Horizontal arm CMM checks out forthcoming Nissan

Hexagon Metrology has successfully delivered and installed its industry-leading Vento R-SF horizontal arm CMM at Nissan in Sunderland.

Just three months after clinching a prestigious co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) order with Nissan in Sunderland, Hexagon Metrology has successfully delivered and installed its industry-leading Vento R-SF horizontal arm CMM ahead of the customer's deadline.

Hexagon's CMM is now in production 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Nissan is using the machine to measure preproduction body panels on a major new model scheduled to launch at the Paris Motor Show later this year.

In addition, the new machine complements three existing Hexagon Vento CMMs, providing additional inspection capacity for five of Nissan's current world-class models.

Hexagon, Nissan's preferred CMM supplier for automotive body panel inspection worldwide, was awarded the contract in March 2006.

By the end of May Hexagon had successfully delivered and installed its turnkey CMM solution.

"We are impressed with Hexagon's professional management of this critical project from beginning to end", commented Dave Bambrough, Quality Engineer for Nissan.

"We set extremely tight deadlines for the machine installation".

"It was critical Nissan had additional CMM capacity by the end of May to enable trial runs of our new model, whilst also ramping up measurement volumes of existing Nissan models".

"The machine was handed over to production exactly when they said it would be - it was actually ahead of our deadline".

"The success of the installation strengthens the global partnership between Hexagon and Nissan", said David Brown, Director and General Manager of Hexagon Metrology.

"As Nissan's preferred CMM supplier for body panel inspection, Hexagon's CMM's are installed in every Nissan plant worldwide".

"Hexagon is delighted to support Nissan in the UK with their important new model launch".

"Nissan is a key customer for Hexagon and we enjoy a strong business relationship".

"This partnership is further reinforced with new orders received this month for four Vento R-SF CMMs at Nissan Japan and one at Nissan Mexico".

The Vento R-SF design directly meets Nissan's requirements for a superior performance machine that is reliable, easy and safe to use in a shop floor environment.

The R-SF is a ruggedised shop floor configuration of the proven Vento range.

All guide-ways and scales are protected by bellows (y and z axis) and walk-on covers (x axis) to prevent dust ingress, plus the controller is rated to IP54, allowing the machine to operate reliably in harsh environments.

As part of the turnkey responsibility, Hexagon supplied an advanced safety system.

The machine features unique anticollision sensors to protect operators, the machine and components.

The machine is operated via a wireless hand-box controller, eliminating risks associated with trailing cables across the machine.

"Product quality is core to Nissan", concluded Dave Bambrough.

"Nissan is committed to deliver the highest quality product and value to our customers".

"To achieve this, Nissan only invests in the most advanced metrology equipment, in this case, the Vento R-SF from Hexagon Metrology".

Back to top