ATL Composites is proud to partner with several Australian university motor sport teams in their design and construction of vehicles to compete in the annual Formula SAE Australasia – the global student design competition where university teams design, build, and race small, open-wheeled formula-style race cars.
Held at Calder Park Raceway, Calder Park, Victoria, 11 to 14 December 2025, the event is organised by SAE International to encourage hands-on engineering experience, project management and teamwork, preparing students for careers in the automotive, industrial design and engineering industries.
The competition attracts between 25 and 30 teams from all over Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.
ATL supplies product and support to uni teams including QUT, UQ, Griffith, Monash, University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University.
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Motorsport is a student-run motorsport team that designs, engineers, builds and markets a single seat electric and autonomous race car each year for the Formula SAE-A competition.
Working as the Mechanical Manager on the QUT Team comprising students studying Engineering, Industrial Design and Business, Austin Ingleson is a Mechanical Engineer with an interest in Aerodynamics and Composites for motorsport applications, undertaking a double degree in Mechanical Engineering and Business Finance.
As Austin explains, each year’s design must vary significantly from the previous. “That means a different layout and methodology to make it stronger, stiffer and hopefully lighter. Aerodynamics is an important factor, and we’ve designed the vehicle with a big front wing.”
The open wheel race car is 2.5-metres long and 1.5-metres wide and will run using an electric engine imported from Fischer in Germany.
Working with the team at ATL Composites, the QUT team is using R118 resin and H126 hardener, and PrimeTex 200gsm Twill Weave, which Austin states leaves less room for resin to dimple when it’s setting, for a really nice finish.
“We love using the ATL products and appreciate Justin’s advice whenever we need it. We have used other brands, but the quality difference is so huge. ATL products are easy to work with and dry to a clear finish. This year we’re using a porous mesh that allows slower infusion around the outlets so we are able to create more complex geometries.”
More than a fun design challenge and exhilarating race experience, Formula SAE is brilliant hands-on experience, according to Austin.
“We work with real manufacturers and suppliers and we’re able to put theory into practice. It’s genuine real-world experience, which is vital.”
At Griffith University, Toby Cooper leads the Griffith Racing Team (GRT) composed of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering students whose expertise is complemented by Film & Media and Graphic Design colleagues who share a love of cars and manage the business side of operations.
“It’s really important to have different disciplines involved,” Toby states. “Not just for the different technical strengths, but looking at problems from a different perspective which is helpful.”
GRT has an impressive record of achievement in the past few years, including third overall in 2019, and a couple of wins in individual events.
This year, the GRT is building a vehicle to compete in the combustion engine category. “It’s fun to change it every now and then,” Toby states.
“We’re using an engine from a Yamaha R6 sports bike, and it’s pretty well optimised for low emissions. Of the 30 or so teams in the Australasian competition, the majority are electric. But the international competitions still use combustion engines, so we can compare our scores against theirs.”
The as yet, un-named carbon fibre vehicle was designed with wings on the front and back, and is shaping up well, according to Toby.
“I think we’re using the entire ATL catalogue,” he jokes.
“We’re using ATL carbon fibre reinforcement, KINETIX resin, Technirez on the moulds and for pattern making, and Duratec, which we especially love! It sprays on moulds so easily it makes me look like a pro!”
As Toby reports, ATL products provide a distinct edge over their competitors. “I’ve done a lot of composites courses and have used a variety of products, and ATL products are consistently high quality.”
At the University of Queensland, Magnus Blums, UQ Racing, Business Lead and Vehicle Dynamics Engineer, reports that his team is “the highest ranked Australian EV team in the world rankings for the second year in a row”.
“While never winning FSAE-A outright, we’ve consistently podiumed and placed in the top 5. In 2024 we won the Endurance and Cost events, demonstrating the outright pace of our hub-motor concept.
“We built a ground-up platform for our Autonomous testing in 2024, and are focusing on our first-ever driverless trackdrive at competition in 2025.”
This year they will compete in the Electric and Autonomous categories, with two separate cars (E42 and A48).
“Our 2025 EV is our first-ever 4WD car, with independent hub motors for each driven wheel,” he continues.
“We’ve completely redeveloped our traction control and torque vectoring systems to make the best use of the powertrain in both corners and in a straight line. We have always had one of the lightest cars at competition, and we expect this year to be no different.”
UQR uses ATL Composites’ high-quality dry fibres, consumables and films for their composite manufacturing, according to Magnus.
“We’ve begun infusing many of our composite parts, and ATL’s infusion flow mesh and spiral tube products have been perfect as we develop our manufacturing processes. We also use products from the Diab and Kinetix ranges.”
Advice and support from Justin have been gratefully received, he attests.
“We’re grateful to work have his expertise to draw on. Over past years it’s been invaluable to have his advice on selecting gelcoats and resin systems for our tooling, and how to best use ATL’s products.
“We’ve noted that, compared to other major suppliers, ATL’s products have performed consistently and reliably, which is hugely important for a student team developing our composite skills. Combined with the clear datasheets, instructions and support from Justin and the ATL team make their products a clear choice for our team.”
