UniSA's Industry 4.0 Testlab
The University of South Australia’s Industry 4.0 Testlab has been set up to demonstrate Industry 4.0 methodologies and practices and includes practical laboratory-based capabilities and a pilot scale manufacturing demonstration. The Testlab focuses on various sectors including defence, space, mining, electronics, agri-tech/food, medical/healthcare and automotive.
A key objective of the Testlab is engagement with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), introducing them to a broad range of Industry 4.0 strategies, methodologies and approaches. This includes demonstrating how these methods can be adopted by industry to enhance productivity, competitiveness and profitability. The Testlab provides local SMEs and high-tech start-ups with otherwise unattainable access to these smart factory technologies.
The Testlab is focused on three core areas in which we have world-class expertise:
Computer-aided design (CAD) and additive manufacturing
A suite of world-class 3D printing facilities unique in Australia, augmented by our existing world-class nanofabrication facilities.
Pilot scale manufacturing demonstration
An industrial scale manufacturing facility demonstrating how retrofitted sensors and internet connectivity can be used to create an Internet of Things and real-time decision-making capabilities.
Smart Coatings
A Thin Film Coatings facility within UniSA's Future Industries Institute providing post-production treatment to enhance the environmental performance or appearance of printed products.
Testlab Virtual Tour
The University of South Australia’s Industry 4.0 Testlab has developed a Virtual Tour to showcase our capabilities to potential industry partners (local and nationally) and students.
The Virtual Tour is a collection of 360-degree panoramic rotating images, “stitched” together to form a full, 360° view of the Testlab. The user will have full control over what they want to look at and can zoom in or out to enhance the scene they’re viewing. The Virtual Tour also has time-lapse videos of 3D printing which helps to understand the additive manufacturing process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file, and how it is built.
UniSA's Industry 4.0 Testlab Virtual Tour created by
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What is Industry 4.0?
The first three industrial revolutions: the steam engine; mass production; and automation, fundamentally changed society. Now, the digitisation and connectivity of systems are driving the fourth industrial revolution – Industry 4.0. The physical and digital worlds can now be linked into cyber-physical systems, and this digitisation of our world has enabled the evolution of new technologies such as digital twins, machine learning, 3D printing and virtual reality.
The industrial revolutions have driven and developed global economies. We are now well-positioned to embrace the opportunities presented by Industry 4.0 to enhance productivity, competitiveness and profitability.
The four industrial revolutions
INDUSTRY 1.0
- Mechanisation
- Steam power
- Weaving loom
INDUSTRY 2.0
- Mass production
- Assembly line
- Electrical energy
INDUSTRY 3.0
- Automation
- Computers
- Electronics
INDUSTRY 4.0
- Cyber physical systems
- Internet of Things
- Networks
The Industry 4.0 Testlab received grant funding from the Australian Government.
