Innovative automotive project calls on the services of Telford specialist

AN innovative project to develop a lightweight exhaust system for a luxury sports car has called on the expertise of a Shropshire manufacturer.

Telford-based Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence provided equipment for quality control checks during the project.

Coventry University’s metrology department used the ROMER Absolute portable measuring arm and G-Tube software to perform measurement and inspection tasks on a variety of parts and sub-assemblies.

The project, undertaken at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME), initially examined ways of halving the weight of the complete cold end of the exhaust system.

A second phase, supported by Innovate UK, involved developing a production ready solution that delivered the product technology to market.

As part of these investigations, the metrology team also employed the ROMER Absolute arm to inspect parts in a robotic welding cell on the AME shop floor.

Trevor Toman, AME’s head of metrology, said: “Through the successful completion of the project, the consortium has proven the ‘art of the possible’ in exhaust light-weighting; namely the removal of almost 50 per cent of the weight from the cold end assembly.”

The project had also effectively demonstrated how pre-market prototypes could be manufactured in a production representative environment, he added.

“AME enjoys a good working relationship with Hexagon whether it’s through the purchase and ongoing support for measuring arms, scanners, laser trackers and equipment access for small projects or the mutual delivery of continuing professional development to customers,” added Mr Toman.

Hexagon and AME are set to host an open house event at the Institute later this year with a range of workshops and product demonstrations including portable measuring arms and new Tube Shaper software.

The IAME is a collaboration between Unipart Manufacturing and Coventry University. It currently has 60 budding engineers studying on its unique ‘live manufacturing’ degree courses.