In Melbourne, Monash Motorsport is one of the country’s longest standing university Formula SAE teams, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and holds an impressive record at the annual competition, including overall winner of the EV category in 2024.
Oliver Levy, fourth year Mechanical Engineering student at Monash University, is in charge of composite design for their entry’s aerodynamics package.
There are around 100 members on the team, all contributing to the design and construction of the fully-electric car they will race this year. Called “M25” in honour of the team’s 25 years, the vehicle is a full re-design on last year’s model.
“It’s always tricky getting a new car going,” admits Oliver. “But we’re confident it will perform well at Calder Park in December.”
Their M25 features a full carbon fibre monocoque, custom in-hub motors and gearboxes, and complex suspension at the front and rear. A complete aerodynamics package is also made for the car featuring a front wing, side pods and a rear wing. Four students from the team are nominated to drive in the competition.
Aerodynamic performance and solid construction are everything when we’re designing the package, explains Oliver.
“It has to be lightweight, stiff and strong. But most importantly, the car must pass all the technical rules before we can even race, including deflection testing of the wings.”
The Monash team uses ATL’s Divinycell H60 foam core and ZW200 200gsm carbon fibre fabric across the package for their superior properties.
“It’s a nice, pliable fabric to work with and has a great weave closure factor. We use a thin 2-ply laminate for our wing surfaces, so it’s stiff and durable enough to work really well.”
The technical team at ATL Composites has been extremely helpful, Oliver continues. “They’ve been available for support and advice on how their complete range of products can suit our needs.”
The 2025 Formula SAE-A will be held 11 to 14 December at Calder Park Raceway, Calder Park, Victoria.
saea.com.au/fsaea-2025
ATL Composites will exhibit with joint venture partners M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel as vdL Composites GmbH at the 37th Metstrade Show, running 18 to 20 November 2025 in Amsterdam.
Known as the “one-stop-shop” and meeting place for the global leisure marine industry, Metstrade is the world’s largest B2B marine event.
This year, the event will showcase 1,600+ exhibiting companies and fill all 13 Halls of the Rai for the first time.
For 13 years ATL Composites and M.u.H. von der Linden have exhibited as vdL Composites GmbH and have worked together to supply customers across Europe in a range of different industries.
At Metstrade 2025 we will present the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight composite panel range which are lightweight construction solutions relied upon by Europe’s leading boat builders, architects, builders and commercial designers.
Also on show will be the COOSA panel system – fibreglass-reinforced polyurethane foam panels suitable for boat and caravan construction. COOSA can be easily machined like plywood and can be used for structural parts that need to be bolted or screwed, such as decks and transoms. It is a high-density core that doesn’t rot or compress, and you can bolt right through it.
With superior rigidity, at a fraction of the weight of plywood, depending on the location, it doesn’t need to be laminated to seal the underneath or top. It can simply be taped into position, saving on time as well as making the job easier.
ATL Composites Australia and vdL Composites in Germany have also incorporated DuFLEX Coosa-cored panels into the DuFLEX Composite Panel range to offer customers a choice of pre-laminated panels, through to CNC-routed kits, for specific applications like stringers in marine applications and flooring in transportation projects. The CNC Kits reduce waste and labour in these projects.
ATL Composites Director, Lorraine Duckworth, is looking forward to attending METS 2025 to meet with customers and experience the show’s full spectrum of new marine technology and materials.
“Metstrade is, and has always been, an important event for us each year,” stated Lorraine.
“We are always impressed by the innovative products on show and the level of ingenuity of exhibitors to create and produce problem solving solutions for the marine industry.”
Helge von der Linden General Manager of MuH von der Linden GmbH and also partner in vdL Composites GmbH added, “Since 1995, we have exhibited at Metstrade as M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH, visiting the show to meet existing clients and introduce our products to new customers,” he said.
“Every year, we enjoy seeing the innovative products and meeting our customers to catch up on their projects and present solutions that bring their visions to life.”
The vdL Composites stand will be located in hall 11 stand 11.410.
duflex.com.au
vonderlinden.de
atlcomposites.com
Hand-crafted by Cole
A timber craftsman since the age of 16 and head of his own company from 19, Christian Cole specialises in bespoke furniture and architectural joinery made from 100 percent recycled wood and timber sourced from sustainable commercial plantations. His clientele includes interior designers, homeowners and for the past 12 years, many of the contestants on The Block.
Here, Christian reveals his pathway to working on the hit TV series and how ATL Composites’ range of products add lustre and longevity to every hand-crafted item he creates.
How did the partnership with The Block come about?
It actually started over 12 years ago. A fellow furniture maker had been approached by Maddi and Jarrod, contestants on Season 7 back in 2013, to supply a piece for their room. He wasn’t keen on taking it on, so he rang me to see if I could help. I got in touch with the contestants and, well, the rest is history. We’ve been involved with the show every year since.
How is your furniture used in the show?
Our pieces usually end up in the contestants’ rooms. Most often, it’s dining tables, but over the years we’ve also made hall tables, bedside tables, and even a couple of kitchen island bars.
Have you had to expand your workshop or team to keep up with demand?
