South Lanarkshire-based
Metallo Ltd, a specialist CNC sub-contract manufacturer, has strengthened its inspection capability after investing in an the Baty Velo FV automated optical measurement system supplied by Camberley-based
Bowers Group.
Metallo, which has a facility in Blantyre, delivers precision milling and turning services to customers across the electronics, defence and general manufacturing sectors, drawing on more than a century of combined engineering expertise. Supporting everything from prototype development through to full production volumes, the sub-contractor can machine a wide range of materials including aluminium, stainless steel and brass, as well as high-performance nickel-based alloys such as Inconel.
With customers relying on tight tolerances and consistent quality, accurate and reliable inspection plays a critical role in maintaining delivery schedules and avoiding costly re-work. Prior to automation, Metallo relied heavily on manual inspection techniques, including shadowgraphs, micrometers, and handheld gauges. While effective for certain tasks, these methods were time-consuming and highly dependent on operator technique, which inevitably produced varying results.
As demand increased, manual inspection placed growing pressure on engineers and quality staff, slowing down part approval and creating a bottleneck in the production workflow. The business recognised the need for a faster and more repeatable inspection solution to keep pace with customer requirements.
To address this, Metallo invested in a new Baty Velo FV, a compact automated optical inspection system supplied by Bowers Group. Designed for fast, repeatable measurement of precision components, the system enables multiple features to be inspected in a single cycle with minimal operator input.
TransformationMetallo’s managing director Jordan Higgins said the introduction of the system had transformed the inspection process. “Quality inspection is no longer a hurdle with the implementation of the Baty Velo. The inspection system is unbelievable in speed and accuracy, and because it is so simple to use, it requires very little training. A quality inspection which previously took hours is now completed in minutes, with even more accurate results. Our engineers and quality team are extremely happy with the system, and working with Bowers Group has been a smooth and professional experience from start to finish.”
The Velo FV is now used daily by both engineering and quality teams to measure a wide range of components, from parts as small as 1mm in diameter up to components measuring 40mm. By automating inspection routines, the system has significantly reduced reliance on traditional manual measurement tools for many applications.
Since installation, Metallo has achieved an average reduction in inspection times of around 30% on components that were previously measured manually. This improvement has helped accelerate production flow while increasing confidence in measurement accuracy and consistency. The straightforward operation of the system has also meant it was adopted quickly, with minimal training required.