Research & Innovation
In parallel with commercial contract research and consulting activities, TBS provides a mechanism for technology transfer by research output and ensuring the expertise gained is widely disseminated and utilised by industry world wide.
The strength of TBS lies in its links with the Discipline of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia. The School of Engineering is a strong research intensive school and is recognised as one of the top engineering schools in Australia.
Its research excellence is demonstrated by having achieved a top rating of 5 (well above world standard) for Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy and Civil and Mechanical Engineering in the Australian Research Council 2012 research excellence ratings.
The School was recognised by the Australian Research Council as a dedicated Key Centre for Teaching and Research in 1995, one of only seven awarded nationally from more than 90 applications.
The Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies (CBSPT) was created and funded for a six year period as a collaboration between the University of Newcastle and the University of Wollongong. CBSPT quickly became a world leader in applied and fundamental bulk solids handling research, allowing its continued operation on a self-funded basis.
In effect, the CBSPT is the research arm and TUNRA Bulk Solids is the commercial consulting arm of the combined bulk solids activities. Surpluses generated by the commercial work contribute to the University’s research efforts by funding PhD students, post-doctoral research fellows and research infrastructure.
Approximately one quarter of TBS’s yearly turnover is invested in bulk solids handling research through the direct funding of staff, infrastructure and in-kind contributions. The research-intensive environment of TBS also assists in generating significant research grants through the University via external bodies such as AMIRA International, the Australian Coal Association Research Program and the Australian Research Council.