Not so much expand, but it does mean a lot of juggling. The timelines are always short, so I often end up working long hours – early mornings and late nights – to make it happen. You do get attached to the contestants and want to help them finish in time for those big Sunday reveals.
What pieces are the most popular?
Dining tables, hands down. People love them in every size, style, and timber.
Any one-off commissions or memorable pieces?
Plenty! Most of my work is custom designed for individual homes, often very large family homes. I’ve also made pieces for celebrities, churches, universities, large commercial buildings and some beautiful country estates, which is always a bit special.
What are the hallmarks of your furniture?
Size is a big one. Our dining tables are often on the larger side. A lot of them are made from a single slab of timber, which gives them real presence. And I still use traditional joinery methods, which I think is key to making sure each piece lasts for generations.
What ATL products do you use and why?
I use ATL’s WEST SYSTEM epoxy resin in almost every project. The WEST SYSTEM range is brilliant for bringing timber to life. It stabilises natural cracks and voids, but more than that, it enhances the grain and adds real depth and character to the piece.
Customers love that combination of raw, organic beauty with a polished, high-end finish. ATL’s products give me absolute peace of mind because the company is reliable, easy to work with, and give me the assurance that my craftsmanship is backed by materials that perform at the highest standard. For me, it’s about trust; I know ATL’s products will do justice to the timber and the hours I put into each piece.
What’s next for CC Furniture? Any exhibitions or new showrooms?
At the moment, no. We’ve built up a strong following, and I’m kept flat out just keeping up with the demand for bespoke pieces. Expanding or exhibiting isn’t on the cards right now—I’m just focused on creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind furniture for my clients.
Eighteen months of construction are drawing to a close at Mahi Boats on the full-custom Schionning 1520 Solitaire performance catamaran, Evening Star.
The owners chose the 15.25-metre Schionning design for its spacious proportions, generous accommodation, and proven cruising pedigree — ideal for a liveaboard lifestyle and extended bluewater passages.
Based at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, Dan Williams and his team of shipwrights, naval architects, and composite specialists have overseen the project from the outset.
“We’ve taken a good design and made it brilliant,” said Dan.
“There were a lot of changes as the boat came together and we were able to accommodate them because of the 3D modelling we used to render the details, and a 4-axis CNC router to create custom one-off moulds.”
At the heart of Evening Star’s success lies ATL Composites’ DuFLEX® panel system — a product that embodies the ATL DNA of innovation, performance, and precision engineering.
“Crucial to the strength, lightweight and integrity of the boat — and our ability to meet custom requirements — is the DuFLEX® panel system, cut to order at ATL Composites,” Dan explained.
“It saved us a lot of time and ensured consistent quality. Everything fits together perfectly, and to get the curves to match up is incredible!”
DuFLEX® — Local Innovation with Global Performance
Manufactured in Australia by ATL Composites, DuFLEX® is the only Australian-made pre-laminated composite panel system with over 25 years of proven application history. This local production advantage means shorter lead times, greater project adaptability, and guaranteed consistency compared to imported alternatives — a cornerstone of ATL’s Australian-made innovation.
Each DuFLEX® panel is engineered as part of ATL’s complete end-to-end composite ecosystem — pairing seamlessly with Techniglue®, Kinetix® resin systems, and vacuum bagging consumables for turnkey builds. The integration of ATL’s own Kinetix® resin formulations provides unmatched adhesion, fatigue resistance, and chemical compatibility — performance attributes that define the company’s in-house advantage.
This reflects a key ATL differentiation pillar: formulation control. Every ATL product, from resin to adhesive, is developed and manufactured by ATL’s in-house team of chemists and engineers — ensuring superior compatibility across systems and a quality standard trusted for decades.
Sustainability in Practice
The Evening Star build also reflects ATL’s growing focus on sustainability — a core brand pillar driving product innovation.
By manufacturing locally and utilising low-waste production processes, ATL significantly reduces embodied energy in its composite solutions. Ongoing R&D programs are also exploring bio-based resins, PET cores, and recyclable composite technologies, ensuring that performance and environmental responsibility advance together.
Precision and Reliability
To ensure precise assembly, Mahi Boats used ATL’s Z-Press system, which applies heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on Z-Joints. These joins cure in as little as seven to 20 minutes depending on temperature, delivering accuracy, efficiency, and reduced build time.
Other ATL products used on the Evening Star project include Divinycell Structural Foam, KINETIX® R246TX Thixotropic Laminating Epoxy, WEST SYSTEM® 105 resin, and TECHNIGLUE® R60 Structural Adhesive in convenient cartridge form, along with TECHNIFILL® R1160 Fairing Compound.
A Showcase of the ATL Ethos
“The DuFLEX® system supported a fast, precise, and high-quality outcome,” Dan said. “It really showcases how well flat panel construction works when done right. We’d love to build another one — we’ve got the tools, the team, and the expertise ready to go.”
Evening Star stands as a powerful example of the ATL DNA in action — innovation through chemistry, precision through engineering, and reliability through local manufacturing. It’s this integrated approach that has positioned ATL Composites as Australia’s leader in advanced composite solutions for over 45 years.
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