Queensland Treasurer opens major new research facility

USQ’s new state of the art research facility was opened on Thursday 18 November by The Queensland Treasurer, the Honourable Andrew

Kerry Shine MP, Professor Bill Lovegrove, Andrew Fraser MP and Professor Alan Lau officially open the new CEEFC facilities.

Fraser MP.

The new $2 million facility will provide the Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC) with enhanced research and development capabilities of fibre reinforced polymer/cement composite materials.

Mr Fraser said that USQ was the best and only option for this facility given USQ’s research expertise in the field and the close relationship USQ has with the industry in the region.

Professor Alan Lau, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites was enthusiastic about the new facilities, confirming that will be a valuable resource for local industry.

The facility will provide the region with the newest and best practice techniques and facilities for developing fibre composite structures.

‘In the future, we shall be keen on developing more collaboration with local and overseas industries, to explore our research outcomes toward the international research platform,’ Professor Lau said

‘These facilities include high loading capability static and dynamic structural testing machines; composites manufacturing laboratory for glass, carbon and natural fibre composites; structural health monitoring system and an existing chemistry laboratory which is also important to support the works in materials characterisation and resin analyses.’ 

USQ Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Bill Lovegrove,said that this was a good example of what regional universities can do.

The facility will boost USQ’s and the region’s research capacity and output.

It will help USQ attract first class staff and students and will help the University attract future externally funded research projects.

The new facility was part of a $7 million grant from the State Government to help USQ boost its research capacity.

Since its establishment in 2002, several large scale projects with the industry and Queensland Government have been conducted including developing Australia’s first fibre composite bridge developing fibre composite rail sleepers.

Contact Details:
Sam Tickell, USQ Media , +61 7 4631 2559