Media Release
25 August 2015
TRANSURBAN ANNOUNCES FIRST INNOVATION GRANT RECIPIENT
Transurban has today announced the first recipient of its Innovation Grants Program, awarding a
$100,000 grant to a team led by Dr Thomas Fiedler from the University of Newcastle to develop a revolutionary material for road safety barriers.
The material being developed is a metallic foam that is strong, light and highly absorbent with the ability to cushion collision impacts.
Dr Fiedler said the compact and absorbent nature of the material differed from existing barrier systems which were designed to buckle when impacted and required large amounts of space.
IMAGE: Dr Fiedler works with the "metallic foam" he will incorporate
into a prototype for a new type of road safety barrier.
"We will use the Transurban grant to modify the material for use in roadside barriers, develop prototypes in our lab and test them with state-of-the-art equipment," Dr Fiedler said.
"We expect the barriers will reduce the impact of crashes; so when placed in critical locations they will noticeably improve safety for road users."
Transurban CEO Scott Charlton said the project exemplified the purpose of the grants program which was designed to support the research and development of ideas that advance road technology, systems and safety.
"At Transurban 'ingenuity' is one of our core values and we constantly look for new ways to improve our road networks and operations," Mr Charlton said.
Transurban International Limited
ABN 90 121 746 825
Transurban Holdings Limited
ABN 86 098 143 429
Transurban Holding Trust
ABN 30 169 362 255
ARSN 098 807 419 corporate@transurban.com
transurban.com
Level 23
Tower One, Collins Square
727 Collins Street
Melbourne
Vic 3008 Australia
Telephone +613 8656 8900
Facsimile +613 9649 7380
Level 9
1 Chifley Square
Sydney
NSW 2000 Australia
Telephone +612 9254 4900
Facsimile +612 9254 4990
Brisbane Technology Park
7 Brandl Street Eight Mile Plains Queensland 4113
Telephone +617 3323 0100
Facsimile +617 3423 3089
Media Release
"The Innovation Grants Program is a natural extension of our approach and provides a way for us to engage with world-class researchers and organisations to develop ideas that could lead to advancements in our industry.
"We are delighted to be partnering with Dr Fiedler's team and the University of Newcastle to develop a high-performing, low-cost barrier alternative that could produce tangible safety results across road networks."
More information about the program is available on the Transurban website:
transurban.com/innovation_grants
ENDS
Transurban International Limited
ABN 90 121 746 825
Transurban Holdings Limited
ABN 86 098 143 429
Transurban Holding Trust
ABN 30 169 362 255
ARSN 098 807 419 corporate@transurban.com
transurban.com
Level 23
Tower One, Collins Square
727 Collins Street
Melbourne
Vic 3008 Australia
Telephone +613 8656 8900
Facsimile +613 9649 7380
Level 9
1 Chifley Square
Sydney
NSW 2000 Australia
Telephone +612 9254 4900
Facsimile +612 9254 4990
Brisbane Technology Park
7 Brandl Street Eight Mile Plains Queensland 4113
Telephone +617 3323 0100
Facsimile +617 3423 3089
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