West Yorkshire-based Kadel Engineering Ltd, a milling and turning specialist, has invested in a bench-top Baty Venture XT 3030 CNC vision system to ensure the accurate manufacture of precision components for the powertrains of F1 cars.

Bradford-based Bowers Group (www.bowersgroup.co.uk) supplied the system to Kadel Engineering after the family-run business decided to invest in a more advanced optical measurement solution in order to meet the high levels of quality, tight tolerances and fast turnround demanded by F1.

The company can produce both small and large batches of precision components in any material.

Managing director Paul Rollins said: “Components are required at short notice for the build of the F1 cars, and they often need to be flown out to a race on the other side of the world.

"It is imperative that they conform to the correct tolerances first time, as there is usually no time to remake or rework parts.

"They are rigorously checked by our customers, and our quality and performance are closely monitored. The Baty Venture XT acts as an extra check, so it is near impossible for anything to slip through the net unnoticed.

"It can be used as an optical measuring machine and a co-ordinate measuring machine; the combination effectively gives us two machines in one, which is just what we needed for the parts we manufacture.

“We felt that it would not only give our customers more confidence in our ability but also enable us to take on more complex parts, now we have the equipment to measure them.

“It is very easy to use, and the software is very user-friendly.

“There is also the added advantage that it compact and doesn’t take up much room.”