Creating a 5th generation integrated air system is a complex endeavor. The requirements for the Joint Strike Fighter are numerous–it must be lethal, stand up to the rigors of combat, and be supportable in austere environments. The F-35 JSF must meet diverse needs of multiple services and still be affordable. One of the ways Lockheed Martin has done this is to use Nikon’s laser radar and the SpatialAnalyzer software.

In the past, manufacturers in Europe and in North America came to China to locate new low-cost supply sources for components. So SpatialAnalyzer was used because it was specified by these established companies, and Chinese companies adopted it. But as the demand for locally-made products increased in Asia, the Chinese sought to not just make components but to actually perform final assembly of finished products to satisfy local demand.

Metrology is now part of every industrial project, and embedded metrology is the emerging standard. Embedded metrology has become an essential tool for manufacturing. Frenchbased G²Métric is fully involved in the development and integration of measurement solutions for Metrology Assisted Assembly and does significant work with aerospace manufacturer Airbus.

New River Kinematics’s premier product SpatialAnalyzer was developed by PhDs Bob Salerno and Joe Calkins, two years after the start of NRK. The pair continued to work together and picked up a few employees along the way. Since then, the company has grown substantially.

Mike Gunn, president of 3Space, runs a specialty measurement company that works with several industries, including power generation. He uses SpatialAnalyzer for two reasons: confidence and consistency.

Futuramic Tooling and Engineering Company is a high end tooling provider for the aerospace and automotive industries. They are located in Warren, Michigan and began as a tool supplier for the booming auto industry in the 1950s. They continue to have a reputation for providing exotic tooling with speed and precision.

Janicki Industries designs and builds high precision tooling for aerospace, marine, wind energy, and transportation customers. Some of its aerospace customers include Boeing, Lockheed, ATK, and NASA. To serve the challenging needs of these industries, Janicki integrated portable metrology technology into its daily manufacturing processes several years ago.