The document summarizes a collaboration between Wagners CFT and the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) to develop and commercialize fiber composite materials and structures for infrastructure applications. Their partnership began in the early 2000s and resulted in Australia's first fiber composite bridge in 2002. Since then, they have worked together on numerous projects, with USQ providing research, testing, and expertise to help Wagners evolve these technologies into viable commercial alternatives. Their collaboration involves product development through testing at USQ, USQ providing independent oversight and advice to buyers of Wagners' products, and jointly promoting the technologies internationally. The partnership has been successful in innovating infrastructure solutions using composites.

1. Collaborate to Innovate
Wagners CFT – USQ success story
Prof Thiru Aravinthan CPEng (Aus), PE (USA)
Director, Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites
University of Southern Queensland
Michael Kemp
General Manager, Engineering + Business Development,
Wagners CFT

2. Our story…
• R&D of composite materials and structures by Wagners CFT in the last two
decades have paved way to commercial successes in infrastructure.
• Pioneering work done in collaboration with USQ resulted in the first Australian
fibre composite bridge installed in 2002.
• Since then, numerous projects involving innovative design and structural
concepts using composites for infrastructure applications have been developed.
• Through close involvement with USQ, these technologies have evolved to
become viable commercial alternatives to traditional structural solutions.

3. Contents
• USQ / CEEFC Overview
• Wagners Overview
• FRP Materials – a Necessary Innovation
• Wagners and USQ Collaboration
– Development – research and Testing
– Act as Buyers Representative
– Development of Design Rules and Guidelines
– Promotion of Technologies - Internationally

4. CEEFC at USQ provides
Through its multidisciplinary staff:
■ Collaborative R&D with industry
■ Research training at different levels
■ Consultancy and testing services through structural
and polymer testing

5. Wagners Overview
• Concrete
• Quarries
• Transport

6. Wagners Overview
• First greenfield public airport built since
Tullamarine over 47 years ago
• First privately built public airport in
Australia
• Available for regular passenger services
(RPT)
• Runway 2.87km long x 45m wide (Code E)
• Ideally located to service the Brisbane
West through to the Darling Downs and
Surat Basin

7. Wagners - Innovation
• Composite
Fibre
Technologies
• Earth Friendly
Concrete

8. • First Project 2000
• Wagners CFT Incorporated
2002
• CFT in 2013
– Approx 150 employees
– 25 Engineering / Technical Staff
– 24 / 7 Factory Production
– Prefabricated Composite
elements supplied to every state
of Australia
– Crossarms Supplied to Asia
– Road Bridges supplied to USA
Wagners CFT overview

9. Pultruded Sections
Wagners methodology is to produce modular building components
from which products for Civil Industry can be manufactured.
• 100x75x5 SHS
• 100x100x5 SHS
• 125x125x6.5 SHS
• 300x6 Flat
• 300x24 Flat

10. Wagners CFT overview
■ xxx
■ xxxxx
■ xxx

15. Wagners / USQ Collaboration
• Three main ways we have worked together
– Product Development Partners
• USQ provide facilities and expertise to Wagners
– USQ acts as Expert Advisor to Asset Owners
• No codes for Composites – USQ trusted to monitor
production / provide independent advice
– Promotion of Technologies
• Attendance at International Conferences

16. Product Development Partners
• Material Characterisation
– In development of Material Properties for Design USQ’s
Structural testing facilities and expertise ensured
testing completed in time with meaningful results
• Proof Testing of Products

17. Wagners / USQ Collaboration
• Acting as Clients Representative
• First Bridge in Road Network in
Australia
– RMS contracted Wagners to
deliver bridge
– RMS contracted USQ to perform
independent inspections on
Wagners fabrication process to
ensure Quality Requirements
were met.
– Great Result – 10 Years later the
bridge is performing
equivalently to the day it was
installed.

18. Acting as Buyers Representative
• Freshwater Apartments
Newstead
– Brisbane CC approached
USQ for advice on
suitability of FRP
Materials
– USQ provided expert
advice that the
technology was ready for
such a project
– Great Results for USQ /
Wagners and BCC

19. Promotion of Technologies
• USQ/CEEFC participates in a large
number of conferences and
highlights the R&D on an
international scale
• CEEFC represents Australia on
International societies of subject
matter experts
• From a Conference in August
2014 Wagners has two new
project opportunities in Germany
and the USA as a result.

20. Concluding Remarks
• Australia has proven the potential of wide range of innovative
applications of fibre composites in infrastructure
• The business strategy and marketing are key factors for a
successful enterprise and meaningful R+D activities
• Need to ‘think outside the square’
• Partnerships like composites are important for a successful
R&D to commercialisation outcome
• Collaboration to Innovate is a key to our success…

21. Michael Kemp
Michael.Kemp@wagner.com.au
+61(0)7 4637 7755
Prof Thiru Aravinthan
Thiru.Aravinthan@usq.edu.au
+619(0) 7 4631 1385