NIOA is partnering with North American advanced manufacturing specialist Macrodyne Technologies Inc. in order to explore opportunities to grow munitions manufacturing capability in Australia.
The partnership will concentrate on advanced munitions filling technologies and the possible development of pressed explosives standards for a number of warhead and projectile solutions.
The partnership is aimed at supporting sovereign manufacturing of kinetic effectors needed for counter-uncrewed aerial systems – CUAS and complements NIOA’s growth in munitions metal parts manufacturing.
Pressed explosives have the potential to offer greater scale and improved effectiveness of the effectors, NIOA said.
Ben James, NIOA Australia and New Zealand executive vice president, said the partnership would blend complementary knowledge to support sovereign and allied defence capability.
He added, “NIOA is continually looking at new technologies and manufacturing processes that can strengthen Australia’s sovereign munitions capability and the resilience of allied supply chains. Macrodyne brings world-class advanced manufacturing expertise as NIOA continues to explore the next generation of munitions filling and energetics-related solutions in Australia.”
Macrodyne is North America’s largest manufacturer of hydraulic presses and custom-engineered presses, automation, and advanced manufacturing systems.
Defence and aerospace work involves the use of equipment for projectile manufacture, armor manufacture, precision alignment, and the shaping of aerospace components.
“This partnership will allow us to apply our manufacturing expertise to an important problem,” said Kevin Fernandes, Macrodyne Technologies Inc. president.
Building munitions manufacturing capability in Australia is not simply about individual machines. “The process, handling, control measures, and production standards – all have to work together,” Mr Fernandes said.
“NIOA understands the Australian munitions landscape, and we are looking forward to seeing how our engineering experience can support its plans.”
Alex Edge, senior business development manager of global markets for Macrodyne Technologies Inc., said the partnership had huge potential for Australia’s defence industry.
Mr. Edge added, “We’re proud to partner with NIOA and explore how Macrodyne’s advanced press, automation, and manufacturing technologies can support Australia’s growing defence industrial capability. By combining our engineering expertise with NIOA’s munitions experience and manufacturing footprint in Australia, we see exciting opportunities to develop innovative and scalable manufacturing solutions.”
Director of Business Development, Macrodyne Technologies Inc. Jeffrey Walsh said that by working together early, the companies could explore how different stages of the manufacturing process could be combined.
“Our work often starts with the whole production process: what needs to happen before and after the press, how material moves, and how the equipment will be controlled. That’s the kind of engineering discussion we’re looking forward to having with NIOA as we explore the opportunities,” Mr Walsh said.
The partnership grows NIOA’s ongoing studies and development into manufacturing technologies and processes across multiple sites supporting sovereign munitions capacity and allied specifications when it comes to Australia.