Federal Member for Wakefield Nick Champion has said nanotechnology could provide a boost for Australia's steel industry in the future. <\/p>\n
TECH: Federal Member for Wakefield Nick Champion has said nanotechnology could provide a boost for Australia's steel industry in the future. <\/p>\n
Shadow AssistantMinister for Manufacturing Nick Champion believes nanotechnology could play a big part in the future of Australia's steel industry, and in particular at the Whyalla Steelworks. <\/p>\n
Mr Champion, who visited Whyalla on Thursday, said he had recently been in discussions about the benefits of nanotechnology in steelmaking with the University of Sydney. <\/p>\n
I've had a couple of pretty interesting meetings...there is some interest in looking at how nanotechnology might affect advanced manufacturing of steel in this country, he said.<\/p>\n
[With nanotechnology] you can make steel at a lighter weight and a higher strength, andimprove production processes...there's definitely some applications. <\/p>\n
Mr Champion said he would be discussing the idea with the Whyalla City Council.<\/p>\n
Obviously we're a long ways from determining whether it is commercially applicable, but I do think the way we advance all industries is through the application of technology, he said. <\/p>\n
We have to make sure we are commercialising and applying some of the great technology and research that is coming out of our universities.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the potential forcogeneration at the Whyalla Steelworks, Mr Champion described it as a very good idea. <\/p>\n
The technology is certainly there, it's a big capital investment, but that of course pays off in the short to medium termthrough being able to recoup those costs through either credits or direct payments from power generation, he said. <\/p>\n
Of course we will have to wait and see which company emerges as the buyer for Arrium...given the state is facing the sort of power issues that it is, anytime we can put power in the grid it's a good thing. <\/p>\n
Mr Champion said he was happy to hear that the two remaining bidders for Arrium were seeking buy the company's operations in one line. <\/p>\n
Of course it's reassuring, we should make this a great national project because there's always been great productive capacity at the Whyalla Steelworks, he said. <\/p>\n
There's a great workforce there who are really keen to get on with things, and we know that we can produce top grade steel, so it's important for the country to have the ability to do that. <\/p>\n
It should give everyone confidence that this process is working, we've got good administrators, a good state government...if we all get behind the community and the steelworks, we should have a good outcome. <\/p>\n
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Nick champions nanotechnology - Whyalla News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Federal Member for Wakefield Nick Champion has said nanotechnology could provide a boost for Australia's steel industry in the future. TECH: Federal Member for Wakefield Nick Champion has said nanotechnology could provide a boost for Australia's steel industry in the future. Shadow AssistantMinister for Manufacturing Nick Champion believes nanotechnology could play a big part in the future of Australia's steel industry, and in particular at the Whyalla Steelworks. Continue reading