Japanese measuring specialist KEYENCE has been known as a leader in product innovation for many years. The company offers a wide range of measurement solutions, used in numerous businesses where quality and repeatability are non-negotiable goals. The industry-leading image dimension measurement systems KEYENCE design and manufacture allow its customers to perform accurate inspections at a level of speed and precision that is unparalleled.
One such customer is Pressure Tech. Established in the year 2000, Pressure Tech is a British manufacturer of high quality stainless-steel pressure regulators for use on gas and liquid applications. Pressure Tech products provide accurate control to complex systems, and long-term reliability in service is a crucial requirement. The company’s extensive range of products is manufactured within the UK and is also covered by an ISO-9001 accreditation.
“We work closely with our customers and we listen to their specific needs to design products that deliver accurate system control” explains Keith O’Pray, Operations & System Manager at Pressure Tech. “Our business model also provides for a rapid response, enabling us to develop unique product designs within a matter of weeks for customers to evaluate.” Thanks to Pressure Tech’s in-house machining and assembly, the company enjoys tight control over its production to maintain flexibility with minimal lead times.
From a technical point of view, a critical element of any Pressure Tech product is its ability to create a seal between two surfaces. Variance in the angle of a sealing part can be the difference between the part creating a seal or not. “We previously relied on a CNC programme and basic methodology to address this” continues the Operations & System Manager. “But, as we are always looking to enhance our internal processes, we were keen to source the latest measuring equipment to take this aspect of our production to the next level.”
"With products being supplied throughout the world via our growing network of distributors, we were already recognised as a market leader for quality pressure regulators” says O’Pray. And this meant an enviable reputation worth preserving.
Unsurprisingly, KEYENCE measurement systems became a focal point. Could a solution from the Japanese specialist meet the technical challenges Pressure Tech staff encountered on an everyday basis? For Pressure Tech, a company whose products long-term reliability is an absolute must, this was worth investigating.
After careful consideration, an IM-7000 Series Image Dimension Measurement System from KEYENCE was acquired by Pressure Tech. The device was selected because of its range of specialist measurement tools, its built-in dimensional reporting feature and its speed of measurement – an essential feature on batch runs with low cycle times.
The new image measurement system allows Pressure Tech personnel to closely monitor the angle of all the external sealing surfaces manufactured, measuring accurately to within 0.01°. The results, according to Keith O’Pray, speak for themselves: since acquiring this system, “we have consequently been able to ensure repeatability of the machining process and the quality of the components produced”.
New programmes can take just minutes to create and a full dimensional report for a part can be generated at the click of a button. “This means we are seeing benefits not only in the improvement and consistency of the parts produced, but also in the speed of measurement; given the complexity of some parts, this is imperative when working to tight deadlines” says O’Pray.
For Pressure Tech, the accuracy of its critical components’ measurement was always going to be a key consideration. And the KEYENCE solution ensures it can reach an entirely new level of precision.
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