First introduced in 1987, Starline Track Busway today claims to be the industry-leading electrical power distribution system for the data centre, retail, industrial and higher education markets. The UK division of its manufacturer, Universal Electric Corporation (UEC), moved into a new 60,000 sq ft factory in Reading over 12 months ago to support the European customer base.

Clive Larke, quality director at the facility, says: “As part of the global strategy, we wanted to produce mirror image labs on this side of the Atlantic, the US and in our other hub in Asia. We control all three labs from this hub here in Reading.”
Tasked with implementing a standardised measurement facility on three different continents, Larke approached Mitutoyo.
Mitutoyo’s southern area technical sales engineer, Trevor Stubbs, takes up the story: “Initially, Clive brought a number of parts to our Andover headquarters, where we conducted extensive testing, trials and conformance reporting. From this, we recommended the Crysta Apex 574 three-axis CMM, the Quick Vision Active QVL-404 two-axis vision measuring machine, the Quick Image QI A2010 image recognition and measuring system, the LH600E height gauge, a selection of hand tools, a granite table, and a number of other ancillary products.
“Much to our surprise, Clive didn’t only order the equipment for the Reading facility, he also placed an order for the Singapore and US sites,” adds Stubbs. “By mirroring the Mitutoyo equipment specified for the Reading site, the company can ensure complete uniformity across all its manufacturing facilities.”
The Crysta Apex CMM is used by the firm for measuring critical dimensions, as well as the dimensions on mating parts that require an optimal fit.
For further information www.mitutoyo.co.uk

Inspection and reverse-engineering capacity has doubled in terms of throughput, while the size of component that can be measured has increased more than five-fold at Laser Scanning Ltd, based near Sheffield, following the installation of a second, larger CMM built by LK Metrology.

The latest LK 20.12.10 ceramic-bridge CMM with 2,000 by 1,200 by 1,000 mm working volume has joined a smaller 8.7.6 model.
The purchase of the larger CMM was prompted by the receipt from Derby-based JCB Power Systems of a contract to assist with the quality control of cylinder blocks and heads for the engines that power the OEM’s off-road vehicles. JCB has its own LK machine equipped with a touch probe that serves the production line in Derby. Laser Scanning assists by providing measurement and inspection of goods-in to the plant, where it has a QC engineer permanently stationed.
In addition, the Chapeltown facility helps out with preparing CMM programs and proving them out, as well as inspecting prototypes to support JCB’s R&D department.
While the engine plant does have laser-scanning capability on an articulated arm, the level of detail that can be acquired is less, as its scanning resolution is 23 µm, much lower than the best CMM-mounted scanner in use at Laser Scanning.
Managing director Johnathan Rigby says: “By working with JCB’s inspection department and R&D team we’ve been able to free up our customer’s machine to concentrate on production QC. They also appreciate the greater detail we’re able to provide for new prototypes, as laser scanning allows us to show them the form of a component, as well as supply measurement data.”
For further information www.lkmetrology.com

RPI UK, a specialist in rotary measurement, has installed the first of two integrated rotor measurement and assembly platforms (iMAPs) at a major aero-engine MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) facility.

Jim Palmer, RPI’s sales manager, says: “It’s great news that both the OEM and their approved MRO facility are choosing to invest in iMAP, which has been independently verified to give significant operational improvements over traditional measurement methods. With world-class accuracy, our iMAP machine achieves higher levels of quality, while helping customers save money and resources by reducing inspection times and the need for costly rotor tear-downs due to inefficient rotor assembly optimisation.”
iMAP is proven to reduce inspection times by 90%, and improve gauge repeatability and reproducibility by up to 10 times. The technology is used by the MRO facility after the engines are dismantled, to inspect each individual section for cracks, wear and distortion. Measurements are taken by iMAP’s data acquisition software AccuScan, to check that the geometry of components meets original and regional board specifications as part of the stringent MRO process.
After the components have been approved, repaired or replaced, the iMAP is used for engine assembly to ensure alignment and concentricity are correct and balanced as each section is rebuilt.
AccuScan enables the measurement of up to 4000 data points on up to eight surfaces simultaneously, per revolution, thereby reducing process times to just two minutes. The improved inspection data is then used by the rotor stacking software to solve the mathematical problem of optimising the assembly of a multi-stage rotor to achieve minimum runout or unbalance. This technology is fundamental to ensuring the operational quality of an engine entering back into service, for optimal reduction in vibration, greater fuel efficiency and longer service intervals.
For further information www.rpiuk.com

The Carfulan Group has for the second year running been selected to appear in the London Stock Exchange’s ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ report, a publication that celebrates the nation’s most outstanding SME businesses. To make the cut, companies are required to show consistent revenue growth over a minimum of three years, significantly outperforming their industry peers.

Comprising OGP UK, SYS Systems, Zoller UK and ViciVision UK, the Carfulan Group provides a range of manufacturing-related technologies and employs around 50 people, a staffing increase of 400% since 2002. With more than 1500 machine supplied to the UK market, in excess of 700 customers and a turnover approaching £15m, the group specialises in multi-sensor inspection equipment, 3D-printing technology, tool pre-setting and inspection devices, and turned-part measurement solutions.
Chris Fulton, Carfulan Group’s managing director, says: “Demand and confidence in UK manufacturing continues to grow, and our intuitive products are helping businesses to move smoothly towards Industry 4.0, a new era of interconnectivity, automation and self-monitoring that will deliver smoother processes and more productive smart factories.
“In the past 18 months we’ve redoubled our efforts to reach out to new markets at industry shows, hosted our first ever ‘pop-up’ technology event in London, achieved ISO 9001:2015 accreditation across all companies and held the inaugural ‘Manufacturing Performance Network’ at our headquarters in Foston, attracting scores of engineering professionals from across the UK,” he adds.
David Schwimmer, CEO at London Stock Exchange Group, says: “SMEs drive growth, innovation and job creation, and are the lifeblood of the British economy. We believe that supporting the growth of these businesses is critical to the UK economy and the creation of a society that works for everyone.”
For further information www.carfulan.com

William Hughes, a spring, wire-form and assembly specialist, has expanded its range of services for the manufacturing industry with the acquisition of Liskeard-based JK Metrology & Quality Services.

JK Metrology is an established metrology and quality consultancy that is accredited to ISO 17027 and ISO 9000. The company also offers a UKAS calibration service in line with ISO 17025.
“The acquisition will be of particular interest to our many customers involved in the manufacture of high-specification, high-precision components, where accurate measurement is key to their success,” says Max Hughes, managing director at William Hughes. “By investing resources and people into this established and well respected business, we will be able to offer a range of benefits for customers, including a reduced turnaround time.”
With a worldwide portfolio of customers, JK Metrology is one of only three UK laboratories offering UKAS calibration of gauge blocks by interferometry (Class A). Interferometry is the highest level of accuracy for length measurement, and JK Metrology can measure items up to 1 m long at 20°C ±0.05°C.
The company is also a supplier of metrology equipment, from micrometers and gauge blocks, to CMMs. In addition, JK Metrology continues to supply and service the metrology equipment previously manufactured by Select Gauges Ltd, following its closure.
Says Hughes: “We’re delighted to announce that John Kelly, a director of JK Metrology for many years, following a long career in the world of gauge calibration, will transfer to William Hughes. Here, his range of contacts, depth of experience and wealth of knowledge will be a valuable asset in the integration of the business.”
For further information www.wmhughes.co.uk