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Jul 16, 2023

LK Metrology Celebrate 60 Years of CMM Manufacturing

Established in 1963, LK Metrology has an impressive heritage dating back to the birth of coordinate measuring machine (CMM) technology. Founded by former Rolls Royce engineer and CMM pioneer Norman

Established in 1963, LK Metrology has an impressive heritage dating back to the birth of coordinate measuring machine (CMM) technology. Founded by former Rolls Royce engineer and CMM pioneer Norman Key and his father-in-law Jim Lowther, the company is credited with many innovations in the CMM industry.

In 1972, in partnership with Rolls-Royce, Mr Key worked alongside the person who would co-found Renishaw a year later, Sir David McMurtry, who today is its executive chairman, to develop the now industry standard Renishaw touch-trigger probe.

Other industry firsts accredited to LK include successive introductions to the market of the bridge-type CMM, inspection software, exclusive use of air bearings and granite guideways, carbon fibre composite spindles, microprocessor-controlled drive systems, true thermal stability of the measuring platform, and a high-accuracy horizontal-spindle CMM.

With its headquarters, product development and CMM manufacturing facility in the UK, the company is headed by owner and CEO Angelo Muscarella, whose ASF Metrology group bought the company in 2018. It now not only manufactures CMMs, but has also added to its product portfolio a range of FREEDOM branded portable measuring arms and many metrology accessories. They include a new range of laser scanners, a surface roughness probe, stylus cleaning and sensor changing equipment, an indexing table and a checking gauge for CMM calibration.

First written in 1977, LK’s renowned CAMIO measurement, programming, analysis and reporting software is continually enhanced to provide industry-leading functionality, with the new CAMIO 2023 revision due in July.

Last year, LK USA was awarded a large contract to supply 35 new CMM cells to a new aerospace manufacturing facility, with installation of all systems due for completion by December 2023. The company is also experiencing a resurgence in CMM retrofit enquiries and has added a dedicated technical product specialist to focus on this area. To support contract inspection services, the technology and demonstration centre in Michigan has been expanded by 21,000 sq ft to accommodate a total of six CMMs and two FREEDOM portable arms.

Mr Muscarella commented: “When I acquired LK, many staff had been with the company for decades and they continue to give their total commitment. They and indeed I are proud to work in such a prestigious company. There is dynamism throughout our network of offices and distribution companies around the world, with everyone sharing common values and operating as a family. We are looking forward to maintaining our rapid growth and would like to thank all our customers for making this possible. We look forward to catching up with everyone on our stand (9505) at the Control show in Stuttgart in May and at many other trade shows around the world during 2023 and beyond.”

For more information: www.lkmetrology.com

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