The challenge
Innovative bridges
InQuik Pty Ltd is an Australian family-run business, which designs, manufactures and sells the innovative semi-modular InQuik bridge product. Building bridges is an expensive and time-consuming process which requires a high level of engineering design and labour capacity to ensure construction and safety standards are met.
InQuik identified the market need for a solution which allowed bridges to be constructed safely and efficiency, and at a substantial cost saving. The InQuik® Bridge System is patented technology which uses prefabricated steel reinforcement and formwork modules which are precision fabricated in a workshop environment, then transported to a remote construction site where concrete can be poured to create the final structure.
It’s a clever solution which offers significant construction project time and cost savings compared to conventional methods. Being much lighter to transport and place than precast alternatives, the InQuik® system can be shipped and installed anywhere in the world.
A key focus of the continued research and development for InQuik is to refine the designs and validate the product’s expected long-term behaviour and longevity, far in excess of 100 years with minimum structural maintenance requirements. Given most bridges haven average life of only 30-50 years, this longevity is key.
Our response
Accessing our services
Through the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, an Australian Government initiative which is funded and supported by the Australian Government, InQuik connected with their local Innovation Connections Facilitator, Dave Fleming, from CSIRO SME Connect. Dave assessed the business’ needs and recommended an Innovation Connections Researcher Placement Grant. This grant supported a collaboration project with The University of Sydney, undertaking independent, professional engineering modelling of the long-term effects of having permanent formwork, and load-bearing behaviour of the unique design.
Based on the success of the first project a second Innovation Connections grant assisted InQuik to continue its validation work with The University of Sydney to assess the load behaviour of the InQuik bridge decks to ensure the safety, durability and fatigue requirements needed specifically for railway bridge applications.
The results
Improved efficiency
The work with the University of Sydney experts and facilities has provided InQuik with the development of an easier use of the system for rail bridge applications, allowing the use of a simplified manufacturing process.
Based on the successful validation work and continuing collaboration with The University of Sydney, InQuik will undertake further design optimisations to commercialise its novel technology.
Innovation Connections is an excellent program to link academia and industry.
— Ben Mullaney, Business Manager, InQuik
Our Collaborators
