Repair in 3D
Swinburne is partnering with the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) and leading repair solutions company, Tradiebot Industries, for an exciting new project.
The collaborative project, ‘Repair Bot’, will make use of 3D printing technologies and robotics along with complex materials to enable an automated rapid repair service for plastic car parts.
Inspiration for the project stems from a need for technology-driven solutions to issues facing the automotive repair industry. These issues range from material wastage, complex and restrictive design elements and the limited availability of skilled labour.
Tradiebot Industries Founder Mario Dimovski believes the project’s potential benefits go far beyond the automotive collision industry.
‘The ability to repair previously non-repairable parts using world-first technology will reduce overall repair times and repair costs.
‘It will also create real and significant export opportunities and has flow-on benefits for the environment by reducing land-fill,’ explains Mr Dimovski. Tradiebot will also deliver new future skills to the industry as more processes become automated.’
Swinburne will play a major role in the development of the Repair Bot project. ‘We will rely heavily on the Swinburne team to research, develop, document and problem-solve,’ explains Mr Dimovski.
‘This will be vital as we invent various aspects of this world-first automated system that will revolutionise repairs of plastic components.’
