The latest trends in stamping technology and networking in the industry were the focus of the 13th Stamping Technology Congress in Dortmund , Germany , organised by KIST e . V . and the utg . Representatives from industry and research met for lectures , discussions and exchanges on current topics in stamping technology from 17-18 April 2023 . Two well received contributions provided particular impetus .

Lectures at the conference focused on new stamping research and work ; electromobility ( manufacturing new components for the automotive industry ); smart tooling ; human resources and networked processes ( planning , simulation and monitoring ). Innovations , application examples and scientific findings were presented in 13 specialist lectures . The panel discussion topic was “ New Work - New Working Worlds .”

Established in 1963 , LK Metrology has an impressive heritage dating back to the birth of coordinate measuring machine ( CMM ) technology . Founded by former Rolls Royce engineer and CMM pioneer , Norman Key , and his father-in-law Jim Lowther , the company is credited with many innovations in the CMM industry .

“ In 1972 , in partnership with Rolls-Royce , Mr Key worked alongside the person who would co-found Renishaw a year later , Sir David McMurtry , to develop the Renishaw touch-trigger probe . Other industry firsts accredited to LK include successive introductions to the market of the bridgetype CMM ; inspection software ; the use of air bearings and granite guideways ; microprocessor-controlled drive systems ; true thermal stability of the measuring platform and a high-accuracy horizontal-spindle CMM ,” the company told ISMR .

With its headquarters , product development and CMM manufacturing facility in Castle Donington , UK , the company is headed by owner and CEO , Angelo Muscarella ( whose ASF Metrology group bought the company in 2018 ). It not only manufactures CMMs but has also added to its product portfolio a range of FREEDOM branded portable measuring arms and various metrology accessories . They include a new range of laser scanners , a surface roughness probe , stylus cleaning and sensor changing equipment , an indexing table and a checking gauge for CMM calibration . First written in 1977 , LK ’ s CAMIO measurement , programming , analysis and reporting software is continuously enhanced , with the new CAMIO 2023 revision due in July .

Last year , LK USA was awarded a large contract to supply 35 new CMM cells to a new aerospace manufacturing facility , with installation of all systems due for completion by December 2023 . The supplier is also experiencing a resurgence in CMM retrofit enquiries and has added a dedicated technical product specialist to focus on this area . To support contract inspection services , the technology and demonstration centre in New Hudson has been expanded by 21,000 square feet to accommodate a total of six CMMs and two FREEDOM portable arms .

At the UK headquarters , the customer demonstration area , training facilities and factory were all extensively refurbished in 2022 . A new engineering research team was put in place and the company was accredited

“ Focal points of the discussion among representatives of industry and associations included recruiting employees when there is a shortage of skilled workers , future-oriented working models and employee motivation in every phase of life ,” said the conference organiser .

The event also included a trade exhibition in the stadium of the Bundesliga team ‘ Borussia ’ in Dortmund . Around 250 participants attended the event and preparations will soon be underway for the 14th Stanztechnik Congress in 2024 . n

Left : A SCANtek 5 multi-sensor CMM pictured on the LK Metrology stand at last year ’ s Control exhibition .

to ISO 17025 for testing and calibration and ISO 9001 for quality management .

It recently launched a high-end laser line scanner with a nominal 20mm line length , the SLK20 , and a larger version is imminent that can be interchanged between a CMM and a manually operated portable measurement arm . Recently released also was the SRP12.5 probe to offer surface roughness measurement as part of quality inspection on a CMM .

“ With customers requiring more and more probes to complete inspection cycles on increasingly complex parts , we are about to release a tool changer with a capacity of five probe ports per changer and the option to install multiple units on a single CMM ,” said the company . n

www . LKmetrology . com

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