F1 motor racing teams are helping drive one of the UKs top measurement specialists to develop more innovative products and services.
Hexagon Metrology UK says its business processes and strategies benefit from the rapid problem solving and tight deadlines demanded by the worlds premier motorsport engineers.
The company, which has a long association with motor racing, has recently signed an agreement to become an official supplier to the Marussia F1 team based in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
The team is using a Hexagon DEA Global CMM machine equipped with Leitz LSP-X1 analogue probe and PC-DMIS software for a range of measurement and inspection tasks.
Hexagon has also supplied one of its latest Romer articulated portable measuring arms with built-in laser scanner, which is employed in a variety of locations including the teams modelling and inspection facilities.
Our level of reliability this season has been impressive and we are currently the second most reliable team on the grid. We recognize that suppliers such as Hexagon have a role to play in that, explained Marussia F1 team operations manager Kevin Lee.
The equipment, especially the portable measuring arm, is already proving to be very beneficial in terms of the development work being undertaken in light of next seasons changes to the aerodynamics and drivetrain regulations, he added.As well as supplying equipment, Hexagon also provides technical support to the team via its nationwide network of service and software application engineers.
It is very satisfying to know that F1 teams such as Marussia use Hexagon equipment to fulfil their constant demand for information, ensuring they can use the measurement data to make informed decisions quickly, said David Brown, Hexagon Metrology UKs general manager.
Equally, Hexagons involvement in the agile and creative setting of motorsport engineering is a great motivator for our staff, helping them further improve their problem solving skills and ability to work to tight time constraints, he stated.
Hexagons staff development and management systems have just been recognized with a prestigious award achieved only by the top 2 per cent of British businesses. It has attained the Investors in People Gold standard after a thorough appraisal by a group of independent auditors.
Hexagon is a long-established supplier
of stationary and portable metrology equipment, which is supported by a wide
variety of customer services such as system and software maintenance and
training.