CSIRO is committed to seeing science pay off for Australians and industry. Central to this is the successful transfer of new technologies into the market. Highlighted below are some examples of CSIRO’s most promising technologies seeking partners in order to progress development. They demonstrate the wide variety of technology transfer methods available and include opportunities for licensing and involvement in the creation of a new company, as well as opportunities in companies already working to transfer CSIRO technology into the marketplace.

Update on CSIRO MagSheet™

• CSIRO has developed a continuous twin roll casting (TRC) process and technology for magnesium alloy thin sheet production.
• The worldwide demand for magnesium sheet continues to grow across multiple market segments, with increasing applications and continued cost pressures for low-cost production.
• CSIRO has existing relationships with significant global entities in each of the major market segments (including lead customers in the two currently dominant markets), with a clear path to market identified.
• One customer has indicated sheet schedules rising to 30 tonnes per month by 2010 with CSIRO TRC product.
• CSIRO is confident of its production costs at less than 50 per cent of the incumbent technology product.
• The MagSheet™ technology demonstrates a triple-bottom-line benefit with reduced environmental emissions, lower capital and operating costs compared with the present direct chill (slab) casting and hotrolling production technology, with its associated high-finish rolled-product costs.
• The technology is covered by an International Patent (granted in the US, South Africa and China, pending in all other PCT plus selected countries) and is supported by extensive documented know-how.
• This technology is now well advanced and requires final application development to a production demonstrable industrial scale.
• CSIRO is seeking partners who wish to invest in the final development and business opportunity this technology represents.

Rheometer

• The On-Line Rheometer (OLR) is an innovative new instrument developed by CSIRO Industrial Physics capable of measuring the visco-elastic properties of fluids under flow conditions.
• Measurements are made by bringing the two plates close together to a predetermined distance dependent on the fluid under investigation. The duration of the measurement is normally less than 60 seconds after which the plates are again separated ready for the measurement of a new sample volume, making it possible to make real-time measurements of both the viscous and elastic properties of fluids during processing for the development of new formulations.
• Resulting from the release of an Expression of Interest (EOI) to seven companies throughout the world that were known to market in the appropriate end-user space, CSIRO is in the later stages of negotiating transferring the technology to an Australian-based company that has strong affiliations with a large US scientific instrument company with a global distribution and product support network.
• The initiative has brought a viable offer to the table that otherwise would not have occurred, which will result in about $2 million in royalties and a small manufacturing and distribution facility to be built in Bacchus Marsh, a town west of Melbourne, that will employ between 5 and 15 people and bring in more than $16 million to the local community.

Anode Coatings

• An innovative barrier coating developed in the Light Metals Flagship by CSIRO Manufacturing and Materials Technology researchers has the potential to deliver substantial cost and environmental savings to aluminium smelters.
• The coating protects carbon anodes from air burn without side effects on the smelting process. Less air burn means reduced carbon consumption and reduced CO2 emissions.
• The proprietary coating, which is very simply applied, is tough enough for the harsh cell environment and has little effect on metal purity.
• The cost of materials and application is considerably less than the molten aluminium spray coating currently used in some smelters and can significantly reduce the number of unscheduled anode changes.
• CSIRO’s anode coating has, in tests under cell conditions, shown an order of magnitude less air burn, and extended smelter trials are now under way.
• The technology has global potential with more than 30 million tonnes of aluminium being produced worldwide each year, of which approximately six per cent is produced in Australia.

For further information contact:
CSIRO Enquiries
Email: Solve@csiro.au      Web: www.csiro.au
Freecall: 1300 363 400       International: +61 3 9545 2176

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• NICHE MANUFACTURING:
  Nanotechnology Thinks Big
• NICHE MANUFACTURING:
  Seven Stakeholders on the Key Role of R&D in Manufacturing
• FLUID DYNAMICS:
  Flow-on Effects
• LIGHT METALS:
  A New Cast
• PHYSICS:
  Speedy Sensor
• PHARMACEUTICALS:
  Fragment Pharmacy
• WEALTH FROM OCEANS:
  Super Oil & Gas R&D
• ENVIRONMENT:
  Pesticide Attack
• ENVIRONMENT:
  Cool Savings
• ENVIRONMENT:
  Water-Saving Cotton
• ENVIRONMENT:
  Research in Depth
• ENVIRONMENT:
  Monsoon Relation
• COMMUNICATIONS:
  Radio Lifeline
• COMMUNICATIONS:
  Look, No Wires
• PATHS TO COMMERCIALISATION:
  Current Opportunities

Last Updated: August 10, 2007
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