Austal and partners launch maritime additive manufacturing framework

Austal, Curtin University, and the Additive Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (AMCRC) have launched a $600,000 collaborative research project to develop an additive manufacturing framework for Australia’s maritime and defense supply chains. Over the next 18 months, the initiative aims to create an industry-ready methodology to assess components against technical, commercial, and regulatory requirements, moving from isolated use cases to a scalable, systematic approach.

In a related development in the sector, Australian measurement technology provider Additive Assurance has been named a finalist for the Governor of Victoria Export Awards 2026. The nomination recognizes the international reach of its AMiRIS platform, which provides in-process quality assurance for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) metal 3D printing. The system monitors data layer-by-layer during the build process to identify deviations early, reducing the need for costly post-production testing in critical industries such as aerospace, defense, and medical technology.