3D Scans Without Limits of Shapes and Surfaces

Leading global transport solutions provider reduces its inspection times with the Creaform 3D scanner

Founded in 1979 in The Netherlands, the HYVA CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FACTORY (HCE) is a leading global provider of innovative and highly efficient transport solutions for commercial vehicles and environmental service industries. The company is committed to the development, production, marketing and distribution of components used in hydraulic loading and unloading systems on trucks and trailers. Its products are used worldwide, across a wide range of sectors including transport, construction, mining, materials handling and environmental services providers.

HYVA’s portfolio comprises of hydraulics (cylinders and tipping gear), container handling systems (hook and skip loaders), waste handling (transfer stations, compactors and refuse collection bodies), floors (horizontal unloading/loading floors) and cranes (fixed and rolling).  These products are designed and marketed under several well-respected brands, such as Hyva, Kennis, F.lli Ferrari and Amco Veba. Hyva is also a distributor of high value components.

HYVA’s Italian factory recently invested in a MetraSCAN|BLACK scanner from Creaform as they wanted to reduce their inspection times and wanted to control large parts like cranes chassis (260 x 140 x 80 cm), booms (200 cm), extensions (180 cm) and hookloaders subframe (800 cm).

Prior to that purchase, the systems used for quality control tasks required metrology experts, often multiple measurement instruments and a long inspection time. These aspects prompted the search for a fast and easy-to-use 3D solution.

Compared to other metrology solutions on the market, Creaform’s scanner proved itself to be a major improvement due to its quick and easy data acquisition and the capacity to measure intricate details. Other decisive factors were the possibility to measure bulky components directly in the production environment independently of vibrations, as well as the reduction of measurement errors, the reduction of inspection times and the accuracy of the instrument.

Quality check of supplier parts

Today, the MetraSCAN 3D scanner, together with the inspection software VXelements, is used at HYVA to quality check incoming components from suppliers. In this instance, for example, a crane extension had to be inspected to confirm whether or not the component was conforming to the drawing.

Digitization of a crane extension with the MetraSCAN 3D at HYVA and real-time visualization of the scan in VXelements

The scan displays in real time in the VXelements software, which combines acquisition and application modules into the same simple, easy-to-use interface, providing a complete solution rather than a simple measurement device only. This way, deviations can be detected immediately.

Of course, this specific project could have been carried out with traditional measurement methods (like measurements arms), but it would have taken much longer, actually three times more time.  In general, with the 3D scanner, HCE reduced significantly its inspection time, which enabled HYVA to increase the number of components checked daily and increase the quality of their supplier.

What must be mentioned …

According to HYVA, the MetraSCAN 3D scanner is easy to use and its manipulation intuitive. Also, it is light and portable, which means it can be used wherever it’s needed. The Creaform technology enables them to have a wide scan without limits of shapes and surfaces and allows total freedom of movement. At HCE, the scanner is used for all incoming controls, both for specific projects and for routine control activities. It allows the company to have precise, fast measurements and the report is generated automatically.

“Creaform’s 3D scanner allows us to optimize the use of resources dedicated to inspections both in terms of timing and number of checks performed. It is a precise and easy to use tool”, states Stefano Lillo, LOB Quality Manager Cranes & HCE Plant Quality Manager at HYVA.