One of Europe’s leading automotive OEMs has installed a 360deg SIMS (Smart Inline Measurement Solution) for the automated inspection of car body units.

The system from Hexagon Metrology (www.hexagonmetrology.com) uses non-contact area sensors with robotic integration to deliver accurate dimensional data. The end-of-line body-in-white cell is integrated with the production line PLC and IT systems; it has automated the inspection of a new model being produced by the OEM.

The inspection cell played a key role in the crucial production launch and ‘ramp up’ stages; it is now undertaking quality monitoring for the full-scale production of the base model and all its variants.

Giacomo Barilà, head of Hexagon Metrology’s automated solutions, said: “The customer selected 360deg SIMS because of its ability to measure critical points and features, as well as full surface areas and edge lines, within the cycle time.

"The system provides a live information stream to the manufacturer’s quality analysts; it operates 24hr a day, gathering measurement data and packaging it as actionable information such as full surface deviation colour maps.”