Somerset-based Foundrax (www.foundrax.co.uk), a leading manufacturer of Brinell hardness testing equipment, has exported a second bespoke system for the ‘intricate inspection’ of automotive suspension components at a factory in Mexico (owned by a German supplier of high-quality automotive parts).

The challenge was that the hardness test location specified by the car manufacturer is in a very tight space. Foundrax developed a bespoke BRIN400B — a rugged shopfloor Brinell hardness tester with a customised automatic Brinell microscope to carry out automatic indentation and hardness measurements.

Following the successful application of the first machine, the automotive parts supplier came back to Foundrax with an even more complex part to measure. Foundrax gave the second system a bespoke configuration that enables the customer to test in very awkward locations.

Managing director Alex Austin said: “We are delighted that we could fulfil the customer’s requirements.

“We are always open to making changes to equipment or to making special-purpose machines.

“Our job is to solve the problem and — if required — give our customers a bespoke product that addresses their need, not simply give them an off-the-shelf ‘one size fits all’ solution.”