Omni Tanker, SOMAC CRC partner to improve Australian composites manufacturing
Partnership to create a digital twin of Omni Tanker’s pilot production plant to transform operational and strategic composites manufacturing performance.
SOMAC UNSW factory tour. Photo Credit: SOMAC CRC
The Sovereign Manufacturing Automation for Composites Cooperative Research Centre (SOMAC CRC, New South Wales, Australia) is collaborating with the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney, Kensington, Australia) and Omni Tanker (Smeaton Grange, Australia) to spearhead a digital transformation in composites manufacturing.
Omni Tanker is set to create a digital twin of its pilot production plant, a move that marks a leap toward improving composites manufacturing. The digital twin, working alongside physical production facilities, is intended to improve production processes, improve efficiency and accelerate innovation to meet the surging global demand.
“Omni Tanker expects the outputs of this project to deliver exceptional returns as we build our production capacity to service multiple international markets,” says Daniel Rodgers, Omni Tanker CEO. “Our focus is on achieving high efficiency and profitability through automation in our operations, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the composites industry.”
Global demand for its tanks outpaces its production capacity and its expansion into aerospace and energy sectors, particularly in hydrogen transport applications, further underscores the company’s commitment to meet evolving market demands. The use of the digital twins and associated scenario analysis through UNSW will inform choices on physical experiments within Omni Tanker, delivering improvements to the Omni Tanker production efficiency.
“UNSW is excited to start its first SOMAC CRC project with Omni Tanker,” says Shiva Abdoli, chief investigator at UNSW. “UNSW, as a founding research partner, is delighted to contribute to the SOMAC CRC vision to bring new paradigms to composites manufacturing, strengthening the Australian supply chain and opening up new export markets. With this Industry 4.0 technology, we can virtually assess alternative production strategies through simulation and validate their performance.”
The digital twin of its production facility offers Omni Tanker a test bed for performance analyses and improvement at both operational and strategic levels. The tool enables Omni Tanker to transform production through improved process design, layout planning and targeted investment in automation, and further develop Omni Tanker’s export activities.
The collaboration is not just about the present but also about preparing for the future. As Omni Tanker’s production grows, the digital twin can adapt the simulations to forecast and alleviate bottlenecks before they arise.
The project marks the beginning of a digital transformation in composites manufacturing in Australia with the potential to inspire progress across the composites industry.
“Omni Tanker and UNSW have a long-standing research partnership, and we are excited to come together with SOMAC CRC to continue to deliver high-value and high-impact research translation projects,” Rodgers says.
