MP opens USQ Research Centre
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads and USQ Graduate, the Honourable Paul Lucas
MP, officially opened USQ's Centre for Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC) on Friday 23 June 2006.
Constructed over the past three years, the $7.5 million centre will help foster and facilitate sustained multi-disciplinary research in engineered fibre composites.
Fibre Composites were originally developed for the aircraft and marine industry and consist of polymer resins, reinforced with carbon, glass and/or Kelvar fibres. They are increasingly being used in the construction and engineering fields.
Director of CEEFC, Professor Gerard Van Erp, said fibre composites can be used to build bridges, power poles, railway sleepers, vanity tops and bar stools.
'The production of fibre composites compared to the production of concrete and steel uses less than half the energy, creates one fifth the volume of polluted water and about one third the air pollution.'
Since developing a novel fibre composite beam in 1998, Professor Van Erp and his team have received international acclaim and numerous awards for this technology.
'We're actually taking advantage of the new buildings by turning them into a showcase facility. Many of the structural components were actually made using our technology and material.
'The new facilities will also be of use with our latest research into the resource potential of plant oil polymers, which may provide an enormous boost to Australian agriculture,' Professor Van Erp said.
The new research facilities include office buildings with an advanced polymer chemistry laboratory and two large laboratories to develop and test prototype structures.
CEEFC also plays a key role in providing research training for young researchers thorough support and mentoring, with the aim to create a sustainable research centre at USQ.
Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2092 or 0412 097 326
* High resolution photographs of the opening are available from USQ Media