Figure record of participation and visitors

The nineteenth and greater Editorial Control, international trade fair for quality assurance, fair met from 26 to 28 April in the exhibition of Sinheim (Germany) to 883 companies, among which were the most important firms in metrology from around the world. 22.612 Professional visitors could see first-hand and during the four days of the fair the latest technologies, developments and processes of quality control industry. Greater participation of exhibitors and visitors as well as a higher quality of submitted products marked the edition of 2005.

Distributors of products, technologies, systems and services gathered inside Sinsheim Exhibition Centre of Sinsheim (Germany) to learn about the trends of the most important fair of Europe in dimensional metrology sector since its inception in 1988. Best brands of this industry in numerous countries such as Japan, Korea and Brazil, institutions and companies in the industry for the automotive industry of China, India and United State, showed their latest developments to the German market and overseas and showed the internationalization of the contestthat has broken record of visitors from other countries and of participation.

About 20,000 visitors attending the fair were able to participate in the Forum, demonstrations, presentations and seminars for each product. The program included a series of seminars organised by Unilog (German Society for Quality Assurance) and TQU (Association of Steinbeis Transfer Centres for Business Quality), which brought together international visitors.

One of the novelties of the newly closed Edition, was the exhibition dedicated to the technology of non-contact measurement, where dealt with engineering concepts and the characteristics and limitations to the new possibilities for measurement.

The main theme of this event was of great interest for the development of the production. The exact adherence to the geometrical dimensions desempañas a role is quality assurance. Also, measures can be thousand times more rapid technological non-contact, optical. In addition to the cost savings resulting from this technology, it also allows a wide range of applications.

According to the speech given by Dr. Norbert Bauer, Coordinator of Fraunhofer - Allianz aVision, the role of the electronics is essential in the field of non-contact measurement.

The appearance on the market of new sensors and especially powerful and faster computers, allows the development of new products and concepts. For this reason, said the doctor, the consultant of the competition Council opted to include in the agenda a day especially for non-contact measurement.

According to Bauer, scanning processes run 200 times faster and represent the third part of the investment of mechanical measuring machines. Thanks to the reduction of costs and time, the 3D measurement is already used in 100 per cent inspection of numerous applications processes.

However, thermography and x-ray inspection systems are also included in the field of non-contact measurement technology.

As a method of high reliability, non-contact measurement technology is becoming more significant in general. A study of market developed by Fraunhofer - Vision has revealed that the percentage of users of three-dimensional measuring technology has increased from 25 to 31 per cent in the automotive industry from 1999 to 2003. 29 Per cent of users of three-dimensional measuring technology expected to invest in this technology in the near future.

"In Germany we are currently engaged in an emotional argument with regard to find us at the moment and what directions should take to maintain and expand our leading role among the countries of higher technology in the era of globalization." High quality, which is the mark of German products, is still one of the competitive advantages of our country. And quality plays an increasingly important role. "The demands of a more rapid production and cheap are extensive, but not the cost of the quality of the customer requirements".

Within the framework of the zero-defect concepts, non-contact measurement technology will play a key role in the future. However, as a result of the different modes of operation to mechanical measurement methods, and due to a lack of experience with various applications, potential users still expressing reservations and uncertainty.

Mobile systems of measurement, scanners, optical sensors, software, databases, systems of verification, arms, encoders of displacement of length and angle, measuring machines, special equipment and measurement modules and benches, machines and devices for testing of materials, or computer-controlled quality system software were are some of the new features and products that you could see in the fair.

Here are some news that is presented in Control:

The Innovalia Metrology Unit, formed by Datapixel, engineering of systems of inspection, metrology without contact and digitization, Trimek, metrology, and Unimetrik, company systems of metrological services engineering, as well as Sick were present at the event.

Unimetrik of the Innovalia group unveiled the German market and other countries, its TetraCheck machine, system of verification of measuring machines and machines (CMMS) tool, with which users can of quickly and easily verify the accuracy of your machine MMC.

The TetraCheck requires less than 10 minutes for a measurement on an MMC, and its aim is to popularize the philosophy of "periodic checking", which involves facilitating the frequent analysis of machines, reducing to a minimum running time. This is made possible by the space measurement of only 4 balls, which, however, are sufficient to provide the maximum information.

Among other products, Datapixel showed its sensor without contact OptiScan H-Class/HR of high resolution for MMC. The sensor without contact of high precision OptiScan H-Class/HR for MMC, designed by Datapixel, is suitable for applications requiring high precision measurement and inspection.

Designed for metal, plastic parts, electronic and non-rigid materials, their high resolution allows greater accuracy when measuring. It also offers a high productivity in the measurement process.

It's the best solution in non-contact measurement to measure in a precise way with MMC. Guarantees total compatibility with Renishaw PH10, is compatible with Renishaw Multiwire cable and the rack of automatic ACR Renishaw. Also the H-Class/HR package contains an optical sensor OptiScan HR-1015-L, a unit of control OptiScan HCU-1000, a set of cables for CMM, the OptiScan Capture, the user manual software and an area of calibration.

