Applied Research of Australia (AROA) Ltd

About

Applied Research of Australia (AROA) was incorporated in December 1967 by a group of Ex-Department of Defence scientists, headed by Peter J. Hastwell. The group had a vision to build an organization that could assist businesses bring their research projects into technical and commercial reality � something which they were unable to do within the confines of government employment.

During the 1970s AROA focused it�s research efforts on electrostatic colour reproduction, xeroradiography and high density optical recording, resulting in AROA expanding into the design and construction of a high resolution electrophotography machine as well as liquid electrostatic toners.

Throughout this period AROA was instrumental in the development of the Nashua 1220, one of the most successful electrostatic plain paper copiers ever designed. The Nashua 1220 registered over one billion dollars in sales per annum between 1976 and 1979. Following it�s success in the reproduction field the business extended its research to materials science and, in particular, continuous filament composite development. By the mid 1980s AROA had developed tape and filament wound tubes suitable for telescopic pneumatic applications. At this time AROA developed the technology for the production of light weight filament wound composite vessels for high pressure compressed natural gas storage.

During these early days, while conducting research in the materials science field, AROA developed numerous adhesive systems for plastics, plastic/metal, plastic/glass and fibre reinforced plastic composites. These include Liquid Electrophoretic and �Dip & Spin� coating systems. It was out of this research that the �Like Armour� product evolved, a lacquer for application to copper and brass products.