Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University welcomed the partnership saying that this ground-breaking ‘Industry 4.0’ research program will help to establish a world-leading advanced manufacturing capability at the Osborne shipyard in South Australia.
“The establishment of this partnership with Flinders University is part of our commitment to ensuring shipyards are able to access the early deployment of the most advanced digital and advanced manufacturing technologies available”, said Francois Romanet.
Professor Stirling said: “This new collaboration builds on our existing research and education program with Naval Group in the fast emerging field of autonomous maritime vehicles, announced earlier this year”.
“Our research team at the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute and the College of Science and Engineering will work closely with Naval Group to test and evaluate technologies for potential application in the shipyard,” added Professor Stirling.
Flinders is a national leader in the development and application of i4.0 advanced technologies which are transforming manufacturing through automated systems including robotics, cobotics, and digitally assisted assembly.
Naval Group Pacific, the Sydney-based subsidiary of the group, leverages the dynamic R&D policy of its parent company to solve some of the local defense industry’s most critical challenges.
Naval Group Pacific and Flinders University are both members of the Australian Maritime Development Centre (AMDC) launched earlier this week.
Flinders University ranks amongst the world’s top 2% of universities, with a proud reputation for innovative research and excellence in teaching and learning. Strengths include defense and aerospace, engineering, and nanoscale technology. 90% of Flinders University’s research is ranked at or above world standard by Excellence in Research Australia. Its high-tech innovation campus at Tonsley is home to Flinders’ Australian Industrial Transformation Institute, The Flinders Centre for Maritime Engineering, Control and Imaging (CMECI) and the Flinders New Venture Institute.
Naval Group is the European leader in naval defense. As an international high-tech company, Naval Group uses its extraordinary know-how, unique industrial resources and capacity to arrange innovative strategic partnerships to meet its customers’ requirements.
Naval Group designs, builds and supports submarines and surface ships. It also supplies services to shipyards and naval bases. In addition, the group offers a wide range of marine renewable energy solutions. Attentive to corporate social responsibility, Naval Group is a member of the United Nations Global Compact.
In 2018, Naval Group reported revenues of €3.6 billion and has a workforce of 14,860.
