Deakin University and US-based LeMond Composites have signed a $58 million deal they hope will dramatically cut the cost of carbon fibre manufacturing.
The partnership, signed in Geelong yesterday, will see LeMond Composites invest more than $30 million in construction and equipment at Deakin’s carbon fibre research centre, Carbon Nexus, and allow them to license technology developed by Carbon Nexus.
LeMond Composites was founded in 2016 by three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond. In 1986, he became the first cyclist to win the Tour de France on a carbon fibre bike. He subsequently established a business, selling carbon fibre bikes under his own brand around the world.
“The ability to scale production, along with our low-cost carbon fibre is what will allow LeMond Composites to deliver this material to the masses,” he said.
“Deakin University’s manufacturing process will make it possible to localise manufacturing and make carbon fibre technology more accessible to a wider range of industries like transportation, renewable energy and infrastructure or any industry that benefits from using lighter, stronger, safer materials.”
Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said the new technology, developed by Carbon Nexus PhD Student Maxime Maghe and Carbon Nexus General Manager Steve Atkiss, was a game-changer for the future of manufacturing.
“We know carbon fibre has been in use in aircraft, high-end cars and bikes, among other applications for a long time now, but it remains a niche product that costs a significant amount to produce,” she said.
“This new technology could revolutionise the advanced manufacturing sector locally, across Australia and around the globe, because it will make carbon fibre more affordable to produce, which will make it more accessible for consumers.
The specialised carbon fibre production machinery for the plant will be manufactured by Furnace Engineering in Clayton, Victoria. Den Hollander said the scope for future growth of Deakin and LeMond’s partnership had potential to help transform a new future for Geelong.
“We all know that Geelong’s reliance on manufacturing has changed and the future will be driven by high-value advanced manufacturing,” Professor den Hollander said.
“Deakin is passionate about supporting the communities we serve, working collaboratively with industry and relevant business and governments to drive forward solutions to the challenges our region is confronted with, which is why we have been heavily involved in supporting Geelong’s transition through projects like Carbon Nexus."
[Greg LeMond (4th left), Maxime Maghe and Jane den Hollander with staff at the Carbon Nexus facility. Photo: Deakin]