The Light Metals Flagship aims to develop technologies that will add A$300 million per annum value to the automotive and consumer product sector by 2012, and contribute an additional $A1 billion to Australia's GDP by 2020.
The material and process technologies which underpin transformation of light metals into products are critical to the future of the light metals industry.
CSIRO has been developing new technologies for manufacturing in aluminium and magnesium and improving the performance of light metal components for many years. Our clients range from small die-casting companies to aerospace multinationals.
Through the Light Metals Flagship, we are addressing the big issues limiting the use of light metals in manufactured products, such as die-casting. We are integrating research and development across CSIRO to take new approaches to long-standing challenges in metal production and manufacturing.
Research partners
Our research in manufacturing light metals is being undertaken in collaboration with:
Current research
Flagship researchers are developing a new casting process for magnesium alloys that can be used to produce complex shapes, reducing by up to two-thirds the weight of components such as automotive engine blocks.
A Light Metals Flagship research team has developed a new heat-treatment process for strengthening aluminium components that should put manufacturers on the road to making lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles.
The Light Metals Flagship is investigating increasing aluminium content of car bodies to reduce their weight, and consequently reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions.
Find out more about the Light Metals Flagship.
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