Staffordshire-based Blum-Novotest (www.blum-novotest.com), a leading provider of production metrology, is going on-line to help it deliver product awareness and technical application sessions during Covid-19.

The company is looking to maximise any industrial downtime by offering new and existing customers the opportunity to take part in 60 to 90min sessions that will give them the chance to learn about the latest products and how they can be used to save time and improve accuracy.

Blum-Novotest, which delivers its solutions to some of the world’s largest aerospace primes, car manufacturers and a host of CNC machine tool suppliers, is showcasing its DIGILOG touch probes/laser control and roughness gauges, as well as the latest LC-Vision software to boost machining performance.

Six clients have already taken part as a way of finding out more about the Blum-Novotest portfolio, the benefits they provide and how technical experts can help them get the most out of the technology.

David Mold, managing director of Blum-Novotest in the UK, said: “While there is nothing like visiting customers face-to-face and getting to the bottom of their needs, the virtual approach is certainly proving a very worthwhile exercise and is receiving significant interest from machine dealers and sub-contractors.”

“We have a lot of solutions that cover measuring components, measuring machines and test engineering, but some areas of industry will only know us for certain products. The on-line sessions give us a great opportunity to talk to and virtually demonstrate all of our solutions, taking questions on application, installation and trailing new products that will be launched later this year.”

He continued: “The feedback has been really good and we certainly believe that virtual sessions could remain part of our marketing mix alongside more conventional face-to-face meetings. It is certainly going to be a major benefit for us with a lot of UK and international trade shows cancelled or delayed as a result of the pandemic.”

Kildare-based Premier Machine Tools (PMT — www.premiermachinetools.ie), a specialist supplier of CNC machine tools and carbide cutting tools to the metal cutting sector in Ireland, has already taken advantage of the new Blum-Novotest on-line workshops.

Six of its staff completed an introductory session to the range, exploring tool setting, workpiece and DIGILOG touch probes, including the recently launched LC50 that promises to be 60% quicker than conventional in-machine measuring.

Dennis Ross, PMT key account sales manager, said: “Covid-19 has had a dramatic effect on the machine tools sector and the imposed lockdown has given us more time to understand technology that could support our ability to offer the best possible turnkey offer.

“We have only just started working with Blum-Novotest on a number of potential projects in the medical sector and my initial interest was focused on its roughness surface gauge. Taking part in this virtual session gave us all a much better understanding of the complete range and we have already identified a number of technologies that could support our customers.”

He concluded: “Our relationship with principals, such as Matsuura, Seco and Tornos, are built on years of trust and understanding and this is something that we are looking to build with David and his team. There’s lots of mutual synergies that will benefit our clients going forward and the next on-line session is already scheduled for a few weeks’ time.”