Hot wheels: Federal MPs Darren Cheeseman, Mark Dreyfus and Richard Marles join Carbon Revolution’s Jake Dingle to unveil the new Geelong-designed wheel.
By John Van Klaveren
A HIGH-TECH manufacturing facility for the world’s first carbon fibre wheel will create up to 200 jobs in Geelong, a company has announced.
Carbon Revolution said it expected to produce 250,000 wheels a year, with further plans to expand to two million units annually.
Carbon Revolution unveiled its one-piece CR9 carbon fibre wheel at Geelong Technology Precinct this week.
Carbon Revolution chief executive Jake Dingle said the $40 million full-size facility was part of the company’s long-term plans.
Most of the planned production would be exported, with the US the first major market, he said.
“We’ll be targeting high volumes and to a mass market. We’re in active discussions with large number of automotive manufacturers at the moment,” Mr Dingle said.
“Carbon Revolution also has a number of other carbon fibre wheel products under development, targeting the industrial and commercial vehicle and aerospace markets.
“The aerospace market particularly has opportunities for aircraft where weight saving is even more valuable than for cars.”
Mr Dingle said Carbon Revolution would first develop a low-volume pilot production line in Geelong Technology Precinct, at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus.
The company developed the technology in close association with Deakin, he said.
Mr Dingle’s brother, Matt, an ex-Deakin engineering student and staff member, was the company’s founder and head of technology development.
He said the pilot line would produce “several thousand” units a year to demonstrate the process and its viability.
“The pilot line is already capitalised. We’re looking at further private investment, support though government programs and it could be a listable venture .”
Mr Dingle said initial sales would focus on the high-end sports car market to underwrite the company’s investment.
The world’s fastest sports car, the 440 kmh Shelby Tuatara, is fitted with CR9 wheels.
Federal parliamentary secretary for industry and innovation Mark Dreyfuss said a $1.8 million grant from a Car Plan for a Greener Future program supported CR9’s development.
“This is a good news story for Geelong and Australia,” Mr Dreyfuss said.
The carbon fibre wheel is about half the weight and three times the strength of conventional metal wheels.
The company said the weight reduction resulted in efficiency gains and a three to eight per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