The Innovalia group, Trimek presented their machines of bridge to design custom formats. Bridge machines model Spark, of Trimek, are designed to design custom formats.

They are manufactured in different sizes, being able to also design custom formats, and are characterized by a robust and simple construction coupled with the implementation of the most advanced technologies.

Specializing in portable 3D measurement systems, beacon announced the acquisition of the company iQvolution AG in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Markus Eickhoff, Business Development Manager of Lighthouse Europe, explained: "with the acquisition of iQvolution AG, Lighthouse out of its traditional market of the ' Computer Aided Manufacturing Measurement' (cam 2) and entered into the most voluminous market of the ' Computer Aided Measurement'." Especially in this area, the possibilities of 3D measurement are developing considerably. "At the fair we presented for the first time our new branch of products."

The 'phase-based' Laser Scanner of iQvolution (process based on the calculation of phases) is 100 times faster than products 'time-based' competition (process based on the calculation of time of flight). Currently, the 'phase-based' model focuses on internal applications. However, Lighthouse plans to market release a model for external shots before early 2006. Lighthouse plans also introduced in this market of strong growth in new attractive and fiercely competitive models of 3D laser Scanners differentiated between if for their prices and yields.

The demand for Laser Scanner 3D has increased because of high costs of planning, tight budgets, tight schedules and desire to reduce the risks associated with projects. IQvolution products users include companies in the sector of the automobile, paper, petrochemical, mining as well as the American police FBI and legal bodies.

With the new technology of iQvolution, Lighthouse expands not only their products, but at the same time branch gives a significant step forward in the context of the pursuit of added value in the field of three-dimensional technologies on the market of the measurement. With the acquisition of iQvolution, Lighthouse hopes to achieve higher growth and find new technologies that will strengthen the position of the company in the world market and offer customers innovative 3D solutions.

The Control fair was the scene for the presentation of the Renscan5, a new technology which enables to achieve high accuracy, ultra fast speeds of measuring five-axis machines of MMC. Also showed the new Revo, which will use the technology is the first of a revolutionary family of head (head) and system probe in measurement that will redefine the industry standard scanning systems. The Renscan5 technology will be available with the new universal controller MMC, UCC2, also presented at the contest.

Leica Geosystems introduced a new solution in the Control MMC for any implementation of measurement. Along the lines of production that has kept the company of mobile, flexible and innovative metrology products has introduced the Universal MMC solution, which consists of the Leica Laser Tracker and a single arm, T-Probe without cables and laser scanner T-Scan hand held. Reducing the installation time, increasing the efficiency of the measuring and taking industrial action of measurement to new standards of accuracy, Leica Geosystems offers once again, metrology in all dimensions.

The hand-held T-Scan laser scanner, scans 50 per cent faster than a conventional scanner objects large and small. Scans any surface without powder or white Photogrammetric - from up textile foam, covered with film and sheet metal surfaces.

Hand of Zoller, visitors could know the genius 3, a machine for measurement of high-quality cutting tools. Allows to measure the external contour of the tools for fast, simple and precise MicroElectroMechanical, since the verification of individual criteria until the complete, fully automatic and independent of the operator control. In addition, measurement results are documented in detail in verification protocols and can be transferred to their machines sharpeners simply by clicking a button.

The base of the machine are 5-axis computer numerical control. The three linear axes move tanks measuring a total of seven spherical rotating guides, driven by the propulsion system maintenance with servo motors no reverse game.

Measurement of 5-axis of Zoller "genius 3" machine can increase the productivity of the sharpening machines and sharp products and offer customers a documentation complete.

According to the company itself is achieved an increase of 25% of the productivity of the sharpening machines, measuring tools before subsequent sharpening and have strong verification protocols that will facilitate the quality control and management of certificatesavoiding potential claims.

Neusser Mitutoyo Messgeräte GmbH, represented by metrology Sariki, presented a wide range of instruments to measure processing of image and coordinates, as well as surface, shape and image, and data transmission systems. One of the novelties of the Japanese company is the new 401624 CARBapex is a measuring instrument coordinated or by coordinates (coordinate measuring instrument), designed for the inspection of entire car bodies as well as auto parts

Wenzel Präzision GmbH, a German company, presented the new myths, a machine shop of high precision with a range of measuring 1000 x 1600 x 800 mm. It has been designed to be used with touch-probe, dynamic measurement systems and with high stiffness, and they can be used with a wide range of temperature.He also gave to the optical sensor Phoenix with numerous features and an updated design. A subsidiary of Wenzel presented, for the first time, a measuring instrument WGT 500, whose series integrates the "wenzelgeco" dimensional control system, as well as a software library.

The German company Eiden & Schmidt Engineering GmbH, will present their specialities including multi-points coordinates 3D metrology and measurement technology. The French MicroVu Europe, showed the new Excel tool.