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, Key worked alongside the person who would co-found Renishaw a year later, Sir David McMurtry, who now 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 fiber 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 Castle Donington, UK, the company is led 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 CAMIO measurement, programming, analysis and reporting software is continually enhanced to provide leading functionality.
Muscarella commented: "When I acquired LK, many staff had been with the company for decades and 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."
LK in North America
Brian Samson, Managing Director of LK Metrology Inc in New Hudson, MI, said: "We and the Precision Measurement Group of the Cross Company have finalized an agreement that brings the LK line of CMMs and related metrology products to the Cross Company's calibration labs and service centers across the southeast and central U.S."
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 supplier 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 center in New Hudson has been expanded by 21,000 sq. ft. to accommodate a total of six CMMs and two FREEDOM portable arms.
Product Development
In terms of product development, LK recently launched a high-end laser line scanner with a nominal 20 mm line length, the SLK20, and a larger version is imminent that can be interchanged between a CMM and a manually-operated portable measurement arm. Recently released also was the SRP12.5 probe to offer surface roughness measurement as part of quality inspection on a CMM. Orientated using an indexing head, the probe adopts the most convenient pose to perform reliable and repeatable surface measurements. Additionally, with customers requiring more and more probes to complete inspection cycles on increasingly complex parts, LK is releasing a tool changer with a capacity of five probe ports per changer and the option to install multiple units on a single CMM.
For more information contact:
LK Metrology, Inc.
29550 W.K. Smith Drive, Unit B
New Hudson, MI 48165
810-263-6100
sales.us@lkmetrology.com
www.lkmetrology.com