TUNRA Bulk Solids, an Australian-owned-and-operated not-for-profit business specialising in bulk materials handling, consulting and research, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Bulk solids handling is a complex part of the industrial process when it comes to transporting any powder or granular materials.
However, according to Alan Roberts, the founder of The University of Newcastle Research Associates (TUNRA) Bulk Solids, often the understanding of bulk solids handling and associated problems are underestimated.
“I’m always saying that problems in industry are usually orders of magnitude more difficult than the level of research to solve them,” he said.
“There needs to be a lot more research to understand the particle-by-particle properties and how they relate to the bulk properties.”
Solving the industry’s issues
Roberts founded TUNRA Bulk Solids (TBS) in 1975 to facilitate research and consulting services in bulk materials handling.
The organisation was originally located in the University of Newcastle’s engineering building, with one staff member employed. It was here where the TUNRA Bulk Solids flow properties laboratories took shape and developed into a world-renowned facility.
“Our work has spanned everything from fine pharmaceutical powders to plastic powders, agricultural grains, domestic waste and minerals such as iron ore, bauxite and coal,” Roberts said.
Roberts, or Prof as he is affectionately known to the staff of the organisation he founded, has combined an academic career and the publication of seminal technical papers with an ability to solve complex industry problems.
He has been conducting research and consulting in bulk solids handling for more than 70 years and played an important part in introducing the scientific developments of bulk solids in 1964 based on the work of Andrew Jenike – who is often considered the originator of modern bulk solids flow theory.
From humble beginnings
Roberts began his engineering career with an apprenticeship at Cockatoo Docks starting in 1947 while studying a five-year part-time Diploma of Mechanical Engineering.
He was in invited to join the staff at Sydney Technical College as a technical officer to undertake laboratory development and associated research during the formative years of the new University of New South Wales. It was here that he completed a further three years of part time study to convert from the Diploma to a Bachelor of Engineering, graduating from the University of New South Wales in 1955.
In 1958, Roberts accepted an appointment as a lecturer at Wollongong University College (now University of Wollongong). He was awarded his PhD in 1961 from the University of NSW, and as part of his PhD work, submitted a paper entitled “The Performance of Grain Augers” to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK. The paper was refereed, accepted, published in the Institution’s proceedings and won a prestigious award as the best paper in its subject area in 1962.
In 1974 he was appointed as professor of industrial engineering and head of department of mechanical engineering at the University of Newcastle, soon after being appointed dean of the faculty of engineering, a position he held until his retirement in 1993.
Throughout his career, Roberts served on 25 university committees and has been involved with several nation-wide committees. Notably, he was involved with the institution of Engineers Australia and was responsible for the establishment of the National Committee of Bulk Materials Handling. He has also received several awards, including the AGM Michel Medal, the country’s highest award in mechanical engineering.
In 1992, he was awarded an AM (Member Order of Australia – general division) for services to mechanical engineering, particularly in bulk solids technology, research and education, and in 2010 he was awarded the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal, the highest Award of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.
While Roberts’ research career has been littered with milestones, in one significant instance his research into chute flow was published by the Institution of Engineers Australia in 1967 and he was awarded the medal for best paper.
“It was quite a fundamental paper because it laid the foundation for the modern approach to chute design, particularly the spoon shape used in conveyor transfers,” Roberts said.
Future focused
While performing his full-time duties as dean of the faculty of engineering, Roberts grew the consulting activities of TUNRA Bulk Solids.
Operating as a self-funded unit was important to Roberts, as it supported the teaching, student project work and research in bulk solids in the department of mechanical engineering at the University of Newcastle. TUNRA Bulk Solids achieved a major milestone in 1995 with the formation of the Key Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies, a combined centre in conjunction with the University of Newcastle and Wollongong.
The new body was funded by the Australian Research Council and continues to this day, complementing the consulting activities of TUNRA Bulk Solids. During his time at the University of Newcastle, Roberts helped drive bulk solids handling more firmly into the teaching curriculum. Along with his colleagues, he played an instrumental role in the establishment of both the industrial development centre building and the advanced technology centre, at the University of Newcastle.
He has presented and participated with his colleagues in numerous major national and international conferences, and, in 1983, he convened the first International Conference on Bulk Materials Handling in Newcastle. Most importantly, Roberts has developed, guided and led a team of experts at TUNRA Bulk Solids who continue to be at the forefront of the materials handling industry.
TUNRA Bulk Solids has a global reputation known for cutting edge research, laboratory testing and industry consulting. With thousands of projects delivered to industry both domestically and internationally, it has shaped sectors like mining, power generation, and agriculture. TUNRA Bulk Solids has a highly qualified and committed team of engineers, technicians and consultants available to assist industry overcome existing handling problems and design new systems to guarantee trouble-free plant operation.